19 august 2026 Begliktash's "Opera of the Sanctuary" Will Close with "Rigoletto

An exciting performance, combining Verdi's brilliant music, dramaturgy revealing the entire palette of human passions, the masterful direction of Prof. Dr. Alexander Tekeliev, exceptional singers who will experience every tone and phrase, weaving it into the overall sound of the tragic story, will be created on August 22, Saturday, at 8:30 p.m. on the open stage of the Thracian sanctuary of Begliktash. In the picturesque place - under the mystical starry dome of Strandzha, near Maslen Nos, the spectacle of one of the most beloved operas - "Rigoletto" by Giuseppe Verdi will come to life, under the baton of Prof. Dr. Ivaylo Krinchev, a lecturer at the National Academy of Music "Prof. Pancho Vladigerov". Prof. Krinchev, winner of the 2020 Emil Chakarov Award, was behind the conductor's podium at two more events of the 2026 Opera of the Sanctuary festival – other Verdi masterpieces – Un ballo in maschera – on July 25, and Nabucco – on August 8.
“Rigoletto” is the last, fifth, event of the festival, which is being held for the seventh time on the unusual terrain for opera performances among the natural decor of the ancient megalithic blocks of the sanctuary, realized by the State Opera – Burgas and the Municipality of Primorsko. In 2024 and 2025, the production, adapted to outdoor conditions, the work of Prof. Dr. Alexander Tekeliev, was presented with remarkable success – with impressive visual effects, excellent soloists, orchestra, choir and ballet, and a wide public response.
The ever-present story of meanness, temptation, seduction, false hopes, insidious impulses, sin, curse and sinister denouement, woven into the classic reading of one of Verdi's influential operas, will come to life on Saturday among the rocks of Begliktash. Through the means of syncretic operatic art, the musical and stage story of the hunchbacked jester Rigoletto will be presented, the only joy in his simple life - his beautiful daughter Gilda, the conscienceless Duke, a unifying image of meanness, as well as all the heroes of the tragic tale of betrayed trust.
The conductor - Prof. Dr. Ivaylo Krinchev will lead the musicians of the Burgas Opera Orchestra - with concertmaster Hristo Belchev, into the essence of the work and its messages carried through the centuries. The male choir, conducted by Alexander Chepanov, is expected to build brilliant dynamics, especially in the quiet register sounding like fateful steps, reminiscent of the ephemerality of our lives, and the orchestra is expected to once again achieve the dense sound corresponding to Verdi's dramatic and philosophical messages, with beautifully performed solos and remarkable cohesion.
"This is one of the most popular romantic titles, which is in the crown of Verdi's operas and is extremely impressive. The combination that is obtained at Begliktash is also unique, as the combination between this megalithic sanctuary, the strong dramaturgy and the impressive music of Verdi have a unique impact on the audience that comes to watch these performances. The Burgas Opera, already in time, has extremely successfully mastered this space and the effect that is achieved with the visual effects, as well as the high-quality sound, has a great impact on the audience. Last but not least, this is achieved through the wonderful soloist cast, the very good orchestra, choir and technical services at the Burgas Opera!", says maestro Krinchev in an interview with the Bulgarian National Radio on the occasion of the upcoming performance.
The plot of "Rigoletto" is invariably exciting and leaves no viewer indifferent - as the libretto by Francesco Maria Piave is based on Victor Hugo's novel "The King is Amused". And Hugo is one of the authors who cannot help but touch the most intimate corners of the soul spaces – with truthfully told human stories, fateful twists, predetermined by the decree of the stars, deep experiences of the characters seeking justice, recognition, love.
The soloist composition is also remarkable: each of them – with exceptional individual qualities and at the same time – achieved remarkable cohesion on stage. All performers: soloists, orchestra and choir, will build in a dramatic whole a memorable spectacle, touching the senses, shaking and provoking deep reflection – about true values, about the variability of feelings, about the power of fateful cards, rearranging human destinies. The well-crafted full-blooded characters, the wonderful soloists will recreate the dramatic plot in an unforgettable way in the place, endowed with ancient magical power.
The evening of August 22 will be under the sign of the two geniuses in the culture of the 19th century – Verdi and Hugo, combining the impact of both arts – music and literature, in a beautiful symbiosis with a deep emotional imprint, skillfully recreated in a musical and stage jewel through the Maisgorski direction of Prof. Dr. Alexander Tekeliev. As on a film strip, separate pictures from the actions of the opera will alternate – scene after scene, revealing different layers of the soul and attitudes of the characters.

The image of the jester Rigoletto will be recreated by the remarkable baritone Marjan Jovanoski, soloist of the National Opera of North Macedonia and the State Opera - Burgas. He is expected to once again perform unquestionably on the open stage - after the brilliant images he created at this year's "Opera of the Sanctuary" festival - in "Nabucco" in the opera of the same name by Verdi, and Amonasro - in "Aida". The entire spectrum of feelings will be perfectly recreated by the renowned baritone, and Rigoletto is definitely one of his most significant roles, in which he puts the maximum of his complex qualities as a first-class singer. Maryan Jovanoski will once again evoke an extremely strong emotional resonance in the audience with his brilliant and touching interpretation of the role of the unfortunate jester Rigoletto, bearing the misfortune and curse of the “funny cry”, with which he entertains the rich and signs the verdict of his own downfall and the fatal loss of the closest thing – his child. The eminent baritone will present the tragic story in a convincing manner – both vocally and as an artistic recreation, with every tone and phrase passing through his essence – experienced and felt. His Rigoletto is not only impactful, but also awakens a number of questions from the moral and philosophical code. The impressive voice of the baritone Maryan Jovanoski will spread across the Strandzha Mountain, touching each of the audience with the incredible power of pain, which he manages to convey in a beautiful and moving way.

Emotional, artistic, and excellently interacting with his colleagues on stage, the young tenor from Venezuela, Reynaldo Droz, will be putting passion, motivation, vocal mastery, backed by personal charm, into the image of the Duke of Mantua. The tenor is a graduate of Raina Kabaivanska and winner of the 12th International Opera Competition "Anita Cerqueti" in Montecozaro, Italy. For several seasons, he has been a regular soloist at the State Opera - Varna, and for several months - at the State Opera - Burgas. He has performed as a soloist in productions at the Sofia Opera and Ballet and on other stages in Bulgaria. Reynaldo Droz performed brilliantly in the role during the performance of "Rigoletto" during last year's "Opera of the Sanctuary" 2025 festival on the open stage of Begliktash. The temperamental tenor, carrying the passion and fire of the South, is expected to completely merge with the emotional arc of the other characters in the sad story with a foreknown end. Droz impresses – both as a charismatic presence, and as a wonderful mastery of his voice, and as an impact – through music and sensuality, especially in the famous “Herzog’s Aria” – “La donna è mobile”. A beautiful cantilena timbre and brilliantly crafted phrases, as well as the height of artistic performance, are shown by Reynaldo Droz in the image of the cruel, fickle and selfish Herzog, who made Gilda’s heart fall fatally in love with him.

The charming soprano Ilina Mihaylova will once again be charming in the role of the trusting girl Gilda – with finesse, ease, gentle radiance, brilliant heights and beautifully sung muted tones in quiet dynamics, carrying sadness and a trace of hopelessness. Ilina Mihaylova is expected to be at her usual height again – both as a charming presence, completely merging with the image, and as an impressive performance – filigreely crafted, presented with ease, characteristic of undisputed professionals, and captivating – as an emotional force. Meeting a skilled seducer, in the person of the Duke, she falls into his demonic trap, which foretells her certain doom. Ilina Mihaylova is subtle, ethereal, naturally beautiful, carrying vitality and at the same time – a sense of tragic doom, brilliant in vocal terms and as a representation of the most characteristic of the image of the gentle girl Gilda. Here is the emotional response of the soloist Ilina Mihaylova, which she shared after last year's performance of "Rigoletto" at the sanctuary: "Rigoletto in Begliktash - a Thracian sanctuary, energy and inspiration flooded all of us! The moments. singing on the centuries-old stones, were imprinted deep in my soul. Thank you, friends - it was a great experience!"

The remarkable bass Delyan Slavov takes on the role of Sparafucile. The image inspires fear and horror, as befits the presented character of a hired killer who destroys human lives - without scruples, counting the silver coins in his purse. The bass timbre symbolically recreates the collapse of the human soul in the disastrous trap of the temptation to easily acquired money. Delyan Slavov will be again respectable – both as impressive lows in the bass part, and as suggestibility – in the characteristic role of the villain Sparafucile, who is a hired killer, destroying human lives for a few pieces of silver.

The character of a true seductress, but hiding a compassionate heart behind her beautiful appearance, will be recreated by the beautiful mezzo-soprano Joanna Kadijska, who is also distinguished by a timbre rich in color nuances. She will once again be sweeping – as a suggestion and personal charm, in the role of the seductress Madalena, who, however, in her frivolous heart also hides humanity and empathy. She is expected to fit perfectly into the role and achieve a kind of emotional peak in one of the meaningful accents of the opera "Rigoletto" – the ensemble at the end of Act IV, which is considered one of the most difficult parts of Verdi's work to perform.

The remaining soloists will also be impressive and completely united with the overall sound of the performance on stage on Thursday. At Wednesday's performance, they are expected to build solid characters, carrying the tragedy of Verdi's score and psychologism beyond the petty issues of existence. Bass Kostadin Mechkov will take on the role of Count Monterone, who is disgraced - because of the loss of his daughter's honor, and, in his powerlessness, casts a curse that, through the unknown paths of fateful interconnections, reaches those who caused the misfortune. Mezzo-soprano Kalina Popova will be affecting and feminine as Giovanna, Gilda's close maid, who empathizes with her mental torments and metamorphoses. Soprano Stefka Hristozova and bass Petar Tiholov will be aristocratic in the images of Countess and Count Ceprano - part of high society with its refined and at the same time - cruel, orders; Stefka Hristozova will also be in the role of the Page. Baritone Yordan Hristozov will portray the nobleman from the entourage around Duke Marulo, who lives in the intriguing world of high society, and who, although Rigoletto considers him a friend and begs him for mercy, turns away from him, being part of the overwhelming majority that mocks the Jester's plight. Tenor Milen Dinolov will be in the role of Matteo Borsa, also part of the noble entourage. The direction, specially adapted for the unusual stage space, by Prof. Dr. Alexander Tekeliev, will reaffirm that a global outlook and a progressive vision are essential elements for the ultimate success of such a grandiose project. The artist of the classical production is Ivan Popov, assistant director – Petar Tiholov, accompanist – Raina Popova. The opera is performed in the original – in Italian, and is subtitled in Bulgarian, by Srebrina Slavova, which allow one to follow the dramatic plot and dialogues in detail.

The characters of one of Verdi's most famous operas, to which the composer himself did not hide his biases, will give the audience diverse experiences - from the admiration of the power of pure love, destroyed by heartlessness, to the tragic hopelessness of trampled naive impulses. Those present on the open stage of the Thracian sanctuary will be warmed and emotionally shaken by the sad plot. It is no coincidence that the great Italian composer stated that if he had to save only one of his operas, he would choose "Rigoletto". The in-depth directorial reading of Prof. Dr. Alexander Tekeliev, reading the codes of the human psyche, proves the power and message of these words.

Verdi's masterpiece will unfold the tragic story in an inimitable way under the starry sky of mystical Strandzha on Saturday. An impressive element, conveying the aura of a live fairy tale, will be the multimedia, the work of Nikola Peshev, which will make the rocks "come to life", revealing wonderful pictures, combined with technical effects, recreating natural phenomena. The fairy-tale house of Rigoletto and Gilda materializes on the rocks themselves - as if it came out of the stories of the Brothers Grimm. The multimedia effects will illuminate the sanctuary with piercing lightning, giving a uniquely affecting way to the tragedy of the story of the poor fool, who enters his own emotional trap, forced to experience the most terrible pain - the loss of his child. Each element of the effects will be in sync with the emotional states of the characters, giving the aura of something unique to the sacred place.

At the performance on August 22, under the baton of Prof. Dr. Ivaylo Krinchev, the magnificent cast of soloists, the orchestra and the choir of the Burgas Opera will not only masterfully perform the score, characterized by its beautiful melody and psychological saturation. They will also tell – with captivating artistry, the eternal story of hell and heaven in a human soul, of destructive impulses, of retribution, of the cards of Fate, which are arranged according to our own choices, of meanness, betrayal, purgatory, redemption.

Verdi's music contains a dramatic charge, tells stories, weaves feelings into the musical text, reveals images, carries messages beyond time. Strong experiences and emotions are guaranteed on August 22 at 8:30 p.m. under the starry dome of the Begliktash sanctuary.

Tickets for Begliktash's "Rigoletto" - at the box office of the Opera House, the "Clock" Ticket Center, at the box office of the