Krassen Karagiozov
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Biography |
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Praised for his “mellow, burnished, beautiful [voice]..." (San Jose Mercury News) and "strong voice," (New York Times) and referred to as “the most commanding singer on stage,” (SF Classical Voice), Bulgarian baritone Krassen Karagiozov has thrilled audiences in concert and opera with music that spans the classic-modern eras. Born in Stara Zagora, Bulgaria, Mr. Karagiozov trained in the Sofia state conservatories as both a concert pianist and singer and spent his weekends in the wings of the State Opera House, absorbing classical music and its traditions. With his “wide range of textures, booming resonance that contrasted with suave legato lines” (San Francisco Classical Voice), and deep immersion in the history and traditions of instrumental and vocal classical music, Krassen Karagiozov offers a complex and riveting performance both in music and drama.
This season, Mr. Karagiozov most recently made his debut with Palma de Mallorca Teatro Principal as Renato in Un ballo in maschera. The season of 2019-2020, Mr. Karagiozov returned to the Verdi Festival in Parma to sing Amonasro in Aida. West Bay Opera (Palo Alto, CA) celebrated his return to sing 3 Verdi roles: the titular role of Macbeth, Doge in I due Foscari, and Ford in Falstaff. Returning home to Bulgaria, Mr. Karagiozov debuted as Nabucco and Rigoletto at the State Opera Plovdiv Theater.
In the 2018-2019 season, Mr. Karagiozov returned to Europe as the titular cover for Verdi's Macbeth at the Teatro Regio di Parma in Italy. Mr. Karagiozov’s 2016-2018 seasons returned him to his home to make his debut with the Sofia Philharmonic Orchestra (Bulgaria), in a nationally broadcasted gala concert. Mr. Karagiozov returned to West Bay Opera (Palo Alto, CA) with Maestro Jose-Luis Moscovich to sing a "suitably brash and robust..." (SF Chronicle) “Count Almaviva" in Le Nozze di Figaro and enjoyed creating his first portrayal of “Michele"in Il Tabarro from Puccini's Trittico. The following season Mr. Karagiozov made his debut as "Pizzaro" in Beethoven's Fidelio and sang "Escamillo" once again in Carmen with "precision and appropriate force, and a commanding presence on the stage (Palo Alto Weekly)." In previous seasons, Mr. Karagiozov was seen as Rigoletto, Conte di Luna, Enrico and Germont. Mr. Karagiozov was privileged to sing with Opera San Jose for six years as a Principal Resident Artist where he performed many roles such as Eugene Onegin, Sgt. Belcore, Guglielmo, Escamillo Marcello, Valentin, Figaro, Papageno, Sharpless, Vronsky, Count Almaviva, Dandini, Don Giovanni, Tarquinius, Silvio, Schaunard, Lescaut, Masetto, Gianni Schicchi, Harlequin, and Peter.
This season, Mr. Karagiozov most recently made his debut with Palma de Mallorca Teatro Principal as Renato in Un ballo in maschera. The season of 2019-2020, Mr. Karagiozov returned to the Verdi Festival in Parma to sing Amonasro in Aida. West Bay Opera (Palo Alto, CA) celebrated his return to sing 3 Verdi roles: the titular role of Macbeth, Doge in I due Foscari, and Ford in Falstaff. Returning home to Bulgaria, Mr. Karagiozov debuted as Nabucco and Rigoletto at the State Opera Plovdiv Theater.
In the 2018-2019 season, Mr. Karagiozov returned to Europe as the titular cover for Verdi's Macbeth at the Teatro Regio di Parma in Italy. Mr. Karagiozov’s 2016-2018 seasons returned him to his home to make his debut with the Sofia Philharmonic Orchestra (Bulgaria), in a nationally broadcasted gala concert. Mr. Karagiozov returned to West Bay Opera (Palo Alto, CA) with Maestro Jose-Luis Moscovich to sing a "suitably brash and robust..." (SF Chronicle) “Count Almaviva" in Le Nozze di Figaro and enjoyed creating his first portrayal of “Michele"in Il Tabarro from Puccini's Trittico. The following season Mr. Karagiozov made his debut as "Pizzaro" in Beethoven's Fidelio and sang "Escamillo" once again in Carmen with "precision and appropriate force, and a commanding presence on the stage (Palo Alto Weekly)." In previous seasons, Mr. Karagiozov was seen as Rigoletto, Conte di Luna, Enrico and Germont. Mr. Karagiozov was privileged to sing with Opera San Jose for six years as a Principal Resident Artist where he performed many roles such as Eugene Onegin, Sgt. Belcore, Guglielmo, Escamillo Marcello, Valentin, Figaro, Papageno, Sharpless, Vronsky, Count Almaviva, Dandini, Don Giovanni, Tarquinius, Silvio, Schaunard, Lescaut, Masetto, Gianni Schicchi, Harlequin, and Peter.
UpcomingTEATRO PRINCIPAL, PALMA DE MALLORCA,
Un ballo in maschera, Renato 2022 Recent eventsVERDI FESTIVAL, PARMA, AIDA, Amonasro
PLOVDIV STATE OPERA RIGOLETTO, Rigoletto PLOVDIV STATE OPERA, NABUCCO, Nabucco WEST BAY OPERA, MACBETH, Macbeth |
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Reviews
"The most commanding singer on the stage was undoubtedly Krassen Karagiozov as Rigoletto. He deployed his baritone voice to great effect with a wide range of textures. Booming resonance contrasted with suave legato lines and sharply barked taunts." Classical Voice San Francisco, 2015 “As Count Almaviva, baritone Krassen Karagiozov was excellent, his voice mellow and burnished, his character a despicably self-important man, but one capable of reflection — and funny.” Mercury News, 2010 "The man who gave a bravura performance in La Traviata was the magnificent baritone, Krassen Karagiozov, as Giorgio Germont, father of Alfredo. Later... Karagiozov demonstrated in two great arias all the qualities one listens for in an excellent baritone; vocal strength and authority, beauty of tone, great range, and the ability to utilize all these strengths to sustain his part in the drama." Classical Voice NC, 2007 "Baritone Krassen Karagiozov gave a superb performance as her beloved Silvio..." SF Chronicle, 2011 “As Count Almaviva, baritone Krasen Karagiozov was excellent, his voice mellow and burnished, his character a despicably self-important man, but one capable of reflection— and funny.” Mercury News, 2010 “The true male lead is Alfredo’s father, Giorgio, whose music calls for pages of smooth, powerful singing. Krassen Karagiozov’s confidently supported, attractive baritone brought out much of the part’s beauties, especially in the aria “Di Provenza il mar.” Raleigh News and Observer, 2007 |
Repertoire
Renato | Un ballo in maschera, VERDI
Macbeth | Macbeth, VERDI Rigoletto | Rigoletto, VERDI Amonasro | Aida, VERDI Ford | Falstaff, VERDI Nabucco | Nabucco, VERDI G. Germont | La Traviata, VERDI Conte di Luna | Il Trovatore, VERDI Rodrigo | Don Carlo, VERDI Doge | I due Foscari, VERDI Michele | Il tabarro, PUCCINI Gianni Schicchi | Gianni Schicchi, PUCCINI Sharpless | Madama Butterfly, PUCCINI Marcello/Schaunard | La Boheme, PUCCINI Angelotti | Tosca, PUCCINI Rambaldo | La Rondine, PUCCINI Silvio | I Paggliacci, LEONCAVALLO Filippo Visconti | Beatrice di Tenda, BELLINI Sir Riccardo Forth | I Puritani, BELLINI Enrico | Lucia di Lammermoor, DONIZETTI Belcore | L‘elisir d’amore, DONIZETTI Pizarro | Fidelio, BEETHOVEN Count Almaviva | Le nozze di Figaro, MOZART Don Giovanni | Don Giovanni, MOZART Leporello/Masetto | Don Giovanni, MOZART Guglielmo | Cosi fan tutte, MOZART Papageno | Die Zauberflöte, MOZART Figaro | Il barbiere di Siviglia, ROSSINI Dandini | La Cenerentola, ROSSINI Danielle | Ciro in Bailonia, ROSSINI Escamillo | Carmen, BIZET Valentin | Faust, GOUNOD Lescaut | Manon, GOUNOD Raoul de Gardefeu | La Vie Parisienne, OFFENBACH Eugene Onegin, Eugene Onegin | TCHAIKOVSKY Peter | Hansel und Gretel, HUMPERDINCK Harlekin | Ariadne auf Naxos, STRAUSS Prometheus | Die Vögel, BRAUNFELS Tarquinius | Rape of Lucretia, BRITTEN Vronsky | Anna Karenina, CARLSON |
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