There were times in Bulgaria, when the leaders of the nation were placing the cultural progress before the economic one, because they had realized that the spiritual development was a stolid and the only possible base for comprehensive ascent. On the eve of the Independence Day 22 September, the Director of the National Opera Acad. Plamen Kartaloff opened the new season of the theatre with words from the Manifesto of King Ferdinand I, in which was spoken about equality of rights with the civilized peoples, longing for culture and prosperity. And if during the past since the Independence of Bulgaria more than 100 years our country was trying to be commensurable with the world cultural colossi, this was happening mainly thanks to the Bulgarian opera artists, who were evoking delight on leading stages.
And nowadays the only sphere, which is on a world level in our country, these are the opera and the ballet, preserved as traditions and constantly developing and proving themselves at the National Opera Theatre.
This is why absolutely logically the Sofia Opera and Ballet opened the new season with wonderfully concepted and realized concert, dedicated to the 90th Anniversary of Nicolai Ghiaurov. On the stage appeared Bulgarian and foreign artists, who had the chance to work with the great bass, as well as singers from the youngest generation, proving also today the high value of the Bulgarian singing school.
The concert skilfully combined live performances and documentary recordings from Ghiaurov’s artistic work, as well as memories about his personality. The programme was selected in accordance with the works of art, in which the colossal Bulgarian bass developed his world fame. “It is difficult to sing even after a recording of Ghiaurov”, said Orlin Anastasov, but the participants in the concert completely justified the expectation for excellent performance of arias, duets and ensembles from operas by Verdi, Puccini, Mozart, Mussorgsky, Massenet.
Enthusiastic applauses sent off from the stage the American mezzo-soprano Dolora Zajick, the Italian performers Daniela Mazzucato, Max René Cosotti; Orlin Anastasov, Kaludi Kaludov, Svetozar Rangelov, Dimitar Stanchev, Petar Buchkov, Kostadin Andreev, Atanas Mladenov, Zvetelina Vassileva, Radostina Nikolaeva, Aleksandrina Stoyanova-Andreeva, Tsveta Sarambelieva, Diana Vasileva, Angel Hristov, Davide Ryu from Raina Kabaivanska’s school. She herself applauded her colleagues and received ovations from the hall. And her memory about Ghiaurov was humane and emotional.
The conductor of the evening Elio Boncompagni, student of the legendary Tullio Serafin and musician with world career, demonstrated an intelligent presence on the stand and at the end moved the hall with his high opinion of the orchestra of the Sofia Opera and Ballet, the Bulgarian musical tradition and of Sofia’s cultural heritage.
Presenter of the concert was the music critic from Italy Andrea Merli – with special interest since years in the Bulgarian singing tradition and in the Sofia Opera.
The honour and the memory about Nicolai Ghiaurov turned into something alive on the stage of our first opera theatre. We left content and sure that the tradition is alive, and the successors are worthy.
http://www.jivotatdnes.bg/nachalo/news/kultura/dostoyno-za-nikolay-gyaurov
http://www.jivotatdnes.bg/nachalo/news/kultura/dostoyno-za-nikolay-gyaurov