4 Of Vesselina Kasarova’s Iconic Roles

By Francisco Salazar

Vesselina Kasarova has had a career filled with many successes all around the world. Her repertoire has been extensive and she has collaborated with many of the great conductors and artists of her generation.

To commemorate her birthday on July 18, let’s take a look at some of the recordings and roles that have defined her career and have made her the international star she is today.

Tancredi 

Today, this Rossini masterpiece is rarely heard on the international stage and while there have been a few revivals, it remains obscure. However, this was the opera that brought Kasarova international acclaim when she took flight in Salzburg in 1992, replacing Marilyn Horne on a short notice. She would later record it for RCA alongside her frequent collaborator Eva Mei and garner more acclaim for her Rossini repertoire.

I Capuleti e Montecchi

Kasarova was no stranger to the pants role and she sang multiple operas by Bellini including “Beatrice di Tenda.” However, her Romeo in “I Capuleti e Montecchi” was sought-after for years and she took on the character for the last time alongside Anna Netrebko in 2012. She also recorded the full work alongside Eva Mei and Ramón Vargas for RCA.

La Clemenza di Tito 

Kasarova was well-known and garnered high praise for her Mozart interpretations throughout her career. However, it was as Sesto in “La Clemenza di Tito” that she became iconic.  Kasarova went on to record the opera on CD and has two DVDs of the work, one from the Salzburg Festival and the other from the Zürich Opera with Jonas Kaufmann and Eva Mei.

Alcina

Kasarova was no stranger to the baroque repertoire, having sung multiple operas by Gluck and Handel. But her most famous interpretation was as Ruggiero in “Alcina.” She sang it around the world and her rendition was immortalized on CD and DVD from the Vienna State Opera with Anja Harteros.

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