Full Biography
Svetlina Stoyanova is a celebrated Bulgarian mezzo-soprano whose expressive artistry, radiant voice, and captivating stage presence have earned her widespread acclaim from audiences and critics alike. Praised for her “warm, resonant timbre” (Opera Gazet), Stoyanova has graced some of the world’s most renowned opera houses, including the Vienna State Opera, Teatro alla Scala, Hamburg State Opera, Deutsche Oper am Rhein, Opernhaus Zürich, among others.
In the 2025/26 season, Stoyanova returns to Opernhaus Zürich as Hänsel in a new production of Hänsel und Gretel and performs the role again with the Philharmonie Luxembourg. She can be heard at Teatro alla Scala as Wellgunde in a new production by David McVicar of Götterdämmerung as well as in Das Rheingold under the baton of Alexander Soddy and Simone Young and makes a house debut at the Royal Opera House, Covent Garden, where she presents her acclaimed portrayal of Cherubino in Le nozze di Figaro.
Stoyanova’s international breakthrough came in 2016 with third prize at Le Grand Prix de l’Opéra in Bucharest. In 2017, she won first prize at Neue Stimmen, launching engagements at major European opera houses. As a member of the Wiener Staatsoper ensemble for the 2018/19 and 2019/20 seasons, she shone in roles including Rosina (Il barbiere di Siviglia), Lola (Cavalleria rusticana), Zerlina (Don Giovanni), and Cherubino (Le nozze di Figaro). In 2021, Stoyanova made her debuts at the Bolshoi Theatre as Rosina, at Sofia National Opera as Angelina, and at Teatro alla Scala as Cherubino, followed by Rosina in a new production by Leo Muscato. In 2022, she sang Ruggiero (Alcina) for the first time at the Glyndebourne Festival, Ganymed (Die schöne Galathee) with the Münchner Rundfunkorchester under Ivan Repušić, Beppe (L’amico Fritz) at Het Concertgebouw in Amsterdam, and Marguerite (La damnation de Faust) with Filarmonica Arad and Filarmonica Banatul Timișoara under Sascha Goetzel. In 2023, she made her role debut as Stéphano (Roméo et Juliette) at Opernhaus Zürich. Recent highlights include the Komponist (Ariadne auf Naxos) at Teatr Wielki in Warsaw, Angelina at Deutsche Oper am Rhein, Sesto (Giulio Cesare) at the Glyndebourne Festival, and Stéphano at Theater an der Wien.
As a concert soloist, Stoyanova has appeared at prestigious venues and festivals including the Musikverein in Vienna, Wigmore Hall in London, Sofia Music Weeks International Festival, Bregenz Festival, and Rossini Opera Festival. Her concert repertoire includes major works such as Elgar’s The Dream of Gerontius, Vivaldi’s Gloria, Beethoven’s Mass in C Major, Mahler’s Symphony No. 4 and Rückert Lieder, Mozart’s Requiem, Rossini’s Messa di Milano and Petite messe solennelle, as well as Dvořák’s Mass in D Major. In 2025, she sang Berg’s Sieben frühe Lieder under Sascha Goetzel in Kioi Hall, Tokyo.
Her artistic contributions have been recognized with several honors, including a place in Forbes Bulgaria’s “30 Under 30” list in 2019, the Daniel Froschauer Award, The Silver Medal of the Worshipful Company of Musicians, and a certificate from the Bulgarian Ministry of Culture for her role in promoting Bulgarian culture internationally.
Born in Sofia, Bulgaria, she began her musical journey as a soloist with the Children’s Choir of the Bulgarian National Radio, performing for nine years and laying the foundation for her future career. Initially pursuing psychology at the University of Glasgow, Stoyanova ultimately followed her passion for music, enrolling at the Royal Conservatoire of Scotland under the tutelage of Clare Shearer. She earned a Bachelor’s degree with honors and continued with two Master’s degrees in Vocal Performance and Opera.
©CSAM, February 2026
