site.bta100th Birth Anniversary of Operetta Actress Liliana Koshlukova

Liliana Koshlukova, one of Bulgaria’s most celebrated operetta actresses, was born on October 4, 1925, in Tserovo village, Pazardzhik Region. Her artistic career began in 1946, while she was still a student at the Sofia Music Academy, when she joined the National Opera in Sofia as a chorus girl. During this period, she also auditioned for the Sofia Radio Choir, performing Herodiade by Massenet, and was immediately invited to give a recital. Together with pianist Ruslan Raychev, she performed a cycle of songs by Rachmaninoff.

In 1948, she was appointed to the State Music Theatre under its first director and future patron, Stefan Makedonski. She made her debut in June 1949 as Saffi in Johann Strauss’s The Gypsy Baron, and went on to perform a large number of leading soprano roles.

Her spinto soprano, notable for its ringing high notes and expressive timbre, earned acclaim early in her career. During this time, she also won awards at several competitions.

Her most compelling stage portrayals included Hanna Glawari in The Merry Widow and Lisa in The Land of Smiles by Franz Lehar, Sylva in The Csardas Princess and Maritza in Countess Maritza by Emmerich Kalman, The Princess in The Bird Seller by Carl Zeller, Eurydice in Orpheus in the Underworld and Elena in La Belle Helene by Jacques Offenbach, and Maslarska in The Millionaire by Parashkev Hadjiev.

Koshlukova considered Rosalinde in Strauss’s Die Fledermaus her most challenging role. She also appeared in works such as The Golden Bird by Goleminov, The Free Wind by Dunayevsky, Song of Rebellion by Zlatev-Cherkin, Sevastopol Waltz by Listov, alongside numerous popular concerts and chamber music performances. She performed with all of Bulgaria’s opera and symphony orchestras.

Despite being a favorite of prominent party and state leaders, Koshlukova faced challenges due to her family background. In 1951, she was briefly dismissed from the theatre. In the following years, even as a highly acclaimed artist, she was often barred from performing abroad, particularly in Western theatres.

Nevertheless, her talent opened doors to some of Europe’s most prestigious stages. In 1959, she toured the Stanislavski and Nemirovich-Danchenko Music Theatre in Moscow. In 1960–1961, she again performed in operetta in Moscow. She also gave concerts in Prague (1949, 1960), Budapest (1949, 1960), Bucharest (1953), Ukraine (1959), and China (1959). With the State Music Theatre, she toured Russia, Poland, Greece, Turkiye, and Algeria.

In 1965–1966, Koshlukova joined the Sofia Opera as a soloist, performing roles such as Tosca in Puccini’s Tosca, Ellen in Britten’s Peter Grimes, and appearing in Rameau’s Les Indes Galantes.

She recorded her first album in 1964, followed by two more. Her recordings are preserved in the golden archives of Bulgarian National Radio and Bulgarian National Television. The State Archive in Pazardzhik holds a personal collection of her donated documents.

Koshlukova served on the jury of the first national competition for young operetta artists, held from December 8–12, 1997 at the Prof. Pancho Vladigerov Music Academy, as well as on the juries of the next two editions.

By the late 1990s, she retired from active performance, focusing on mentoring selected students.

Koshlukova passed away in June 2005.