Burgas Opera House

The Burgas Philharmonic Orchestra has existed as a state institute since 1947. Its first conductors were Dimitar Karadjov, Vasil Lolov, Nevin Mihalev and Dimitar Karagyozov. A particularly important stage in the development of the orchestra was the period 1960 – 1976, when its chief conductor was Prof. Ivan Vulpe. Then, along with its numerical growth, the Burgas Philharmonic Orchestra raised its professional stature and called itself one of the most prominent Bulgarian orchestras. The following years were when the chief conductors of the Philharmonic Orchestra were some of the most emblematic conductors in Bulgaria: Yordan Dafov, Vasil Stefanov, Ruslan Raichev, Mihail Angelov. The orchestra created an exceptionally rich repertoire, including the most extensive works of world music classics. Almost all works by Bulgarian composers were performed here for the first time. In 1987, Ivan Kozhuharov became the chief conductor of the orchestra, and a new generation of young conductors took the stage, alongside the veterans Prof. Vladi Simeonov, Prof. Sasha Popov, Prof. Konstantin Iliev, Dobrin Petkov, etc. Over the years, musicians of the rank of Kiril Kondrashin, Antonello Gotto, Sir David Lloyd Jones, Richard Oistrakh, Ruggiero Ricci, Emil Tabakov, Emil Chakarov, etc. have visited Burgas as guest conductors, and many world-class musicians have appeared as guest soloists: Rudolf Kerer, Yoho Sato, Ljumobir Angelov, Vesko Eshkenazy, Milcho Leviev, Yovcho Krushev, and many others. The opera part of the Society has been state-owned since 1972, but back in 1955, the foundations of the Burgas amateur opera were laid. On June 25, 1955, the curtain was raised for the first time in Burgas for the magnificent “La Traviata” by Verdi – the work of a group of musical, theatrical and public actions from the city and the directors: Vasil Lolov – conductor; Stefan Gadularov – director, and Konstantin Dzhidrov – artist. By the year of its maintenance, 36 positions of operas, operettas and ballets from the classics and the present day had been established on the Burgas stage. The first director of the State Opera in Burgas was Lilyana Zhablenska, and in the following years of its professional growth and establishment of the names of a whole galaxy of talented conductors, directors, choirmasters, choreographers, scenographers and artists began their journey on the stage of the Burgas Opera. The first solo ballet production of the theater was “Rivals” by Hertel and was established in 1958. The main contribution to the growth of the young and talented ballet troupe was undoubtedly made by the prominent Bulgarian ballet artists Lyuba Kolchakova and Dimo ​​Vrubel. The ballet troupe has performed numerous times in the theater’s opera and operetta productions, but over the years its solo performances: “Scheherazade”, “Bakhchisarai Fountain”, “Swan Lake”, “Nestinarka”, “The Nutcracker”, etc. mark the path of the upward development of the Burgas ballet troupe with an original, unique and highly professional choreographic style. The mixed choir in Burgas was formed in 1972, when the Burgas Opera became a state music institute. The choir at the Burgas Opera and Philharmonic Society participates in the realization of operas, operettas and children’s performances.