Sonya Yoncheva: A Multifaceted Soprano Excelling Onstage and Beyond

Sonya Yoncheva has earned recognition as one of the most adaptable and compelling opera performers of her generation.

Her breakthrough came in 2014 when she stepped in at the last minute to perform Mimi in Puccini’s “La Bohème” at the Metropolitan Opera. Currently, Yoncheva is portraying Lisa in Tchaikovsky’s tragic masterpiece “The Queen of Spades,” marking her sixth role debut at this prestigious venue, with performances scheduled through June 7.

At 43, Yoncheva maintains a demanding calendar that recently included a gala at Paris’s Opéra Garnier and her third portrayal of the title role in Tchaikovsky’s “Iolanta” at the Vienna State Opera. This summer, she is set to present works by Handel, Bellini, and others across European stages.

Through her production company, SY11 Events, Yoncheva will appear in August at outdoor concerts in Sofia, Bulgaria, sharing the stage with renowned tenors Vittorio Grigolo, José Carreras, and Plácido Domingo. Founded in 2020, SY11 Events recently partnered with the Naïve label to release her album “George,” inspired by the life and legacy of French writer George Sand, famed for her complex relationship with composer Frédéric Chopin.

In an unconventional artistic endeavor, Yoncheva published the 2023 book “Fifteen Mirrors,” which blends intimate reflections on various characters with photographic portraits showcasing her in diverse personas.

Speaking from near Geneva, where she resides with her husband, conductor Domingo Hindoyan, and their two children, Yoncheva explained, “I see my work as an evolving journey. The interpretative aspect often takes precedence over the singing itself.”