The opera “Lakmé” is a pearl which Léo Delibes created in the time, when the creators’ imagination was captivated by the magical fascination of the Orient, of exotics. This is a fairy-tale about love, told by the “tender blond giant” Delibes masterly and with great finesse.

The action takes place in India, living under the English colonial oppression. The Hindus pray to Brahma for freedom, guided in their fight by the High Priest Nilakantha. His daughter Lakmé, however, falls in love with the English officer Gérald, who is wounded by her father. Lakmé hides him and showers him with the caresses of love, with wonder-working water she wants to connect their destinies forever. The soldier’s duty calls Gérald and he goes away. Lakmé sees no reason to live anymore and commits suicide.

“Music is like clay which has to be preserved soft and flexible through unceasing shaping and remain warm till its working out to the nth power…”

This understanding of Delibes suggests the music and stage image of the spectacle “Lakmé”. The exquisiteness of the lyrical and dramatic work of art comes to life in the fairy-tale sets of the production designer Miodrag Tabacki and the director’s suggestion of Plamen Kartaloff in a way, which moves the contemporary viewer. The director’s interpretation focuses on the eternal topic – the power of love and self-sacrifice. The depth of the plot and of Léo Delibes’ music and the psychology set by him, comes to life with that softness and flexibility, which captivates with beauty and sentiment.

All this will come to life in Plamen Kartaloff’s production on the stage of the Sofia Opera and Ballet on 5 June this year under the baton of Maestro Francesco Rosa, and in the role of Lakmé will be Diana Vasileva.

Do not miss this exciting spectacle with the wonderful artists – Biser Georgiev, Diana Genova, Angel Antonov, Daniel Ostretsov, Atanas Mladenov, Elena Stoyanova, Silvana Pravcheva, Rumyana Petrova, Slavi Manov, Vanyo Dimitrov, Kiril Stoyanov.

Dr. Magdalena Manolova