At the end of this week, the “Stage Under the Stars” Festival will treat the audience to a true celebration of opera. On June 26 at 9:00 p.m., the square in front of the Opera House will become the stage for the concert “3 TENORS – Gala Evening,” which brings together impressive voices, beloved opera arias, and popular canzonets under the baton of Dimitar Kosev and accompanied by the Ruse State Opera Orchestra.
Among the evening’s special guests is Romanian tenor Bogdan Lupe, a soloist with the Ruse Opera, who joins the concert’s star-studded lineup. Shortly before he takes the stage, we ask him a few quick questions about music, the stage, and inspiration.
When three tenors share the stage, is there more competition, or do they draw more inspiration from one another?
When three tenors share the stage, it’s a beautiful alchemy of the two. Of course, there’s also a friendly spark of competition - we all want to achieve perfection on that high note. But the prevailing feeling is one of deep inspiration. When you hear three exceptional voices right beside you, it motivates you to elevate your own artistry to an even higher level. We don’t try to outsing one another; on the contrary - we support one another to create something unforgettable for the audience.
Among all the arias and canzonets you perform, is there a piece that moves you every time as if you were singing it for the first time?
To be honest, I don’t have just one favourite piece. All the arias and canzonets I perform are like my children, and it’s impossible for me to love one more or less than the others. Every song has its own soul, its own story, and its own special place in my heart. Every time I step onto the stage, the piece I’m performing at that moment becomes my favourite and receives all my love and devotion, as if I were singing it for the very first time.
The concert is an open-air event in the square in front of the Opera House - how does it feel different for an artist to sing under the stars in front of such a large audience?
Performing outdoors changes everything. In a theatre, the energy is concentrated and intimate. Under the open sky, however, the music seems to know no bounds. There’s a special freedom in letting your voice carry through the night air. When you see people’s faces under the stars, a tremendous shared energy is created. It’s less of a formal recital and more of a grand celebration of life and music.
If you could invite a legendary tenor from the past to perform on stage for one night, who would you choose and why?
I would choose Mario Del Monaco. He was the embodiment of the dramatic spinto tenor - with a voice of bronze and thunder, combined with an extraordinary stage presence. To stand beside him and experience the power and metallic brilliance of his voice live would be both an awe-inspiring challenge and the ultimate pleasure. To perform a dramatic duet together would be an unforgettable master class in passion and vocal power.
