09 may 2025 "La Fille Mal Gardee" Lifts The Spirits On Monday

A highlight of the State Opera—Burgas's program is the entertaining ballet production "The Badly Protected Girl," to music by Louis Herold and directed by Galina Kalcheva, which will be performed on May 12 at 7 p.m. in the Opera Hall.

On Monday, ballet fans will have the opportunity to follow the fascinating story with comic elements and a typically "French taste for life", with impressive visual effects, wonderful scenography - the work of the award-winning master Ivan Tokadzhiev, and magnificent costumes created by the talented young costume designer Yana Dvoretska, as well as the wonderful artistic presence of the entire ballet troupe of the Opera.

The production has not been presented on the Burgas stage for over a year. In February 2024, Anastasia Popova, laureate of the First International Ballet Competition "Sara‐Nora Prima" /July 4-9, 2023/, successfully took on the role of Lisa. In addition to the second prize in the extremely contested competition program, the young ballerina from the Sofia Opera and Ballet also received an invitation from Prof. Dr. Alexander Tekeliev, Director of the State Opera - Burgas, for a tour of the stage of the Burgas Opera. From July 7 to 12 of this year, the third edition of the prestigious international ballet forum is coming up in the hall of the Burgas Opera, as well as the accompanying Ballet Academy "Sara-Nora Prima" /July 7-13/.

The ballet production of "The Badly Protected Girl" was nominated for the prestigious national award "Impulse" for 2023. Not only the competent competition committee, but also the audience, appreciated the performance, saturated with emotions, dynamics, exquisite musical motifs and color, carrying vital messages and filling with mood, due to the skillfully woven humor in the dramaturgy.

The choreography and direction of “The Badly Protected Girl” are by Galina Kalcheva. The ballet production contains original elements and an approach that combines classical techniques with innovative ideas. The assistant director of the production is Petar Tiholov, as an integral part in structuring the overall glamorous appearance of the performance. The scenographer of the new title is the recognized professional in the field, Ivan Tokadzhiev. The atmosphere of a French rural idyll, recreated through the scenography, will be created on May 12 on the stage of the Burgas Opera again – authentically, with style, a sense of taste, and attitudes of the audience, with the finesse and attitude to every detail characteristic of French culture. Burgas connoisseurs of fine arts will once again have the chance to experience the excitement generated by the mastery of superb soloists, a wonderfully cohesive ensemble, and life-affirming messages of comic ballet.

The loving couple Lisa and Kolen will recreate the prima ballerina of the Burgas Opera, Daniela Turtumanova-Stoyanova, and the premier ballet dancer Daniel Tichkov on the Burgas stage on Monday, who also danced in the premiere performance in April 2023. The comedic-parody character of the strict widow Mama Simon will again be presented by Teodor Tsakov, soloist of the ballet troupe and winner of the Award for Outstanding Cultural Figures of the Municipality of Burgas on the occasion of May 24 in 2024. He builds the character with a whirlwind and a fresh sense of humor. And although the widow Mama Simon is plotting to marry her beautiful daughter to the rich man's son Nikez, love prevails over guild principles and the lovers triumph. The premier ballet dancer of the Sofia Opera and Ballet and the State Opera - Burgas, Emil Yordanov, will perform in the role of Nikez. He presents in an extremely funny way the comic image of Lisa's clumsy groom-to-be. The role of Thomas, Nicèze's father, is played by the young Italian ballet dancer Francesco Pio Russo, who made his brilliant debut in the role in 2024. And for Mama Simone, whose strict heart is appeased by the tender feelings of the young, she receives her fateful bonus - the heart of Thomas, the father of the unfortunate Nicèze. And at the end of the French fairy tale, there are not one, but two weddings. And the minuet, gavotte, and bourrée merge into a single dance of love...

The lavish production also features artists from the ballet troupe of the State Opera - Burgas. The following will perform as Lisa's Friends: Ilina Konstantinova, Rafaela-Maria Küll, Kalina Nedelcheva, and Nanako Sato. Laya Ramon, Gergana Kozarova; The Reapers will be: Alexandrina Arabska, Andrea Sotirova, Julia Letsi, Polina Pasha, Alexandra Raeva, Ivana Fialkovska, Gergana Georgieva, Bianca-Helen Giovanelli, Kiril Filipov, Stoyan Furtunov, Patrick Gill, Shun Calafune; The Hens will be danced by: Ilina Konstantinova, Kalina Nedelcheva, Nanako Sato, Gergana Kozarova; The flutist will be Kiril Filipov, and the Notary – Bozhidar Kmetov.

In aesthetic and semantic synchrony with the stylistics of the scenography are the superbly constructed costumes, which bring an additional playful element to the humorous plot. They are the work of Yana Dvoretska, an artist with her own vision of a contemporary aesthetic, based on the best of the classical canons. The time dedicated to structuring the overall appearance of the production and sculpting the details, to a dazzling completion, has given its undeniably positive result. The production exudes true love for the created art, with talent, dedication, and empathy for the common cause. Galina Kalcheva’s direction is meticulous, like exquisite French lace, in which each link is in its place, sculpting the overall appearance.

The visual effects, recreating a storm in the field, with remarkable credibility and impact on all levels of perception, are also impressive. And the soloists and artists of the ensemble fit seamlessly into the overall picture of a French rural idyll, which brings unadulterated joy, simple, natural, with a smell of hay and a taste of the sweetness of life.

Beauty, professionalism – in every detail, excitement embodied in the presentation of the vital spectacle, which is like a much-needed dose of joy in the everyday life and an incomparable aesthetic delight – this is the brief business card of one of the newest ballet productions of the Burgas Opera “The Badly Protected Girl” / the newest is “The Corsair”, also directed by Galina Kalcheva, whose brilliant premiere was in June 2024/ The production settles down, gains momentum and is enriched with new overtones, giving a richer and more complete appearance to the spectacular ballet, which is on the wave of French finesse, immediate joy from life's gifts, pure feelings, not subject to external interference and material incentives. The ballet performance is like a gift to the audience, to cause a sincere smile, admiration - from the talent transformed into graceful movements, as a message to seek more immediate joy - in everyday life, in holidays, in thoughts, and relationships.

Those present in the Opera hall on Monday will feel the inimitable atmosphere of contact with a performance of the highest standard. And the sincere laughter generated by the whirlwind plot, intertwined with a series of comic situations, combined with beautiful music and elegance of movements, is the surest way for a little escape from reality and accumulation of energy, until the next contact with art, one that gives meaning, stimulates,and ennobles.

Tickets: at the Opera box office, "Clock" box office, in the networks of Grabo.bg - https://grabo.bg/burgas/balet-0str6w and Eventim.BG - https://www.eventim.bg/bg/bileti/zle-opazenoto-momiche-burgas-opera-669969/event.html.

For all who admire the exquisite art of ballet, good news - the Third International Competition SARA-NORA PRIMA INTERNATIONAL BALLET COMPETITION is coming, from July 7 to 12, 2025. In the hall of the Burgas Opera, as well as the SARA-NORA MASTER International BALLET ACADEMY /July 5-13/, as an accompanying event to the competition. Candidates could register only for the competition or the academy, as well as for the two prestigious forums. Information and registration - until May 30 on the official website of the Association: https://saranoraprima.org/.

Contents of the comic ballet "Badly Protected Girl:

Lisa, daughter of the rich widow Simone /Mama Simone/, is in love with the poor country boy Collen. Her mother's intentions are to marry her to Nicéz, son of the rich Thomas. Lisa trembles in anticipation of her lover. Mama Simone does everything she can to keep Lisa and Collen apart, but she fails in her attempts.

In the field. During the harvest, Mama Simone and Lisa are taken to the field by Thomas and Nicéz. Collen joins the reapers, who are having fun with the clumsy Nicéz. Suddenly, a thunderstorm scatters the dancers.

In the farm. The widow Simone and Lisa return home, and soon the mother falls asleep. Lisa tries to pull the key out of her mother's apron to meet Collen, but fails. At that moment, the reapers arrive to bring the harvest and receive their wages. Soon after this, Mama Simone leaves the house. Lisa is left alone. The widow goes home. To make sure that Lisa does not escape, the mother locks the girl in her room.

Thomas and Niquez arrive. They are accompanied by a notary – to prepare the marriage contract.

The widow, Mama Simone gives Niquez the key to Lisa's room. The girl appears together with her lover, Colleen. Niquez, embittered, leaves the house, together with her father. Lisa and Cohen ask the widow for forgiveness and ask for her blessing. At first, the mother does not accept, but everyone persuades her and finally she agrees.

A happy ending and universal joy. Love conquers all!