The Bulgarian National Bank announced yesterday in Sofia that they will commemorate late Bulgarian Bass Nicolai Ghiaurov with a new coin. Called "Nikolay Gyaurov", it is part of the "Renowned Bulgarian Voices" series and will be put into circulation on October 27, 2008. It is offered in a denomination of 10 Leva BGN (5 euro). Ghiaurov, the late husband of soprano Mirella Freni, passed away in 2004.
Further remembrance for the late bass is the inauguration of Fondazione Nicolai Ghiaurov, which was announced in Modena earlier this week [website still being developed]. The foundation is dedicated to youngsters for developing their opera skills, as well as an archive for all memorabilia Freni/Ghiaurov.
Freni's been teaching at Modena's Centro Universale del Bel Canto since 2002, where she heads a program for the bel canto technique.