16 october 2026 "Musical Ikebana" Has Become a Cultural Event

On the evening of Friday, October 16, the hall of the State Opera Burgas hosted a delightful event that drew a large and enthusiastic audience: *Musical Ikebana*—a symphonic concert conducted with precision and inspiration by guest conductor Nikola Petrov.
The soloists were three distinguished Japanese musicians, all professors at the Musashino Academia Musicae in Tokyo, Japan: Kiyoko Sakai (piano), Koji Okazaki (bassoon), and Etsuko Okazaki (piano).
The concert opened with the Piano Concerto in C Major by Carl Maria von Weber—an early Romantic work composed by the German master at the beginning of the 19th century. Accompanied by the Burgas Opera Orchestra, Japanese pianist Kiyoko Sakai performed the concerto’s three movements with brilliant technique and a profound grasp of the work’s expressive intent: the *Allegro*—blending Romantic energy with dramatic elements in the development section; the slow, lyrical, and song-like *Adagio*; and the spirited, dazzling, and rhythmic *Finale*.
The second piece in this expertly curated program was the *Suite-Concertino* in F Major, Op. 16, for bassoon and chamber orchestra. As Maestro Nikola Petrov introduced each piece—elucidating the essence of its philosophy and musical structure, as well as presenting the distinguished performers—the iconic work by Italian-German composer Ermanno Wolf-Ferrari, which brilliantly showcases the technical and emotional range of the bassoon, was performed for the first time before a Burgas audience by the eminent bassoonist Koji Okazaki.
The third piece featured in Friday’s concert was the Piano Concerto No. 2 in F minor, Op. 21, by Frédéric Chopin. This concerto stands as one of the composer’s most renowned early works. The Japanese pianist performed this piece—cherished by both connoisseurs and the general public alike—with great sensitivity, brilliant tone production, and that characteristic Japanese focus. The three-movement concerto—comprising a *Maestoso*; a *Larghetto* (an emotionally charged, romantic slow movement dedicated to Chopin’s great love, Konstancja Gładkowska); and an *Allegro vivace* (a virtuosic finale imbued with the spirit of Polish dance)—served as an emotional and brilliant coda to the concert program.
The prolonged, unceasing ovation from an audience that rose to its feet was the surest testament to the high caliber of the performance and to the timeless, universal messages of classical music—messages that reached those present like a healing antidote to the complex, prosaic times in which we live. Congratulations to the orchestra of the State Opera – Burgas, led by concertmaster Vanya Zlateva and guided by the unifying, balanced baton of Nikola Petrov, for their excellent sound—perfectly attuned to the distinct character of each work!
This event, of the highest artistic caliber, was honored with the traditional basket of flowers presented on behalf of the Mayor of the Municipality of Burgas, Mr. Dimitar Nikolov.
The applause following the concert spoke volumes about the warm reception the art of these Japanese performers received in Burgas:
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October 1️⃣6️⃣,
7:00 PM, State Opera – Burgas Hall
MUSICAL IKEBANA
SYMPHONIC CONCERT
Conductor – Nikola Petrov (Guest)
Soloists:
Kiyoko Sakai – Piano
Koji Okazaki – Bassoon
Etsuko Okazaki – Piano
Concertmaster – Vanya Zlateva
Program:
C. M. von Weber – Piano Concerto No. 1 in C Major, Op. 11
Ermanno Wolf-Ferrari – Suite-Concertino for Bassoon and Orchestra in F Major, Op. 16
Fr. Chopin – Piano Concerto No. 2 in F Minor, Op. 21
Orchestra of the State Opera – Burgas
Photos: State Opera – Burgas
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