20 february 2026 "La Traviata" Will Be Presented By Wonderful Singers on Sunday
One of the most performed opera titles – “La Traviata” by Giuseppe Verdi, will be a dazzling highlight in the February program of the State Opera – Burgas. On Sunday, February 22, at 7:00 PM, a whole galaxy of wonderful opera artists will appear on the stage of the Opera. They will tell the tragic story of a beautiful love, subordinate to pure heart impulses, but darkened by prejudice and the inexorability of fate – in Verdi’s masterpiece. Maestro Stacey Gonikberg /guest/ will be conducting.
The tragic image of Violetta Valeri is played by the charming soprano Ilina Mihaylova, a soloist of the State Opera - Varna and recently - of the State Opera - Burgas, well known to the Burgas audience for her brilliant and emotionally gripping roles in: "My Fair Lady", "The Barber of Seville", Rigoletto", her participation in "Zarzuela - Fire and Passion", etc. Her participation in performances of "La Traviata" in March 2022, on the stage of the Opera, and in July 2025, at the Burgas Summer Theater were memorable. The versatile artistic role of the magnificent singer will be presented in the emblematic soprano role, for the opera world, and for the wider audience, of Violetta Valeri, torn by dramatic passions with a tragic tinge. She is incredibly impressive in the image – charming, extremely talented and artistic, woven from the nuances of the entire spectrum of sensuality, impeccable in vocal terms.
The charismatic tenor from Venezuela, Reynaldo Droz, will perform on the stage of the Burgas Opera in the image of Alfred Germont. The Burgas audience knows him from his brilliant role as Rudolph in the performance of "La Bohème" in October 2024, as well as from his participation in the concert "Zarzuela - Fire and Passion". The young tenor is a graduate of Raina Kabaivanska and the winner of the 12th International Opera Competition "Anita Cerquetti" in Montecozaro, Italy. For several seasons, he has been a regular soloist of the State Opera - Varna, and recently - also of the State Opera - Burgas. He has performed as a soloist in productions of the Sofia Opera and Ballet and on other stages in Bulgaria. The charismatic stage couple will perform for the second time in the dramatic roles of Violetta Valéry and Alfred Germont for the second time - after the exciting performance of Verdi's masterpiece in November 2025 on the stage of the Opera.
The eternal story of "La Traviata", which is invariably exciting - for every era and nationality - about love outside the generally accepted order, but magnetized - by deep and unyielding feelings of time and social pressure, will be presented - with emotional fullness and infectious, authentic fervor, by the wonderful artists and musicians of the Burgas Opera. As an impressive theatrical spectacle, combined with impressive vocal argumentation, will be their performance in the roles of the two lovers, who went through the dramatic denouement of their tragic love.
Longing, revelation, ardor, passion, doubt, internal struggle, disappointment, a sense of revenge, remorse, painful expectation, triumph of feelings – even on the verge of death – the two classy artists will brilliantly present the spectrum of different states of mind.
All the soloists will be wonderfully inscribed in the musical and dramatic unity: the renowned Bulgarian baritone Alexander Krunev – in a convincing and affecting construction of the image of Georges Germont, Alfred’s father, who undergoes a metamorphosis – from a man who separates two lovers to protect the reputation of his family, to an understanding and accepting father who gave his blessing, even on Violetta’s deathbed.
Magnificent - both as an individual and as part of the overall picture of the exciting spectacle - will also be: mezzo-soprano Joanna Kadiyska - as the beauty from the high Parisian circles Flora, who spends her days in noisy revelry, with a taste for champagne and worldly luxury; soprano Stefka Hristozova - with the gentle unobtrusive presence of Anina, who is next to her mistress Violetta - both in the bright moments and in the darkness of the painful moments before her earthly end; bass Kostadin Mechkov – as Violetta's rival for her heart Valery Baron Dufault, baritone Andrei Yurkovsky – as the Marquis d'Aubigny, tenor Milen Dinolov – as Viscount Gaston de Letorier, bass Diman Panchev – as Doctor Greville, present at the last moments of Violetta's life, tenor Miroslav Dimitrov – as Joseph, serving in the summer mansion of the Parisian courtesan, bass Nikolay Nikolov - as Flora's Servant.
The Burgas Opera Orchestra will present an inspired performance of the score, with a wonderfully constructed dramatic line and nuances. It is expected that the musicians of the orchestra, as well as the artists of the Opera's choral and ballet ensemble, will precisely and emotionally recreate the secular splendor of Parisian high society.
The conductor of the choir, which is assigned an important role in the overall development of the plot action, is Alexander Chepanov, and the concertmaster is Hristo Belchev. The attractive choreography, which fits seamlessly into the spectrum of colors and emotions in the performance, is the work of Galina Kalcheva, assistant director.
The magnificent direction of "La Traviata" is by Prof. Dr. Alexander Tekeliev and combines original techniques and an unconventional approach to the construction of the images in the dramatic plot based on the novel by Alexandre Dumas fils. The scenography by Catalin Arbore /Romania/ is attractive and contains an allegorical charge, in which mirror images are used - as a symbolism of spiritual metamorphoses. Arbore is also the author of the beautiful stage costumes of the production of "La Traviata".
Those attending the performance on Sunday will be enchanted and moved - thanks to the beautiful music, the inspired performers, the stylish scenography with metaphorical messages, and something that is not subject to conventional description - enchantment, excitement, contact with the sublime.
The beautiful production of "La Traviata" will once again touch the spiritual world of those present, will excite, think, and elevate them. "La Traviata" is timeless – a story of love, sacrifice, redemption,n and doom. Don't miss an aesthetic experience of high artistic and emotional value on February 22nd at 7:00 PM on the stage of the State Opera – Burgas!
About Stacy Gonikberg /guest/:
Behind the conductor's podium on February 22nd will be Maestro Stacy Gonikberg /guest/. She is a pianist, conductor, and composer whose career encompasses performing and conducting solo, chamber, and orchestral music in the United States, Ukraine, Israel, and Europe. Her conducting portfolio includes full productions of "The Elixir of Love" and "Rigoletto", as well as a diverse symphonic repertoire. As a pianist, she presents Brahms' late piano intermezzos by the Ross McKay Foundation, and her performance of "Variations on a Theme by Corelli" by Rachmaninoff was broadcast on the Israeli radio KolHaMusika.
She grew up in Kharkiv, Ukraine, and her love for music began at an early age. In her words, music is the bridge between worlds for her, taking her from Ukraine to Jerusalem, Israel, and later to the United States, where she currently lives in the San Francisco Bay Area. She has been an assistant professor at the Rubin Academy of Music and Dance in Jerusalem and Mills College in California, as well as a lecturer at the ITAR School of Music in Ramle, Israel.
Her work as a pianist and composer is deeply connected to the power of improvisation and movement. This is especially true after her collaboration with avant-garde performance artist Honu Hameagel in 2012-2013.
In addition to her musical career, she has pursued academic research on the history of ancient religions, receiving a BA from the Karazin Kharkiv National University. Her dissertation on the Dead Sea Scrolls explores their relationship to early Christian thought and the evolution of religious traditions beyond mainstream doctrines. This interdisciplinary background has profoundly influenced her artistic perspective, inspiring her to seek cultural and spiritual depth in every piece of music she interprets.
She has participated in numerous international music festivals and conducting workshops, including the Masters de Pontlevoy (France), Summit Music Festival (New York), Semper Music Festival (Italy), International Keyboard Institute and Festival (New York), Baltimore Chamber Orchestra Conducting Workshop (Maryland), and others.
Her artistic development has been shaped by mentors such as Vadim Monastirsky, David Whitten, Robert Schwartz, Eduardo Delgado, Sharon Mann, and Frank Levy for piano, and Eugene Tsirlin, John Axelrod, Mary Chun, and Guillermo Scarabino. Their guidance inspires her to bring a thoughtful, emotionally resonant approach to her work.
Tickets for "La Traviata" - at the Opera box office, "Clock" box office, at Grabo - https://grabo.bg/burgas/traviata-02s2gv