upcoming

Fresno State Symphony Orchestra, November 18th, 8 pm

​BIOGRAPHY

Praised for his “mellow, burnished and beautiful voice,” (San Jose Mercury News) and referred to as “the most commanding singer on stage” (SF Classical Voice), Bulgarian baritone Krassen Karagiozov, has thrilled audiences in concert and from the opera stage with music that spans the classic-modern eras.  Born in Stara Zagora, Bulgaria, Mr. Karagiozov trained in the state conservatories as both a concert pianist and singer and spent his weekends in the wings of the state opera house, watching the stars that preceded him. With his “wide range of textures, booming resonance 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.

      Mr. Karagiozov’s 2016-2017 season
returned him to his home to make his
debut with the Sofia Philharmonic
Orchestra (Bulgaria), in a nationally
broadcasted gala concert celebrating
Bulgarian opera stars. Here Mr.
Karagiozov sang his most cherished
repertoire: Bel canto, Verdian,
and Russian. Mr. Karagiozov returned to
West Bay Opera (Palo Alto, CA) with
Maestro Jose-Luis Moscovich to sing one
of his most beloved roles, “Count
Almaviva"  in Le Nozze di Figaro and
enjoyed creating his first portrayal of
“Michele"in ​Il Tabarro from Puccini's
​Trittico. 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 Resident Principal Artist
during the years of 2008-2014. Here
he performed many roles, among them
are; Eugene Onegin, Sgt. Belcore, Guglielmo, Escamillo  Marcello, Vallentin, Figaro, Papageno, Sharpless, Vronsky,  Count Almaviva, Dandini, Don Giovanni, Tarquinius, Silvio, Schaunard, Lescaut, Masetto, Gianni Schicchi, Harlequin, and Peter.

     During this time, Mr. Karagiozov also made his debut with New York City Opera and Caramoor Opera Festival (NY)
where he was noted as a “strong baritone” in the New York Times by Anthony
​Tommasini for his role as "Daniello" in Rossini's Ciro in Babilonia. 
 Mr. Karagiozov has performed in such houses and symphony halls as New York City Opera, Opera San José, Opera Carolina, Opera Santa Barbara, Caramoor Bel Canto Opera Festival,  The Opera Company of North Carolina, Sofia Philharmonic Orchestra, Bulgarian Radio-Symphony Orchestra, North Carolina Symphony Orchestra, Symphony Silicon Valley. ​
       Mr. Karagiozov is a graduate
of the State Academy of Music (Sofia,
​Bulgaria), Southeastern Louisiana
University (MM Piano Performance)
and the Fletcher Opera Institute (MM
Vocal performance) Mr. Karagiozov
was a Southern Region finalist for the
​Metropolitan Opera Council Auditions,
a finalist at the Irene Dalis Vocal
​Competition and First Prize Winner
of the Charlotte Opera Guild Competition. ​
​