Feodor Chaliapin visited Bulgaria in October 1934.
Bulgarian Order (Cross) of Saint Alexander
Creation period
1934
Place of сreation
Bulgaria
Dimensions
11,5x5x0,5 cm
Technique
silver, enamel
Collection
Exhibition
0
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He came to Bulgaria during the later years of his career. He had already conquered all the continents, and the great glory of the famous singer and actor shone in our small country as well.
Mikhail Popov
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Yelena Dragostinova, Director of the Boris Christoff House Museum, described Chaliapin’s visit to “Radio Bulgaria”,
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Chaliapin was invited to Bulgaria by the Russian émigrés. Of course, they had waited for him and welcomed him with great enthusiasm. When Chaliapin arrived at the train station and saw a crowd of people, he was perplexed and asked what was going on. When the singer was told that it was Bulgaria greeting him, he was genuinely moved and surprised, even though he had already achieved legendary fame across the world.
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During his sixteen days in the Bulgarian capital, Chaliapin gave five performances with the Sofia National Opera company, each to a packed house. The enthusiastic fans watched and listened with bated breath as the great actor transformed into his three iconic roles: Boris Godunov in the eponymous opera, Prince of Galich and Khan Konchak in the opera “Prince Igor”.
On the last day of his tour, Chaliapin gave a charity performance to raise money for the poor children of Sofia. At the end of the performance, Tsar Boris III of Bulgaria presented Chaliapin with the Order of Saint Alexander, First Grade, as a sign of gratitude. It had an eight-ray silver star with a round medallion in the center. The medallion was covered with red enamel and had an ornamental golden inscription in Slavic script that read “ST. ALEXANDER”. The medallion was surrounded by a broad white enamel ring with the golden inscription “GOD IS WITH US” at the top and two golden laurel wreaths at the bottom.
In an interview with the “Zora” newspaper on October 9, 1934, the singer admitted emotionally,
On the last day of his tour, Chaliapin gave a charity performance to raise money for the poor children of Sofia. At the end of the performance, Tsar Boris III of Bulgaria presented Chaliapin with the Order of Saint Alexander, First Grade, as a sign of gratitude. It had an eight-ray silver star with a round medallion in the center. The medallion was covered with red enamel and had an ornamental golden inscription in Slavic script that read “ST. ALEXANDER”. The medallion was surrounded by a broad white enamel ring with the golden inscription “GOD IS WITH US” at the top and two golden laurel wreaths at the bottom.
In an interview with the “Zora” newspaper on October 9, 1934, the singer admitted emotionally,
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This is my first visit to brotherly Bulgaria. I feel a little embarrassed because, throughout my long career and many years of travel, I have not had the opportunity to visit this country. Stepping onto Bulgarian soil, I felt as if I were entering the house of a kind relative — someone I had not met, but who I had heard so much about as a child from my father and mother, my brothers and sisters. I have been so excited by the wonderful welcome that I am still impressed by the kind applause they gave me.
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Ministry of Culture of the Russian Federation
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Bulgarian Order (Cross) of Saint Alexander
Creation period
1934
Place of сreation
Bulgaria
Dimensions
11,5x5x0,5 cm
Technique
silver, enamel
Collection
Exhibition
0
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