IN THE HEIGHTS OF PLEASURE WITH MARIA GULEGHINA IN “UN BALLO IN MASCHERA”

The return of the opera legend Maria Guleghina on the stage of the Sofia Opera and Ballet on 29 May in “Un ballo in maschera” by Giuseppe Verdi after the unforgettable experience with her Kundry in Richard Wagner’s “Parsifal” means something more than just one guest-performance. It means recognition and desire to be on this stage with the ensemble of our theatre.

For Gulegnina Wagner is not just music, but philosophy.

“To create this music is like painting an icon, you must first purify yourself.” I remind of this philosophy and thinking of the singer, who with voice and exceptional spirituality gives a new life to each of her Verdian characters on the biggest stages, which provoked the critique to call her “Queen of Verdi”.

The life of her Amelia from the opera “Un ballo in maschera” began in 1987 on the stage of Milan’s La Scala with Luciano Pavarotti and continued on all world stages. A character, which every time in the different productions acquires new colours, new strokes in the personage.

“Un ballo in maschera” is a real Shakespeare’s drama of strong passions with psychological conflicts and depth of the character’s states of mind. A spectacle with an exceptionally strong suggestion, which moves not only with the performers’ mastery, but also with the provocation of reflections about our time. 

If you wish to raise into the heights of pleasure with Maria Guleghina’s Amelia in this story, so topical this day too, welcome at the Sofia and Ballet on 29 May, when the “Queen of Verdi” Maria Guleghina will be the main heroine in this spiritual ascent.

Dr. Magdalena Manolova