Nicolai Ghiaurov (or Nikolai Gjaurov, Nikolay Gyaurov, Bulgarian: Николай Гяуров) (September 13, 1929 – June 2, 2004) was a Bulgarian opera singer and one of the most famous basses of the postwar period. [1] He was admired for his powerful, sumptuous voice, and was particularly associated with roles of Mussorgsky and Verdi.