Kabaivanska, Raina (1934– )

Bulgarian soprano, well known for her performances of Italian opera. She appeared in Bellini's Beatrice di Tenda at La Scala in 1961 and in the following year sang for the first time at the Royal Opera House, Covent Garden, London, and the Metropolitan Opera House, New York. She sang Hélène in Maria Callas's production of Les Vêpres siciliennes in Turin in 1973 and Leonora in Il Trovatore in Genoa in 1991. Her other roles include Nedda, Imogene, Desdemona, Elisabeth de Valois, Lisa, Liù, Tosca, and Madame Butterfly.