Valentin Peytchinov
Artistic Director of Vocal Arts
Bulgarian-American bass Valentin Peytchinov has sung extensively
throughout the world and made his home in New York City. He
has appeared all over his native Bulgaria and on the opera,
concert and recital stages of the United States, Italy, Germany,
Austria, Mexico, Canada, Ireland, Egypt, Poland, China.
His teachers and mentors include Gian Carlo Menotti, Ghena
Dimitrova, Nikolai Ghiaurov, Peter Gougaloff, Enrico di
Giuseppe, Raina Michailova, Alberta Masiello, Jane Klaviter.
In 2000 Mr. Peytchinov was named a Metropolitan Opera
principle artist and has made regular appearances on the stages
of New York City Opera, Carnegie Hall and Lincoln Center.
Mr. Peytchinov has received critical acclaim for his performances
in the roles of Attila, Banquo, Basilio, Enrico VIII, Fiesco, The
Flying Dutchman, Mephistopheles, Mustafa, Pagano, Phillipe II,
Procida, Ramfis, King Rene, Roger, and Zaccaria, among many
others. Major U.S. appearances include performances with The
Columbus Symphony, The Juilliard Opera Orchestra, Nashville
Opera, New European Strings, New York Grand Opera,
Orchestra of St. Luke's, Spoleto Festival, Pasadena Symphony,
Montreal Opera, The Santa Fe Symphony etc.
Mr. Peytchinov was represented by and worked with numerous agents/managers.
Alphabetically:
CAMI, Ioan Holender Agency, Lombardo Associates, Pinnacle Arts Management,
Randsman Artists Management.
He made his New York debut at Alice Tully Hall in
Shostakovich's 14th Symphony in 1988, and his U.S. debut with
the Santa Fe Symphony in Beethoven's 9th Symphony. In 1990
Mr. Peytchinov was the winner in the America Opera Auditions,
and in 1993 was the bass finalist in the Luciano Pavarotti
Competition. He has earned additional recognition as the
recipient of awards from both the Sullivan Foundation and Olga
Forrai Foundation.
Formally trained as a pianist and composer, Mr. Peytchinov was
awarded the Gold Medal at the Bulgarian National Conservatory
“Pancho Vladigherov” for superior achievement in vocal
performance, as well as the Misha Popov Award for vocal
excellence. He studied with the Bulgarian opera star Raina Michailova (trained by Christina Morfova) In 1981, he was invited and participated in The Young
Artists Bayreuth Program and Festival. At the recommendation
of Gian Carlo Menotti, Mr. Peytchinov was given a full
scholarship to the Juilliard Opera Center and accepted on credentials only
with no examination, where he studied voice with Enrico di Giuseppe.
Mr. Peytchinov was the first singer in The Juilliard School of Music from the
Eastern Bloc Countries.
Since immigrating to the U.S. in 1988, Mr. Peytchinov has
maintained an international presence performing in music
festivals, recitals and concerts. He was featured in two all-
Shostakovich concerts in Seattle as part of an International
Music Festival (with the New European Strings) broadcast on
National Public Radio. He performed as the bass soloist in a
critically acclaimed world premiere of Shostakovich's two-piano
version of the Thirteenth Symphony, Babi Yar, in New York City
and subsequently internationally. This performance featured
pianists Misha and Cipa Dichter, and poet Yevgeny Yevtushenko
reading his famous text. Reviewed by the New York Times as "an
illuminating performance," the concert commemorated the 65th
anniversary of the Baby Yar massacre. Later Mr. Peytchinov performed
the 13th and 14th Symphony in numerous Festivals in various Countries.
Mr. Peytchinov was Chair of the Arts and Culture Festival of
Sophia 2010 World Women’s Conference and part of
the International Headquarters’ Council. He is on the Advisory
Committee of the Olga Forrai Foundation, that supports
dramatic voices and conductors. As an educator and supporter of vocal talents,
Maestro Peytchinov established “The Valentin Peytchinov Vocal
Studio” (known also as VP Vocal Studio) in New York City. VP Studio takes part and participates every year in the International Festival "Sofia Music Weeks". He contributed his vocal expertise to “pierStudios'' in NYC as well. Mr. Peytchinov is the Founder and the Artistic Director of Vocal Productions NYC, Vocal Productions Bulgaria
and Vocal Productions Asia where he nurtures young talent by
regularly giving Master Classes and Master Courses for all vocal
genres. Some of his productions include: Concert Tours and fully
staged uncut operas in original languages: Don Giovanni, Faust, Il Trovatore, Il
Barbiere di Siviglia, Ernani, Ballo in Maschera, The Flying
Dutchman, Pagliacci, Les Contes d’Hoffmann, Don Carlo, Lucia di
Lammermoor, I Pagliacci, Iolanta, Dido and Aeneas, Brahms Requiem, Rossini Stabat Mater, Mozart Requiem, etc.