Krassimira Stoyanova is today regarded as one of the leading singers in her field, acclaimed equally by audiences and critics. Born in Bulgaria, she studied voice and violin at the Plovdiv Music Academy. She made her debut at the Sofia National Opera in 1995, where she built up an extensive repertoire, and subsequently launched her international career at the Vienna State Opera. To this day, she is a regular guest at the Haus am Ring; in 2009 she was awarded the title of “Kammersängerin” there.

She appears regularly at the world’s most important opera houses, including the Metropolitan Opera in New York, the Opéra Bastille in Paris, the Royal Opera House, Covent Garden, La Scala in Milan, the Zurich Opera House, and the state operas in Munich, Hamburg, Dresden, and Berlin. In doing so, she collaborates with the most renowned conductors, among them Daniel Barenboim, Riccardo Chailly, Myung-Whun Chung, Vladimir Fedoseyev, Daniele Gatti, Bernard Haitink, Manfred Honeck, Mariss Jansons, Fabio Luisi, James Levine, Zubin Mehta, Riccardo Muti, Seiji Ozawa, Georges Prêtre, Yuri Temirkanov, Christian Thielemann, and Franz Welser-Möst.

The soprano’s operatic repertoire ranges from bel canto roles to the great Verdi and Puccini parts, and extends to Richard Strauss and the Slavic repertoire. She also devotes herself with great passion to rarely performed works, including Donizetti’s Maria di Rohan, Verdi’s La battaglia di Legnano, and Dvořák’s Dimitrij.

In 2003, the artist made her much-acclaimed debut at the Salzburg Festival as Antonia (Les Contes d’Hoffmann). As the Marschallin (Der Rosenkavalier) and Danae (Die Liebe der Danae), she likewise enjoyed great success in Salzburg.

Other important milestones in her career include recitals at the Bavarian State Opera and the Vienna State Opera, at La Scala in Milan and the Vienna Musikverein, performances of Rossini’s Stabat mater with the Chicago Symphony Orchestra under Riccardo Muti, as well as appearances as Aida and Amelia (Simon Boccanegra) at La Scala, a new production of Ariadne auf Naxos at the Semperoper Dresden under Christian Thielemann, concerts with the Vienna Philharmonic, concert performances of Aida with the Chicago Symphony Orchestra, and the Verdi Requiem at the Salzburg Festival under Riccardo Muti, as well as appearances as Leonora (Il trovatore) at the Bavarian State Opera.

Krassimira Stoyanova is also one of the most sought-after singers on the concert stage. She has sung Beethoven’s Ninth Symphony with Riccardo Muti at the Ravenna Festival, with Sir Colin Davis in St. Paul’s Cathedral in London, with Mariss Jansons in the Vatican, and with Christian Thielemann and the Munich Philharmonic, to name just a few. Her concert repertoire includes Verdi’s Requiem, Beethoven’s Missa solemnis, Strauss’s Vier letzte Lieder, Dvořák’s Requiem, and Stabat mater.

Highlights of recent years include Verdi’s Requiem and Beethoven’s Ninth Symphony at La Scala under Riccardo Chailly. She was also heard in a new production of Aida at the Semperoper Dresden under Christian Thielemann, as well as in the title role of Ariadne auf Naxos at La Scala in Milan (musical direction: Zubin Mehta). At the Teatro Real in Madrid, she scored an overwhelming success in the title role of Aida. A few months later, she captivated audiences in Rome with the same role.

In the 2026/27 season, she will make her debut at the Staatsoper Unter den Linden in Berlin as Elisabeth (Tannhäuser) and will also appear there in the title role of Ariadne auf Naxos.

She can also be heard in various concerts throughout Europe. Under the baton of Renaud Capuçon, she will perform Strauss’s Vier letzte Lieder in the season-opening concert of the Orchestre de Chambre de Lausanne; in Stockholm, she will sing Verdi’s Requiem with the Swedish Radio Symphony Orchestra; and in December, she will help bring the Viennese audience into the Christmas season with the traditional concert “Christmas in Vienna.” With the Hamburg State Orchestra under Omer Meir Wellber, she will appear for the first time in the Elbphilharmonie in April 2027 and there sing in Sofia Gubaidulina’s Über Liebe und Hass. In June 2027, she will return to northern Germany for the Hamburg Music Festival and, together with the Hamburg Symphony Orchestra and David Afkham, perform Strauss’s Vier letzte Lieder.

Krassimira Stoyanova’s four solo CDs I palpiti d’amor, Slavic Opera Arias, Verdi, and Verismo on the Orfeo label have been awarded major prizes. Her recording of all songs for soprano and piano by Puccini was released on Naxos.

In addition to her extensive activity on the international opera and concert stages, supporting young singers is also a matter close to her heart. Krassimira Stoyanova is a professor at the University of Music and Performing Arts Vienna and also regularly gives masterclasses.