28 february 2023 An Exciting "La Traviata" With A Brilliant Artistic Cast

The last evening of February brought a whirlwind of emotions - in the highest spectrum of art experience with the extraordinary spectacle of Verdi's opera TRAVIATA / LA TRAVIATA - with a magnificent artistic cast, conductor, orchestra, choir, and ballet.
There are moments that deserve to be inlaid in the memorial shelves - in the catalog of aesthetic experiences of the highest sample - not only as a purely professional performance but also as a spiritual filling and charge.
Tonight's performance bore precisely that symbolic stamp - of something special and rare.
All participants on the stage - soloists, choir, ballet, as well as the musicians in the orchestra, under the baton of maestro Ivan Kozhuharov, were united in a single harmony - not only as singers and instrumentalists but as artists who managed to amaze with mastery, to move, to move, to make one think...
A highlight of tonight's performance was the bright participation of the laureates of the First National Competition for Young Opera Singers with international participation - the wonderful, inspired, and distinguished by brilliant vocal qualities Viktoria Melnyk /Ukraine/ - in the role of Violetta Valery, and Mateusz Michałowski /Poland/ - in the image of Georges Germont. For the two guest soloists, the participation in a performance at the Burgas State Opera was part of the prize of the competition, in which more than 50 young opera singers from 8 countries took part.

Viktoria Melnyk managed to build the role of Violeta Valery with mastery, passion, bearing, dedication and being sure - both in the quiet dynamics, saturated with tender nostalgic nuances, and in the highest register, giving the characteristic dramatic saturation of the phrases imbued with tragedy and doom. Mateusz Michalski respects - with stable vocal padding, presence, and stage charisma, as well as with precision invested in every detail in the construction of the image.
The magnificent soloist presence included the young soloist of the Burgas Opera Andreya Mirchev, who made an impressive debut in the role of Alfred Germont, and the lovely mezzo-soprano Ioana Kadiyska - also a laureate of the "Stoyan Popov" competition, in the role of Flora Bervois - a friend of Violetta Valerie. Andreja Mirchev managed to build the heavy tenor part not only with ease in the interpretation of Verdi's music, saturated with dramatic clashes but also as a strong acting argument. The image of the mid-19th-century Parisian high society lady Flora Bervois perfectly suited the vision and air of Joanna Cadijska, who was stable not only in solo performances but also in ensemble performances.
The magnificent soloist presence included the young soloist of the Burgas Opera Andreya Mirchev, who made an impressive debut in the role of Alfred Germont, and the lovely mezzo-soprano Ioana Kadiyska - also a laureate of the "Stoyan Popov" competition, in the role of Flora Bervois - a friend of Violetta Valerie.
In sync with the overall large-scale picture and suggestion of the performance were the other soloists:
the bass Kostadin Mechkov - as Baron Dufault, the baritone Branimir Nedkov Branimir Nedkov – Marquis d'Aubigny, Darina ZaprianovaDarina Zaprianova – Anina, Milen Dinolov – Vicomte Gaston de Lettorier,  Diman Panchev – Doctor Grenville, Miroslav Dimitrov – Joseph and Nikolai Nikolov – Servant of Flora.
"La Traviata" is directed by Alexander Tekeliev, Ph.D., and is distinguished by a deep psychological reading of the plot and images, inspired by the novel "La Dame aux Camélias" by Alexandre Dumas - son.
The scenography of Catalin Arbore /Romania/, which impresses with its originality, skilfully uses mirror images and the play of light and shadow - both literally and symbolically.
The spectacular show at a high professional level included the artistic compositions of the orchestra - with concertmaster Hristo Belchev, choir - with conductor Nevena Mihaylova, and ballet - choreography - Galina Kalcheva, tutor of the ballet ensemble Marina Zmeeva-Мarkova.
The orchestra, under the skillful baton of maestro Kozhuharov, managed to recreate the entire dramatic charge of the musical text - through the nuances of dynamics and the embedded emotion in the interpretation of Verdi's score.
The assistant director of the production is Lina Peeva Lina Peeva, who during the rehearsals tried to skillfully introduce the young guest soloists to the atmosphere of the opera theater and the specifics of the production.
Admirations also to those who remain behind the light of the stage and the applause - Rayna Popova, accompanist, Srebrina Slavova Srebrina Slavova, who is responsible for the subtitles, Kalina Popova - make-up and wigs, as well as all the specialists from the technical services - Dimitar Peshev, who built the components of an impressive performance with its complex qualities.
And one more thing, which, in itself, means a lot - tonight the performance of "La Traviata" had a noble competition with four other cultural events at a high artistic level - in the Drama Theater "Adriana Budevska", the Puppet Theater, the Culture House of the NHK, and at the Contemporary Art Center and Library.
It is an ambiguous fact that the Opera hall was full - with a prepared and emotionally empathetic audience - an international audience, among which quite a few young people were noticed, including graduates of NUMSI "Prof. Pancho Vladigerov", Burgas.
We thank our loyal fans who, through their interest and respect, keep the art of classical music alive and vibrant!


Photos: State Opera - Burgas