He was born in Sofia on 6/3/1943. He studied monody with renowned Bulgarian and European teachers, including Stojan Kissjov and Anita Salta. He received a Silver Medal in Italy's International Vercelli Opera Competition in 1968 and became staff member of the Sofia National Operetta. In the 1970s, he was hired at the Stadttheater in Passau (Germany), where he debuted as Manrico [The troubadour/Il trovatore] (1971). He then signed a three-year contract with the Gärtnerplatztheater in Munich, where he sang leading roles in operas and operettas. He excelled in Italian opera roles. He appeared in regional German operas and regularly collaborated with Italian conductor Alberto Erede and baritone Tito Gobbi. He distinguished himself as a performer of lead tenor roles in French, Italian, German and Russian operas. His appearance at a German television show with Anneliese Rothenberger in 1977 had a great positive impact on his international career, and subsequently sang in Amsterdam, Sofia, Strasburg, Paris, etc. He made his Vienna State Opera debut in 1979 as Herman in The Queen of Spades [Pique Dame] and subsequently appeared at La Scala Milan as Dimitrii in Boris Godunov. He then sang in London, Vienna, Buenos Aires, Berlin, Munich, Rome, Paris, Zurich, Toronto, Pretoria, Mexico, Salzburg, etc. In 1980 he made his US debut as Ricardo in A Masked Ball [Un ballo in maschera] in Washington. His extensive repertoire includes more than 40 roles. He collaborated with many celebrated soloists, conductors and directors in the period 1970 to 2000. He is a recording artist (Balkanton, ORT, Sony). He collaborated with the GNO once, singing the role of Duke of Mantua [Rigoletto] (1976-77).