čangalović was born in the small bosnian town of glamoč. due to his friendship with the family of dušan trbojević, a distinguished serbian pianist and composer, he familiarized himself with the art of opera as well as operatic and concerto performing. his operatic debut took place in 1946 in belgrade national theater opera house, with the role of jailer in giacomo puccini's opera "tosca". between 1946-54 he took singing lessons by zdenka zikova, a well-known operatic singer and a pedagogue.