With the famous opera “Borislav” by Maestro Georgi Atanasov, the Sofia Opera opens the celebrations for the 830th Anniversary of the signing of the Lovech peace – beginning of the Second Bulgarian state
With the production of the opera “Borislav” of the Sofia Opera on the open stage of the Middle Age fortress in Lovech will start the celebrations, dedicated to the 830th Anniversary of the signing of the Lovech peace, with which was set the beginning of the Second Bulgarian kingdom.
The Anniversary of the unsuccessful siege of the Lovech Fortress by the army of the Byzantine Emperor Isaak II Angelos will be marked with the opera “Borislav” by Maestro Georgi Atanasov.
What is the story of the fortress?
Three months the fortress was under siege. They didn’t succeed to take it. With the signing of the peace contract all lands, in which the brothers Asen and Petar managed to rise up a revolt, were acknowledged for free Bulgarian territory. Byzantium acknowledged Asen and Petar as kings and with this began the Second Bulgarian kingdom.
With the production of “Borislav” by the stage director Academician Plamen Kartaloff, Director of the Sofia Opera and Ballet, tonight, at the fortress will be marked the beginning of the celebrations, which will continue during the entire summer season also with exhibitions, historical revivals and other spectacles.
About the history of the opera “Borislav” by Maestro Georgi Atanasov
“Borislav” is the first Bulgarian historical opera. It is dedicated to Borislav – the great voivode of King Ivan Asen II. Its author is our great composer Maestro Georgi Atanasov. The libretto is by Nikolay T. Popov, after Ivan Vazov’s play of the same name. The success of this drama, which was performed in 1909 in Sofia, was amazing. “Borislav”, wrote in his memories Simeon Radev, ruled the capital, marched triumphantly in the country and gave to one otherwise indifferent to artistic beauty people a noisy rapture. The fathers with romantic imagination were giving to their children the name of Borislav.”
Inspired by the play of the people’s poet, Maestro Atanasov was writing quickly and tensely and in October 1910 he was ready with the piano scores of “Borislav”. Two months later was completed also the orchestration. The work was written after the type of the Italian Verdi opera, it has built strong conflicts and dramatic scenes. In it is shown the fight for love and power, for supremacy of the national interests above the personal speculations and intrigues.
The premiere of the opera “Borislav” was in the distant 1911, on 4 March, on the stage of “Operna druzhba”. Similarly to Ivan Vazov’s drama, it had great success. The production was by Dragomir Kazakov and in it took part the best forces of our opera of that time. After 106 years, “Borislav” returned again on the stage of our first opera theatre in the country. Director of the production is Acad. Plamen Kartaloff.
In the spectacle “Borislav, the Great Voivode of King Ivan Asen II” participate:
Svetozar Rangelov, Lyubov Metodieva, Atanas Mladenov, Tsvetan Tsvetkov, Dimitar Stanchev, Nikolay Milev, Slavi Manov, Anton Radev /Furkas and Soldier/, Daniel Ostretsov, Blagovesta Mekki-Tsvetkova, Elena Marinova, Silvana Pravcheva, Aleksandar Nosikov, Ilia Iliev, Rumyana Petrova, Mario Petrov, Stefan Sahatchiev, Mario Krastev.
Conductor: Zhorzh Dimitrov
Director: Plamen Kartaloff
