Alexandrina Pendatchanska is a Bulgarian operatic soprano. Increasingly, she is known professionally as Alex Penda.
Career
Pendatchanska was born in Sofia, Bulgaria into a family of renowned Bulgarian musicians. Her grandfather Sasha Popov was a violinist and conductor and the founder of the Sofia Philharmonic Orchestra. Her mother Valerie Popova was an internationally acclaimed soprano who sung regularly at La Scala in Milan from 1983 to 1986. She studied piano from early childhood and graduated from Bulgaria's National School of Music, where her subjects were piano and singing. Her vocal teacher was her mother, Valerie Popova. Making her stage debut at age 17 in the role of Violetta in La traviata, she soon won the Antonín Dvořák Competition in Karlovy Vary, was placed second in the International Vocal Competition in Bilbao in 1988, and won UNISA singing competition in Pretoria in 1989. The soprano's debut outside Bulgaria took place in Bilbao, where she sang the title role in Lucia di Lammermoor. Since 1989 she has sung in many of the most prestigious opera housesaround the world, including those in Vienna, Paris, Berlin, New York, Rome, Brussels, Washington, Hamburg, Moscow, Turin, Naples, Santa Fe, Bregenz, Monte Carlo, and Tel Aviv. Pendatchanska performed the title role of Esclarmonde at Teatro Regio in Turin in November 1992 at the age of 22, at which time she was even younger than that of Sybil Sanderson, who created the infamously difficult role at age 24. During the 1997–2001 operatic seasons Pendatchanska sang the role of Elisabetta in Roberto Devereux, Adina in Adina, Suor Angelica in Suor Angelica, Luisa in Luisa Miller, and in Ermione. Her other operatic roles include:
During the summer 2014 festival season, under the name of Alex Penda, she appeared in The Santa Fe Opera's new production of Beethoven's Fidelio, singing the role of Leonore.
Critical reception
On the stage Alexandrina Pendatchanska is particularly praised for her Mozart and bel canto roles, specializing in passionate ladies such as the three Mozart queens, Vitellia, Donna Elvira and Elettra, the last which had often been cited as the definitive interpretation. Besides being active on the stage, she also sings concert programs around the world including music festivals. Her concert repertoire includes the Requiem by Verdi, Rossini's Stabat Mater and Petite messe solennelle, and Le Roi David by Honegger.
Recordings
Alexandrina Pendatchanska also has a varied discography. She has recorded operas by Glinka, Donizetti, Verdi, Rossini and Mozart. With René Jacobs she recorded for Harmonia Mundi the role of Vitellia in La Clemenza di Tito, as well as her signature roles Donna Elvira, Elettra, Agrippina and Arminda. Her latest CD recording is for NAXOS in the role of Semiramide in Rossini's opera of that name. She has also recorded two operatic recitals albums, Alexandrina Pendatchanska and Genuine - Dramatic Coloratura Album. Apart from audio recordings she has also appeared in a few operatic DVDs, including:
