05 february 2026 A Brilliant Performance of "Samson and Delilah" on Thursday

✔️Exciting, large-scale, extremely impactful - on all levels of perception, the performance of SAMSON ET DALILA / SAMSON ET DALILA was presented last night in the hall of the Burgas State Opera under the baton of Ivan Kozhuharov.
Congratulations on the dedication and high professionalism of the magnificent soloists, musicians, and artists from the choir and ballet of the Burgas Opera!
✔️The first event of the Burgas Opera program for the current 2026 passed under the sign of a strong creative charge, transformed into a brilliant stage realization, with extremely impactful emotional-philosophical suggestions.
All artists - soloists, choir, ballet, as well as the musicians from the orchestra, were subordinated to the single idea of ​​a musical-aesthetic feast, united by the masterful baton of the eminent Bulgarian conductor Ivan Kozhuharov. He managed to once again subordinate to the author's idea the entire process of creating a monolithically built - as a structure, and captivating as a complexly expressed emotion, spectacle.
The polyphonic beauty of Camille Saint-Saëns' score was transformed with skill, style, taste, and deep knowledge of the characterology of his musical aesthetics.
✔️The artists who performed the heavy, but exceptionally beautiful opera parts were once again at their usual height - both in vocal performance and artistry, adding irreplaceable added value - with an emotion that not only captivated the audience, but also immersed them in the captivating and at the same time cruel world of biblical times...
✔️The renowned Bulgarian mezzo-soprano Daniela Dyakova was sweeping - as the insidious seductress Delilah, who skillfully uses her feminine charm to subjugate her enemy in a deceptive love trap. She was mesmerizing - both as the powerful radiance of the cruel Philistine, and as the affecting nuances of her voice, rich in beautiful overtones, which enchant the audience with its suggestibility and unquestionable inner strength.
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The soloist of the Sofia National Opera and Ballet Kostadin Andreev, winner of last year's Burgas Municipality "Emil Chakarov" award - for exceptionally high achievements in the field of opera art and contribution to the cultural life of Burgas, was also perfect, recreating the complex image of the Jew Samson, struggling between love and duty, the call of the heart and the obligation to the family. The great Bulgarian tenor gave it his all - with his typical signature of an artist who lives for and through art.
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The role of the High Priest of Dagon was performed - convincingly and respectfully - by the distinguished Bulgarian baritone Alexander Krunev, who managed to instill credibility, power of suggestion, and chilling fear into the character, who is an emanation of Evil, through the richness of his timbre, his brilliant vocal technique, and dignified stage presence.
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In sync with the overall musical and stage feast were the other soloists in the epic opera: Delyan Slavov, bass, in the role of the evil warrior Abimelech, bass Diman Panchev, as the Old Jew, who symbolizes the power of the ancestral commandment that chose Samson as the savior of the Jews; Georgi Bozveliev, as the Messenger of the Philistines, Milen Dinolov and Ivan Grozev - as the First and Second Philistines.
✔️The artists from the choir and ballet ensemble of the Burgas Opera were also delightful, as irreplaceable pieces of the puzzle of the impressive stage picture. The choir sounded compact, with a clearly expressed dynamic and strong emotional impact - both in the quiet nuances /including behind the scenes/ and in the bravura moments. The ballet ensemble was at its usual high artistic and aesthetic level, recreating the memorable choreographic scenes - during the bewitchment of Samson in the biblical forest, and during the emblematic bacchanalia - in the temple of Dagon.
✔️????Congratulations also on the high level of technical support for the impressive spectacle!
Amid the unceasing ovations of the audience, the traditional basket of flowers was presented on behalf of the Mayor of Burgas Municipality - Mr. Dimitar Nikolov.
Among those present were also graduates of NUMSI "Prof. Pancho Vladigerov" in Burgas. We remind our fans that the State Opera - Burgas and the National School of Music and Performing Arts "Prof. Pancho Vladigerov" - Burgas signed a cooperation agreement aimed at the practical training and professional development of students. Young musicians, singers, and artists are always welcome at our events - not only for aesthetic exchange, enrichment of perceptions, and exposure to the professional stage, but also as direct participants in the creative process.