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Vesna Ginovska-Ilkova
Soprano
Maqedoni
Vitet aktive: 2019, 2020, 2021, 2023
Vesna Ginovska-Ilkova is a Macedonian soprano who over the past two decades has been a leading dramatic soprano of the Macedonian Opera and Ballet. Known for her velvety voice, charisma, and strong musical dramatic expression, she is often praised for her refined piano singing and distinctive vocal artistry.
She made her national debut as Micaëla in Bizet's "Carmen" in 1996 and became an opera soloist the same year. Critics recognized her as a young spinto soprano with exceptional legato and masterful vocal technique. Her international debut began at the Sofia National Opera in 2001, where she prepared the technically demanding role of Elisabetta in Verdi's "Don Carlo", which led to further engagements, including work on "Tosca" and guest appearances abroad.
She later appeared at the opening of the summer festival in Pula with HNK Zagreb as Aida in Verdi's "Aida". She performed Desdemona with the Ljubljana Philharmonic (with tenor Janez Lotrič as Otello). A particularly important collaboration was her appearance at the Aspendos Festival in Antalya, where the celebrated tenor Nikola Martinucci appeared as Radamès. Her portrayal of Cio-Cio-San in Puccini's "Madama Butterfly" became especially associated with her and was widely noted for its impact on both critics and audiences.
Her roles include Liù in Puccini's "Turandot" (praised for her phrasing and sensibility), Mimì in Puccini's "La bohème", Santuzza in Mascagni's "Cavalleria rusticana", Leonora in Verdi's "La forza del destino", Amelia in Verdi's "Un ballo in maschera", the title role in Puccini's "Turandot", Gioconda in Ponchielli's "La Gioconda", Lady Macbeth in Verdi's "Macbeth", Amelia Grimaldi in Verdi's "Simon Boccanegra", and Odabella in Verdi's "Attila".
In concert she has performed with the Macedonian Philharmonic, Slovenian Philharmonic, Sofia Philharmonic, and the chamber ensemble Bacchus, and she has given numerous recitals. In 2000 she appeared at the ceremonial opening of the "Ohrid Summer" Festival with the Macedonian Philharmonic, performing Beethoven's Symphony No. 9, and she also appeared at the opening of "Skopje Summer" with Verdi's Requiem, as well as at the opening of the Struga Poetry Evenings. Her recital repertoire includes works by Schubert, Schumann, Tchaikovsky, Glinka, Weber, Liszt, Sibelius, Bernstein, and others.
For her home institution she has recorded several premiere performances and released a CD titled "True Values" (2006). Her honors include the 13 November Award of the City of Skopje (2002), the "In the World of Success" award (2005), recognition as an honorary ambassador of the Chamber of Commerce of Macedonia (2006), the Golden Lyre award from the Association of Music Artists of Macedonia (2009), and the "Virtuosi" award for music-stage artist of the year (2014).
Vesna Ginovska-Ilkova was born in 1972 in Skopje. She graduated in 1994 in the class of Prof. Milka Eftimova at the Faculty of Music Arts, and in 2008 she completed her master's degree in Belgrade in the class of Prof. Radmila Bakočević. She has attended seminars with world-renowned pedagogues including Raina Kabaivanska and Gimet Lourens. She debuted on the stage of the Macedonian Opera and Ballet in March 1996, became a soloist the same year, and later was named a leading soloist of the Macedonian Opera and Ballet (MOB).
She made her national debut as Micaëla in Bizet's "Carmen" in 1996 and became an opera soloist the same year. Critics recognized her as a young spinto soprano with exceptional legato and masterful vocal technique. Her international debut began at the Sofia National Opera in 2001, where she prepared the technically demanding role of Elisabetta in Verdi's "Don Carlo", which led to further engagements, including work on "Tosca" and guest appearances abroad.
She later appeared at the opening of the summer festival in Pula with HNK Zagreb as Aida in Verdi's "Aida". She performed Desdemona with the Ljubljana Philharmonic (with tenor Janez Lotrič as Otello). A particularly important collaboration was her appearance at the Aspendos Festival in Antalya, where the celebrated tenor Nikola Martinucci appeared as Radamès. Her portrayal of Cio-Cio-San in Puccini's "Madama Butterfly" became especially associated with her and was widely noted for its impact on both critics and audiences.
Her roles include Liù in Puccini's "Turandot" (praised for her phrasing and sensibility), Mimì in Puccini's "La bohème", Santuzza in Mascagni's "Cavalleria rusticana", Leonora in Verdi's "La forza del destino", Amelia in Verdi's "Un ballo in maschera", the title role in Puccini's "Turandot", Gioconda in Ponchielli's "La Gioconda", Lady Macbeth in Verdi's "Macbeth", Amelia Grimaldi in Verdi's "Simon Boccanegra", and Odabella in Verdi's "Attila".
In concert she has performed with the Macedonian Philharmonic, Slovenian Philharmonic, Sofia Philharmonic, and the chamber ensemble Bacchus, and she has given numerous recitals. In 2000 she appeared at the ceremonial opening of the "Ohrid Summer" Festival with the Macedonian Philharmonic, performing Beethoven's Symphony No. 9, and she also appeared at the opening of "Skopje Summer" with Verdi's Requiem, as well as at the opening of the Struga Poetry Evenings. Her recital repertoire includes works by Schubert, Schumann, Tchaikovsky, Glinka, Weber, Liszt, Sibelius, Bernstein, and others.
For her home institution she has recorded several premiere performances and released a CD titled "True Values" (2006). Her honors include the 13 November Award of the City of Skopje (2002), the "In the World of Success" award (2005), recognition as an honorary ambassador of the Chamber of Commerce of Macedonia (2006), the Golden Lyre award from the Association of Music Artists of Macedonia (2009), and the "Virtuosi" award for music-stage artist of the year (2014).
Vesna Ginovska-Ilkova was born in 1972 in Skopje. She graduated in 1994 in the class of Prof. Milka Eftimova at the Faculty of Music Arts, and in 2008 she completed her master's degree in Belgrade in the class of Prof. Radmila Bakočević. She has attended seminars with world-renowned pedagogues including Raina Kabaivanska and Gimet Lourens. She debuted on the stage of the Macedonian Opera and Ballet in March 1996, became a soloist the same year, and later was named a leading soloist of the Macedonian Opera and Ballet (MOB).