18 february 2020 Don Juan - A High-Level Aesthetic Challenge
On the evening of February 17th, 2020, the Burgas audience was given the opportunity for an aesthetic experience of the highest class. One of VA Mozart's most performed operas, Don Juan, re-created an atmosphere of dramatic subordination to the challenges of the heart and the orders of Destiny.
The conductor of the production, directed by Alexander Tekeliyev, is maestro Ivaylo Krinchev, the artist is Ivan Savov, the conductor of the choir, who is a full participant in the emotionally intense stage act - Nevena Mihaylova, the plastic is of the late Grisha Roglev, assistant-director - P. Tiholov.
The eternal theme of temptation, manipulative schemes for achieving emotional dividends, sin, fall, redemption, and punishment was unfolded on the stage of Burgas Opera. Each of the soloists was emotionally-aesthetically-intellectually motivated by the remarkable directorial techniques to bring to the surface of their artistic essence the best, the most constructive and the influential. Baritone Valeri Turmanov has unleashed her talent and energy in the image of the classic seducer, who has listed thousands of conquests in her "secret list" - from innocent virgins to worthy ladies seeking fleeting attention. The true companion and executor of Don Juan - Leporello, was bass Delyan Slavov, who unfolded the image - with artistry and a psychological approach to its construction. The role of Donna Anna, who mourns the untimely loss of her beloved father, killed by Don Juan, was the brilliant soprano Maria Tsvetkova-Madzharova - with a virtuoso technique and beautiful nuances in the highest register. Image of Donna Elvira - Don Juan's former favorite, build - mature, with gradation and stability in performance and stage presence, soprano Nona Krustnikova. Just a few days ago, she went into a completely different, as an artistic role, role - the controversial beauty Neda / Columbine / in the opera Palyachi by Leoncavallo. In the role of Don Otavio introduced tenor Nikolai Motsov - guest - he traced the emotional upgrade in his image, with professional skill and a sense of detail. A lot of charm, ease and natural finesse gave the image to the beautiful and pure-hearted girl from the Zerlin people, the mezzo-soprano Joanna Kadiyska, who during the last year's performance of Don Juan on the stage of Burgas received a romantic proposal for marriage from baritone Valeri Turmanov. The brilliant debut in the role of Mazetto was made by the young multi-talented baritone Branimir Nedkov. Just hours before the show, he entered four images simultaneously - the brothers in the musical comedy by Georgi Kostov's The Four Twins. This did not prevent him from presenting himself firmly and at the height of his stage partners. The bassist Diman Panchev made his debut in the character image of the Commander - he achieved a strong stage presence and suggestion, a mature acting approach to the image - presented as an instrument of Destiny, which rules cruelly but fairly. At the artistic and aesthetic height of the soloists were also the soloists of the State Opera - Burgas, participating in large-scale mass scenes, recreating the atmosphere of their time - with the characteristic details of the clothing, behavior, and dynamics of the relations.
Don Juan's production is elaborate in every detail - it is thought of both the overall suggestion and the elements of psychology and acting, set design, costumes, solo performances, duets, ensembles, the stage presence of the artists, everything in one unit. , is really of a high professional level, with an added aesthetic value.
At the end of the performance, during the applause from the audience, a basket of flowers was presented on behalf of Burgas Municipality - another gesture of attitude and attention to the art of Burgas creators.
This production has many years of stage life, it unfolds and develops over the years, with a participation of a galaxy of distinguished soloists, each of whom contributed his personal handwriting and made his appearance in the images.
Here is what Dr. Alexander Tekeliev says about the production of Don Juan, which he made on the Burgas stage in 2003, in an interview with Temenuga Zaharieva for Compass newspaper:
"I have to admit that the Don Juan premiere on the Burgas stage in October 2003 left a very strong emotional mark on me. Initially, I came to the performance of the Burgas Opera as a performer of the role of Leporello; the production was of another director. But at the last moment, before the Spanish impresario arrived, in connection with the subsequent tour in Spain, the holder had to be replaced. I remember our schedule was awfully busy. We worked up to 20 hours a day in overload. But that is why the performance has reached a very high level. And it is easy to work with professionals ... All of the staff of OFD - Burgas / then State Opera - Burgas was called the Opera and Philharmonic Society /, as well as the guest singers, possessing complex positive qualities and desire for high-speed rehearsal.
It is nice that the team synchronizes its goals and requirements, as well as the stereotype of work. In addition, we are friends with my colleagues, something extremely important in such situations. In this community of colleagues and like-minded people, I felt like one family. Everything I would like to emphasize was realized by the participants in the ambitious spectacle.
In general, I have respected the classic parameters of the opera work by including some new points - for example, Death, new actors, and some other staged innovations that bring different handwriting and have not been tried in other music theaters so far. of the world. I felt that the impact of the extra image of Death as a counterpoint had a really huge impact on the audience. Another thing I kept at work was to avoid the static used as a directorial technique in many other productions. In every place where the movement has been possible, we have changed the excess delay of action. In general, the performance is subordinated to the idea of the dynamics of time, in accordance with the fast-paced pace in which we live in the modern world. It is acceptable for me to lend the audience something old and sluggish, to impose old stereotypes of thinking. According to the reactions of the audience to the performances of Don Juan, I judge that the dynamics, the pace are transmitted to the audience and make the interaction between them and the musicians highly influential and intense with emotionality. "
Here is a commentary on Don Juan on the Burgas stage and by Maestro Ivaylo Krinchev, who is conducting the large-scale three-hour performance on February 17 at the Opera Hall:
"Don Juan connects me in a special way with the Bourgas Opera, because the first production of this title for me and for the theater was right here back in 1996. I am pleased that over the years the production got its second life with the revised directorial reading of Alexander Tekeliev continued to attend the repertoire of the theater. My personal feeling was that the performance on 17.02 was filled with a lot of emotional energy thanks to the well-chosen solo composition and the confidence we were able to build between us during rehearsals. "
Gallery photos: State Opera - Burgas