01 july 2025 "The Beautiful Elena" Returns To The Burgas Stage On Thursday

The summer program of the State Opera – Burgas continues with an attractive title, which has always been presented with expected success and an enthusiastic audience – the comic opera by Jacques Offenbach “The Beautiful Helen”. After a long absence from the Burgas Opera’s schedule, the attractive spectacle, which guarantees dynamics, lavish scenography and costumes, wonderful performers and, of course, lots of laughter, will be presented on Thursday, July 3, at 7 p.m. in the hall of the State Opera – Burgas.

The comic opera “The Beautiful Helen” is distinguished by innovative techniques, elements of reference to the present day. The production is impressive with the authenticity in the transmission of the historical era, with the lavish extravagance of the holidays in the ancient temples, and the characterology of the sacrifices. The originally presented humor with references to the present day is a guarantee for two and a half hours of laughter and a little elegant escape from everyday life. The performance captivates the senses with the splendor of colors and nuances in emotions, costumes, makeup, wigs, and props. The atmosphere of the ancient Greek temples and the gods, who are in direct contact with mere mortals, monitor their relationships and intervene in them, is presented authentically and with an intelligent pinch of teasing. The beautiful sets, in sync with the characteristic costumes, as well as every detail of the production, designed entirely in the ancient Greek style, will transport those present in the Opera hall to ancient times, before the start of the Trojan War.

On July 3 at 7 p.m. in the Opera hall, the Burgas audience and guests of the city will appreciate the directorial merits of Prof. Dr. Alexander Tekeliev, as well as the originality and lush visual rhetoric of the scenography - the work of Boris Stoynov, the attractive costumes of Tsvetanka Petkova-Stoynova, completely in sync with the presented era, and the choreography of Grisha Roglev. And one more important thing - the comic opera is performed in Bulgarian.

Behind the conductor's podium on Thursday is Deyan Pavlov, who recently conducted "The Gypsy Baron" by Johann Strauss-son on the Burgas stage, the concertmaster of the orchestra is Hristo Belchev.

The role of the Beautiful Elena, the Queen of Sparta and the wife of Menelaus, will be played by the wonderful soprano Shmilena Sultanova, who builds the royal image believably, confidently, with innate intelligence and beauty. A few days ago, the audience in Burgas had the pleasure of watching her in the role of Chipra in another large-scale operetta production - "The Gypsy Baron", also under the baton of Deyan Pavlov.

Softness, lyricism, artistry, and stage confidence will be presented by the tenor Penyo Pirozov /guest/ – as Paris, son of the king of Troy Priam. The Burgas audience knows him from his wonderful incarnations in the operettas by Imre Kalman “The Csárdas Queen”, “Countess Maritza”, in “The Gypsy Baron” and others. The eminent tenor sang at the premiere of “The Beautiful Elena” years ago on the stage in Burgas.

The baritone Yordan Hristozov, who builds the funny, grotesque image of the deceived husband Menelaus, king of Sparta, with humorous banter and artistry, will once again enter one of his crown roles on Wednesday. With iconic, catchy lines and a memorable presence, the bass Diman Panchev will perform as the priest with lustful thoughts, Calchas. A vivid incarnation of the comic role of Orestes, son of Agamemnon, will be performed on the Burgas stage by soprano Maria Tsvetikova-Madzharova. The role was originally written for a countertenor, but is often performed by a soprano, due to the rare range and heights in the male vocal register.

All the other artists from the Burgas Opera also have a dazzling stage presence: Miroslav Dimitrov – as the messenger god Mercury, Irina Dobrovolskaya /debut/ – the goddess of love Venus, Kalina Popova – Juno, queen of the Olympian gods, wife of Jupiter, patroness of marriage and family, Stefka Hristozova – Minerva, goddess of wisdom, science, crafts and war, Ivan Grozev – as the king of kings Agamemnon, Kostadin Mechkov – Achilles, Thessalian hero, king of Phthiotis, Milen Dinolov – Ajax I, king of Salamis, Georgi Bozveliev – Ajax II, king of Locrians, Nikolay Nikolov – the servant of Calchas Philokom, Stefka Hristozova – Bacchis, the trusted maid and close friend of Elena, Kalina Nedelcheva – as Laena, Maria Gabarova – Parfenis.

The comic opera "The Beautiful Elena" also features the artistic ensembles of the orchestra, choir /with choirmaster Alexander Chepanov/ and the ballet of the Burgas Opera /with rehearser Marina Zmeeva-Markova/, the assistant director of the production is Petar Tiholov.

On July 3, the audience will once again have the chance to experience a masterfully presented spectacle, achieved by the joint artistic energy of the conductor, soloists, orchestra, choir, and ballet.

Tickets for "The Beautiful Elena" - at the Opera box office, "Clock" box office, as well as in Grabo - https://grabo.bg/burgas/hubavata-elena-0nh92n and Eventim - https://www.eventim.bg/bg/bileti/hubavata-elena-burgas-drzhavna-opera-672755/event.html

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