European musical theatre star Alexandra-Yoana Alexandrova makes her debut home

Alexandra-Yoana Alexandrova, an actress, singer and model with impressive looks, musical talent and a vibrant stage presence, was in Sofia at the end of July and beginning of August, performing the role of Cosette in the popular musical Les Misérables as part of the Opera on the Square festival.

Born in Sofia about three decades ago, Alexandra is the daughter of opera prima Elena Stoyanova and ballet artist Alexander Alexandrov. They were leading soloists at the Sofia Opera and Ballet when they left Bulgaria in the 1990s. Consequently, Alexandra-Yoana grew up in Germany and now lives in Austria. She has performed in prestigious theatres across Europe.

After graduating from a Danish high school specialising in music and the arts, she moved to Vienna for further education, earning a master's degree in theatre, film and media studies.

This marked the beginning of her life as an artist. She has enjoyed success in singing, musicals, theatre, dancing, dubbing, dramaturgy, songwriting and photography/video. She works as a model and actress in film, television and advertising.

Last autumn, Alexandra-Yoana received the German Musical Theatre Prize (the German equivalent of the US Tony Awards) in the "Best Actress in a Leading Role" category at a ceremony in Berlin. She was also recently nominated for the prestigious Austrian music theatre award, the Österreichischer Musiktheater Preis, alongside opera stars such as Lisette Oropesa and Katherine Broderick.

On 17 September, however, the Best Actress award went to the dazzling Lisette Oropesa, an American of Cuban descent who performs in some of the world's greatest theatres. Meanwhile, the award for Best Musical Production went to the State Theatre in Linz for Andrew Lloyd Webber's School of Rock, in which the talented Bulgarian actress plays the lead role.

Despite her extensive stage experience, performing in the Sofia production of Les Misérables was an incredibly exciting opportunity for her, not only because it marked her Bulgarian debut, but also because it was her first time performing in the world-famous musical produced by the legendary Cameron Mackintosh.

Although she has performed in open-air venues before, she says that the experience in Sofia was incredibly moving. "Singing in front of St Alexander Nevsky Cathedral was a once-in-a-lifetime experience," she says. "The temple was part of the scenery, and as a devout Christian, making my debut right in front of this church was very special for me. Many big stars in the world of musical theatre have been rejected specifically for Les Misérables. I auditioned for two roles: Eponine and Cosette. I was cast in both, which was such a gift that I will never forget it."

When talking about the whole Les Misérables experience in Sofia, we cannot fail to mention the production's conductor, the renowned Wagner specialist Constantin Trinks.

Les Misérables - the Sofia opera production.

"Working with him was a real pleasure, and I told him that his conducting gestures make such a difference to an artist on stage! In musicals, we shouldn't look directly at the conductor. You can only glance at the conductor, but very subtly and unobtrusively. In opera, however, singers can often be seen standing and singing their aria while communicating directly with the conductor. Unfortunately, this sometimes causes the artist to break character, albeit only for a few seconds — because they are making music with the conductor.

In musicals, this is totally forbidden. It was wonderful to know that you could rely on his expressive cueing gestures 100 per cent, that whenever I asked, 'I need a big gesture here,' I always got it. Even when I watched a rehearsal from behind, it was a joy to observe him. He moves like a swan! His whole body is music! I told him, 'I have worked with many conductors, and I am really happy to have worked with you. I hope to see you again on another stage one day, perhaps in Germany.'"

The opening night of SHREK, September 5th, Landestheater Linz.

Alexandra is happy that she has met Bulgarian artists such as Vladimir Mihaylov, Orlin Pavlov, Atanas Srebrev and Vesela Delcheva. "The truth is that these people's hearts are in the right place. They have not lost their humaneness, they're not just machines or some pompous stars... It was so easy for me to work with them even though I was in a new country and language! I've never sung or acted in Bulgarian before. Not only are they great people, they are also phenomenal artists! I will always remember this summer with a huge smile!"

She considers herself a citizen of the world, yet holds tightly to her Bulgarian identity. Her name, Alexandra-Yoana Alexandrova, is quite unique, and she takes pride in it because it was given to her by her parents, whom she loves very much. "The audience and my fans like me because of the voice I inherited from my Bulgarian parents. As we all know, some of the most beautiful and powerful voices are born in the Balkan countries. There is no one else abroad with this name. I am therefore proud and happy to have it, and I cherish it..."

In August, Alexandra also made her debut in Bulgaria in yet another role: she led a masterclass in vocal and acting skills for musicals as part of an international summer festival. This festival is a co-production with Austrian institutions and has been held at the National School of Folk Arts in Shiroka Luka for 20 years.

"I adore Bulgarian folk singing, and although I dare say that I am a pretty good professional singer, I don't master these techniques... I can do them more or less, but they're not authentic as they are taught in Shiroka Luka..."

She said she was honoured to teach her art in the heart of the Rhodopes, and in her free time she took the opportunity to walk in the mountains. "There are many places to see in Bulgaria. There are so many treasures – of course, the sea, but also the mountains, caves, many rivers and lakes... natural magic that not every country has."

What is the first thing that comes to mind when she says "Bulgaria"?

"Folk songs! When I think of Bulgaria, folk costumes are the first thing that come to mind. My great-grandfather, my father's grandfather, was one of the most important choreographers of folk dances of the Shopluka region. My mother is from the Rhodope region, so I know many songs from there. But I also immediately think of banitsa. I love banitsa!"

In the BNR studio with sound engineer Vili Galabov.

The beautiful and very slim Alexandra-Yoana candidly admits that she associates Bulgaria with "many delicacies and delicious food that you can't eat anywhere else." She has visited her homeland often over the past year, and she has many upcoming engagements in Austria and Germany in the coming months. So she doesn’t know when she will return here — but she would like it to be as soon as possible, because her wonderful colleagues from the Opera and her enthusiastic audience are already waiting for her in Sofia.

Editor: Elena Karkalanova

Posted in English by E. Radkova

Photos: Facebook/ Alexandra-Yoana Alexandrova, Sofia Opera House, Tsvetana Toncheva

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European musical theatre star Alexandra-Yoana Alexandrova makes her debut home

Subtitle: 'Bulgaria has so much talent, and there are so many phenomenal artists working at the Sofia Opera,' says the soloist of the State Theatre in Linz

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