The journey into the world of ‘Draconia‘ continues with the release of two new behind-the-scenes EPK videos, this time focusing on two of the project’s most important characters: Göran Edman, who takes on the pivotal role of the Storyteller, and Stefan Nykvist, who portrays Mohdrai, the ruthless reptilian overlord and the opera’s main antagonist.
Created by Nikolo Kotzev, the acclaimed composer behind the legendary rock opera ‘Nostradamus‘, ‘Draconia‘ is a four-act symphonic rock opera spanning over 120 minutes of music across 22 songs. Conceived as a true movie in music, the project combines real orchestra, choir, rock band and an outstanding international cast to tell an epic story of forbidden love, corruption, sacrifice and the eternal struggle between good and evil.
The first of the two new videos shines the spotlight on Stefan Nykvist, whose character Mohdrai stands at the center of the forces threatening humanity.
Reflecting on the demanding recording sessions, Nykvist said: “It was quite a challenge singing these parts. They were very demanding, but we got there.”
Describing his character, he added: “Mohdrai is this reptilian overlord, a bloodthirsty beast. He wants to end the human race, so he’s evil and constantly making sinister plans together with his mother, Reptilah, sung by Veronica Freeman, and his sister Gamohra, sung by Ronnie Grace. They’re quite an evil family.”
Kotzev explains that Mohdrai represents the principal force of darkness within the story, the character around whom much of the conflict revolves.
The second EPK highlights the extraordinary contribution of Göran Edman, who not only performs the role of the Storyteller but has also become one of the musical pillars of the entire production.
Introducing his longtime friend and collaborator, Kotzev explains: “Göran is the Storyteller. He appears throughout the opera, telling the entire story and driving the narrative forward.”
Rather than recording together in the studio, Kotzev and Edman used a remote workflow between Bulgaria and Sweden over the course of almost a year. “We realized we wouldn’t be able to finish everything in one week, so we found software that allowed us to work as if we were sitting in the same room. We ended up doing between twenty and thirty recording sessions.”
Edman‘s contribution extends far beyond his lead vocals. Kotzev reveals that he also recorded virtually every choir heard throughout the opera. “Out of the twenty-two songs, only two don’t feature a choir. Göran is the voice behind all those choirs. Even though he has just turned seventy, he still sounds like a little boy.”
To achieve the enormous choral sound heard in Draconia, every vocal harmony was recorded repeatedly and meticulously layered. “Each choir line was sung six times before being stacked and doubled. The result creates the feeling of a mixed choir of almost fifty people. It’s painstaking work, but the result is amazing.”
Kotzev also underlines the dramatic importance of the choir within Draconia. “The choir is almost a character itself. Sometimes it represents the forces of good, sometimes the forces of evil. Like the chorus in ancient Greek tragedy, it comments on the action and even enters into dialogue with the characters.”
He concludes by paying tribute to Edman‘s remarkable work: “Kudos to the unsung hero, Göran Edman. He has done some truly amazing work.”
These new recordings further strengthen an already impressive cast that includes Joe Lynn Turner as Wiseman, Dino Jelusick as Freedom, Veronica ‘The V’ Freeman as Reptilah, Ronnie Grace as Gamohra and Nikola Zdravkov as Crow, while the female lead Hope has already been assigned to a well-known singer whose identity will be revealed soon.
With every new recording session and every new EPK, Draconia continues to unveil the extraordinary artistic vision behind one of the most ambitious symphonic rock productions of recent decades.
More news, music and cast announcements will follow soon.
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