Nikolay Zdravkov was born on 10.02.1923 in the village of. He was born on 19.02.2007 in Brusartsi, Lomsko. He graduated from the Theological Seminary in Sofia. From 1948 to 1952 he studied opera singing with the two great teachers of the Bulgarian State Conservatory Katja Spiridonova and prof. Iliya Yosifov. At that time he also sang in the choir "Kaval" and later became a soloist of the ensemble of the Ministry of the Interior. An important moment of his professional growth was his one-year specialization in 1955-56 at the Moscow Bolshoi Theatre, where he studied under Boris Pokrovsky.
In February 1953 he was appointed trainee soloist at the Ruse Opera. Just two months later he made his successful debut in the role of Mario Cavaradossi from Giacomo Puccini's opera Tosca. In the same year the young artist won his first laureate title and a gold medal at the Youth Festival in Bucharest, and in 1954 - the Second Prize at the Destinova-Burian Competition in Prague. In 1956 he was first - this time in Vervieux, Belgium, where he was offered a long-term contract. His path to an international career was open - in the following years he received many offers to work on prestigious stages, including the Paris Grand Opera.
For the cultural community in Ruse, the talented young man, who also has a beautiful stage appearance, turns out to be a real find. With his first performances and concerts Nikolay Zdravkov became an undisputed favourite of the Ruse audience. He reciprocated this great love and remained faithful to Ruse for the rest of his life. During his 30 years of active artistic activity as the first tenor of the Ruse Opera, he made guest appearances in various cities of the country and abroad. His successful tours took him to the Soviet Union, Austria, Finland, Yugoslavia, Belgium, Turkey, Poland, Czechoslovakia, China, Mexico and Cuba. He created more than 50 roles from the classical and contemporary repertoire. The number of his performances is respectable - over 1 500. Nikolay Zdravkov's concert appearances at home and abroad are also numerous.
The first role for which he became nationally known was Nadir from "Pearl Hunters". Next came the Duke from Rigoletto, Pinkerton from Madame Butterfly, Lensky from Eugene Onegin, De Grey from Manon, Werther and André Chenier from the operas of the same name. His success in the role of Riccardo from "Masked Ball" was exceptional. For his performances in Rigoletto and Madame Butterfly in 1959, the Ruthenian tenor received the state Dimitrov Prize, and later became a People's Artist - an exceptional vocation for his talent.
There are many great roles for which Nikolai Zdravkov will remain in the history of the Bulgarian opera theatre, but behind the interwoven lines of these numerous human masks always plays his own, unique image, illuminated from within, which gives life to all of them individually. And so his best characters are born for the audience - illuminated by deep spirituality, tenderness and nobility, alive and full-blooded, different and unique.
For his outstanding contribution to Bulgarian culture during his lifetime Nikolay Zdravkov was awarded the Order of Cyril and Methodius, 1st degree, and was awarded the Ruse and Golden Lyre prizes.
By the "will of fate" he said goodbye to theatre, art and the audience on 18 December 1989 again as Cavaradossi from Tosca, performing the popular aria "There the stars shone" during the jubilee concert dedicated to the 40th anniversary of the Rousse Opera.
The people of Rousse bid farewell to their talented fellow citizen forever on January 7, 1990.
Today the name of Nikolay Zdravkov is synonymous with the Ruse Opera, to which he generously devotes his talent.
For the generations after him he remains an indisputable example of one of the builders of Bulgarian opera.
"Gifted by nature with a wonderful voice, innate musicality and charming radiance, Zdravkov has managed to cover a wide range of roles with different character and temperament in his career. Ranging from the lyrical Count Almaviva from The Barber of Seville to Rodolfo from La Boheme, Cavarados from Tosca to the incredibly dramatic Dick Johnson from Puccini's The Girl from the West All of this is not within the power of any tenor. During our long collaboration, I became convinced of his other qualities - sincerity, honesty, humour and humanity. All this makes him an unforgettable figure not only for the Rousse Opera, to which he dedicated his life, but also for the entire Bulgarian musical culture."
Boris Khinchev
"To sing the entire lyrical spinto repertoire in an opera house for so many years and to have it sound so unmistakable and compelling at opera festivals is truly an admirable vocal phenomenon."
Rosalia Bix
