03 july 2026 Brilliant Vision And Strong Messages With "Samson and Delilah"

State Opera – Burgas will present on July 7, Tuesday, at 8:30 p.m. on the stage of the Summer Theater in the Primorsky Park of Burgas the large-scale opera production “Samson and Delilah”. Admirers of the beautiful music of the French composer Camille Saint-Saëns and the dramatic biblical plot will have the opportunity to follow the epic ancient history, presented by a remarkable artistic cast. The event is the second in the program of the Burgas Music Festival “Emil Chakarov”, held for the nineteenth time in a row by the State Opera – Burgas and the Municipality of Burgas.
The original scenography, relying on a minimalist style, and compensatory lavish costumes, the work of Catalin Arbore, Romania, the profound directing techniques of Prof. Dr. Alexander Tekeliev, the skillful conducting of Ivan Kozhuharov, the first-class artistic cast and the original thematically selected multimedia environment promise the spectacle to become a memorable performance. Those present will experience the drama of the Jew, gifted with divine power – Samson, and the beautiful Philistine woman, who uses her feminine charm to tempt, deceive, betray and destroy him – Delilah.
Under the precise baton of the renowned Bulgarian conductor with an impressive international career, Ivan Kozhuharov, an honorary citizen of Burgas, the main roles on July 7 on the open stage will be performed by established opera artists who give the images psychological depth and achieve a remarkable emotional impact: the distinguished Bulgarian mezzo-soprano Daniela Dyakova, the soloist of the Sofia Opera and Ballet and the State Opera – Burgas – the tenor Daniel Damyanov, the renowned baritone Alexander Krunev, the remarkable basses Delyan Slavo and Diman Panchev, etc. "Samson and Delilah" is a rarely performed title worldwide, precisely because of its exceptional orchestral difficulty, polyphonic sound of the choir, as well as arias and duets, which are aerobatics in opera art.
The plot, based on biblical tales from the Old Testament, contains not only an intriguing line of narrative history, but also deep moral dilemmas, presented admirably through the means of musical and stage art, brilliantly argued through the complex polyphonic score of Camille Saint-Saëns. A dramatic line of dynamics recreates the contradictory psychological states of the characters. The multimedia, which caused a sensation among the megalithic stone blocks of Begliktash in 2023, at the official opening of the "Opera of the Sanctuary" festival, was presented indoors - in the hall of the Opera House, and in July 2025, with "Samson and Delilah", last year's edition of the "Opera of the Sanctuary" festival was opened on the stage of the ancient Thracian sanctuary of Begliktash. The visual effects are also impressive, which fit ideologically into the overall concept of the large-scale musical stage project. The current 3D mapping and multimedia in the hall /work of Nikola Peshev/ will be used for a complementary sensory perception of the messages embedded in the biblical plot. Prison bars, flames, visualization of the Temple of Dagon, intertwined snakes, personifying the creeping and morally destroying Evil – in its purest form, a remarkable effect will be achieved, in sync with the captivating music and dignified performance of all artists and musicians. The audience will have the privilege of symbolically attending a sacred ritual.
The production of “Samson and Delilah” directed by Prof. Dr. Alexander Tekeliev contains originally presented analogies with universal human themes, references to modernity and symbolism, in symbolic combination with the lavish costumes and props, meticulously crafted to the smallest detail. The accent on red and black, the contrast between the fiery principle and death, as well as the thin line between them – on the border of life and non-existence, the fragility of the human being, powerless before the decrees and decisions of the gods – all this is skillfully conveyed through implicitly laid symbolic codes.
Under the inspired baton of the chief conductor of the Burgas Opera, Ivan Kozhuharov, the main roles on July 7 will be played by established and beloved opera singers: the image of Dalila will be embodied by the renowned mezzo-soprano Daniela Dyakova, who is impeccable in every stage performance – with dignity, taste, exceptional impact of her voice, characterized by rich timbre nuances. The accent in the opera title is one of the most beautiful melodies – Dalila’s Aria /“Mon cœur s’ouvre a ta voix”/ from Act II, which is considered one of the most influential in opera art. In her individual interpretation, Dyakova is characterized by an in-depth examination of the complex image and an impressive, professionally presented performance.
The image of Samson will be recreated by the soloist of the Sofia Opera and Ballet and the State Opera - Burgas, Daniel Damyanov, who will present the difficult part with his characteristic emotionality, warm timbre shades, and brilliant artistic argumentation.
The role of the High Priest of Dagon /the god of the Philistines who conquered the Jewish people/ will be played by the baritone with a rich stage career - Alexander Krunev, who will give a convincing and effective characteristic harshness of the character, the personification of Evil, inspiring respect and awe.

The other soloists will also have a bright presence, who will skillfully enter the dramatic context and will be as authentic as possible on stage. In the role of Abimelech, satrap of Gaza, will be the bass Kostadin Mechkov. In the role of the Old Jew will be Diman Panchev, bass, as the Messenger of the Philistines will be the tenor Georgi Bozveliev, First Philistine – Milen Dinolov, tenor, Second Philistine – Ivan Grozev, bass.

Each of the soloists is in amazing musical, artistic, and psychological synchrony with the other characters of the tragic story, which, despite the fact that it is from distant historical times, sounds relevant for every stage of human civilization.

Impressive – both in terms of musical complexity, visualization of the plot, and splendor – are the mass choral and ballet scenes, recreated through the masterful choreography of Galina Kalcheva. The conductor of the choral ensemble is Alexander Chepanov; the ballet ensemble’s rehearsal director is Marina Zmeeva-Markova. The concertmaster is Hristo Belchev; assistant directors: Lina Peeva and Petar Tiholov; accompanists: Iliana Todorova, Raina Popova. The choir is distinguished by filigree dynamic nuances and phrasing – especially in the polyphonic transitions, characterized by their high complexity. The choir is also a main actor in the plot and the musical text – both in the quiet nuances and in the bursting moments requiring strong expression.

The orchestra performs the extremely difficult passages in the complex score of Camille Saint-Saëns in a brilliantly shocking manner – with the melodiousness and depth typical of French music. Under the precise baton of the renowned conductor Ivan Kozhuharov, a monolithic integrity of the complex score will be created - with precise dynamics and brilliantly presented polyphonic beauty. The ballet is a true emotional-visual accent of the performance - with attractive mass scenes and, above all, with the emblematic "bacchanalia" - a masterpiece of sensory perception. The work is performed in the original - in French, with subtitles in Bulgarian, by Srebrina Slavova.

On the stage of the Summer Theater in Burgas on July 7, a strong performance will be created - as a charge, and professionally presented - according to all the canons of musical and stage art. The biblical legend about the destructive power of passion, ancestral commandments, and Divine enlightenment will be told excitingly. The beautiful voices of the soloists and choir, accompanied by beautiful, soulful music, will merge into an emotional-semantic symbiosis, exalting the idea of love, betrayal, redemption, and sacrifice in the name of a higher goal. The nuances in the musical text will be conveyed by the magnificent performers - with thought, feeling, depth, with the corresponding emotional attitude: lyricism, awe, longing, tearing doubts - between the call of the heart and duty to family and homeland, painful awareness, dramatic return, apotheosis of inner strength, expressed also through God's protection...

The large-scale spectacle "Samson and Delilah" will be a guest on July 11 at 9 p.m. on the open stage of the historical relic - the fortress "Tsarevets" in the old capital city of Veliko Tarnovo - in the program of the festival "Stage of the Ages".