Worldwide Artists Ltd. - Vania Vatralova-Stankov - Soprano

Vania Vatralova-Stankov has established herself as one of Bulgaria's leading sopranos. In April, Vania performed the title role of 'Carmen' with Opera Varna to great critical-acclaim and she looks forward to a return visit in the main role of 'La Traviata' in May this year. Other recent highlights include a concert of Bulgarian music with the English Chamber Orchestra at Cadogan Hall in January 2012 as part of London Festival of Bulgarian Culture and she was delighted to participate in the project of Anna Bolena with the Royal Philharmonic Orchestra at the Tower of London Festival in the title role.

Vania has performed with many other orchestras including Sofia Philharmonic, Sofia Soloists Chamber Orchestra, Madrid Players and Valencia Baroque Orchestra under such conductors as Alexander Kantorov, Alex Ingram, Georgio Leardini and Yordan Kamdzhalov at major concert halls throughout Spain, Bulgaria and the UK including Palau De La Musica in Valencia, the Bulgarian National Hall and the National Palace of Culture in Sofia, Bulgaria.

Vania Vatralova-Stankov has given numerous recitals such as at Belcanto Dordrecht Festival in Holland, Barcelona's Peralada Festival and at major International Festivals in Bulgaria. Additionally, she has performed many roles with the Swansea City Opera throughout Wales and has appeared in the title roles, Donna Ana (Don Giovanni), Fiordeligi (Cosi Fan Tutte), and Michaela (Carmen) with the Royal Opera School in Madrid and Violeta (La Traviata), Rusalka and Anna Bolena with the Welsh National Opera School.

Vania is delighted to have participated in Master Classes with such eminent artists as Montserrat Caballé, Renata Scotto and Mirella Freni and was a finalist in the Premio Caruso Competition in Italy and the Logroño International Competition in Spain, where she was also awarded the competition's scholarship.

She is a recipient of numerous prizes including the Donizetti Award from the Welsh National Opera School for two years in a row as well as awards from the Belcanto Festival in Doodrecht, Holland and from the Spanish Ministry of Education.

Vania graduated in Bulgaria and Spain with the highest qualifications in both violin and singing and she completed her postgraduate opera course at the Royal Opera School in Madrid under the tutelage of Professor Ana Fernaud.

Equally passionate about chamber music, Vania formed 'Stankov Ensemble' with her husband, the violinist, Ivo Stankov (see ensembles page).

Vania Vatralova-Stankov has recorded for all of the major Spanish and Bulgarian television and radio channels including BNR, RTVE, Antena 3, Canal 9, and TV3. CD recordings include 'Misterio de Elche' (Mystery of Elche), a spectacle declared by UNESCO as Patrimony of the Humanity Treasure, and more recently, she released a CD entitled 'Operatic Favourites' with the Sofia Symphony Orchestra to great critical acclaim.

UPDATED March 2012 - DO NOT REPRODUCE WITHOUT PERMISSION FROM Worldwide Artists Ltd. (www.worldwideartists.com)