21 october 2022 Exclusive Gala Concert Of The "Stoyan Popov" Opera Competition

The evening of October 21 - the birthday of the great Bulgarian baritone of world fame - Stoyan Popov, patron of the First FIRST NATIONAL COMPETITION FOR OPERA SINGERS "STOIAN POPOV", was not only under the sign of festivity, solemnity and exclusivity.
An event designed in the dream of Assoc. Alexander Tekeliev Alexander Tekeliev, an event took place - at the right moment, accumulating the energy of continuity in art - to have it, in its highest pure form, as a guide, corrective and source of meaning and spiritual growth.
Maestro Stoyan Popov is among the constellation of bright personalities who continue their spiritual path, paving new tracks for the development of his followers.
Those present in the hall of the Burgas Opera House had the privilege of hearing a recording on the video wall of maestro Stoyan Popov's extremely impressive performance of the Te Deum from the opera "Tosca" by Giacomo Puccini. The recording is from the same stage that today hosts the event in his honor and is on the occasion of his 70th anniversary, with the performance under the baton of Mihail Angelov.
Prof. Tekeliev, who was a student of the famous Maestro, did not hide his excitement at the opening of the prestigious forum - the gala of the laureates of the competition, stressing that he was happy at the realization of a long-standing dream.
The chairman of the jury - maestro Kaludi Kaludov, congratulated the finalists in the contested competition program, in which 46 young opera singers from 8 countries showed complex qualities and enviable mastery.
The charming presenter of the solemn gala was the famous and beloved actress Gergana Stoyanova, who was a refined highlight of the evening - with her charismatic intelligent presence, professionalism and wonderful improvisational solutions. And as an added value to the overall perception, she did not fail to note, with undisguised sentiment, that she is from Burgas and specifically for the invitation to be a presenter she traveled to Burgas for the event and drove back to Sofia.
She announced the long-awaited moment - the presentation of prizes to the laureates.
Diplomas and flowers were presented to the lucky winners by Kaludi Kaludov - chairman of the authoritative jury, Stefka Mineva - opera singer with a world career, Ognyan Draganoff - opera director, director of the State Opera Stara Zagora - State Opera Stara Zagora, Yordanka Ananieva Yordanka Ananieva - Deputy Mayor of Burgas Municipality, with whose partnership the competition was held, Svetlana Dimitrova Svetlana Dimitrova - daughter of maestro Stoyan Popov, Prof. Dr. Grigor Palikarov Grigor Palikarov - one of the most successful Bulgarian conductors, chief artistic director of the Symphony Orchestra - Pazardzhik, docent Alexander Tekeliev - opera director, director of the Burgas State Opera.
Here are the awardees:
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As a kind of homage to the bright memory of Stoyan Popov, who left a significant mark in the modern cultural space, was the solemn concert of the laureates - notable opera singers from Bulgaria, Ukraine, China and Poland.
It was not only their talent, stable training and professional attitude towards the high level of the forum that was palpable. And the sincere joy of being part of an event that marked the successful beginning of what we hope will be a long tradition.
Admirations also for the wonderful performance of the musicians of the State Opera - Burgas, who were impressively united in building the magnificent sound of the works - under the exceptional baton of maestro Palikarov, who is not only a skilled conductor, but also master of the entire emotional-meaning process, with the elements of the whole and with the brilliance of the detail.
In the program it was said:
Overture to the opera "Louise Miller" by Giuseppe Verdi;
Leonora's aria from the first act of the opera "The Troubadour" by Giuseppe Verdi - performed by Gergana Georgieva - Bulgaria.
Cavaradossi's aria from the third act of the opera "Tosca" by Giacomo Puccini - performed by Emil Pavlov - Bulgaria
Aria of Semiramis from the opera of the same name by Gioacchino Rossini - performed by Rumyana Kostova - Bulgaria.
Leonora Aria from Act IV of the opera The Force of Fate by Giuseppe Verdi - performed by Yu Ting - China.
Fiordilighi's aria from the opera "That's what everyone does" by Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart - performed by Viktoria Melnyk - Ukraine;
Scene and aria of Rodrigo from the opera "Don Carlos" by Giuseppe Verdi - presented by Yuri Grigorash - Ukraine;
Grafa's aria from the opera "The Marriage of Figaro" by Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart - performed by Zhang Yunyan - China;
Delilah's aria from the third act of the opera "Samson and Delilah" by Camille Saint-Saëns - performed by Joanna Cadizka;
Renato's aria from the third act of the opera "Masquerade Ball" by Giuseppe Verdi - performed by Mateusz Michalowski - Poland.

The audience responded with rapturous applause - fully deserved, after each of the laurates' performances. And it deserved an encore - the bravura coda of the evening was the emblematic "Cheers" from the opera "La Traviata" by Giuseppe Verdi, performed by maestro Kaludi Kaludov and all the participants of the gala concert.
The feeling of glamorous festivity was complete!
At the end of the evening, which will undoubtedly remain in the annals as a brilliant finale of one of the significant events in the cultural life of Burgas, colorful greetings were presented on behalf of Prof. Maria Neikova, regional governor of Burgas Region, Mr. Dimitar Nikolov, mayor of Burgas Municipality, and Prof. Magdalena Mitkova, Rector of "Prof. Dr. Asen Zlatarov" University - Burgas.
The evening ended with a cocktail in the sophisticated space of the Opera House lobby, where participants of the competition, members of the jury and guests had the opportunity to share their impressions of the forum.

Photos: State Opera - Burgas