We continue our series of quick interviews with the artists who will take the stage at “3 Tenors – Gala Evening” as part of the “Stage Under the Stars” festival in the square in front of the Ruse State Opera.
Today we introduce you to Petar Kostov - the second tenor among the three performers - who shares his perspective on stage partnership, the evolution of musical interpretations, and the thrill of singing under the open sky in front of a large audience.
On June 26 at 9:00 p.m., the square in front of the Opera House will become the stage for a celebration of opera and Italian song. Under the baton of Dimitar Kosev and accompanied by the Ruse State Opera Orchestra, the three tenors - Boris Lukov, Mihail Mihaylov, and Petar Kostov - will present an exciting program of beloved opera arias and popular canzonets.
Read the interview with Petar Kostov and get ready for an evening filled with emotion, virtuosity, and the inimitable charm of the tenor repertoire.
When three tenors share the stage, is there more competition or more inspiration from one another?
Coordination and teamwork, so that the audience gets what they expect from this kind of format, as well as improvisation and fun. I always associate it with mutuality and understanding without words. It’s one of the best ways to build partnerships and friendships with colleagues.
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?
A debut performance is unique and one-of-a-kind. Every subsequent performance can build on that, provided the approach is right. Is there music that moves us more than others? Perhaps. But it’s even more interesting to observe how a musical interpretation evolves over time and how different audiences react to it.
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?
Every interaction with the audience is energizing. The opera’s rightful place, of course, is in its temple - the theater - but sometimes that space proves too small to accommodate everyone’s interest. In such cases, it’s perfectly natural to expand to a larger and more accessible scale. It’s nice when there are stars present at such moments - it adds a touch of romance. I’ve never actually sung “O sole mio” against the sun itself, though it sounds good as a joke. In Ruse, we usually say a prayer for clean air before such events.
If you could invite a legendary tenor from the past to perform on stage for one night, who would you choose and why?
If I could invite one of the great tenors, it would definitely be Beniamino Gigli. The difference between us and him would perhaps be the most fundamental, and it would give the audience a very clear idea of just how much opera singing has changed over time.
