THE STARA ZAGORA STATE OPERA WITH TWO AWARDS “CRYSTAL LYRE”

The Stara Zagora State Opera with two awards “Crystal Lyre” of the Union of the Bulgarian Musicians and Dancers and Cantus Firmus

For the 23rd time, the Union of the Bulgarian Musicians and Dancers and Cantus Firmus rewarded the highest achievements of the musical performing and dance arts in Bulgaria. The ceremony of bestowing the awards “Crystal Lyre” was traditionally held on 1 November – the Day of the People’s Enlighteners at the Sofia Opera and Ballet.

The Stara Zagora State Opera won the prestigious prize in two categories:
In the category “Opera and Operetta”, the soloist of the Stara Zagora Opera – mezzosoprano Petya Petrova received a “Crystal Lyre” for the role of Isabella in the opera “L’Italiana in Algeri” by Rossini, whose premiere was on 9 March this year in Stara Zagora.

“A laureate of the “Crystal Lyre” this year is one recognized professional and exceptional artist and this is Petya Petrova” – these were the words of Momchil Milanov – vice president of the Union of the Bulgarian Musicians and Dancers, before personally giving the prize to the singer.

“I would like to thank first the Union of the Bulgarian Musicians and Dancers and share with you that this award is not only for me, but also for the theater of the Stara Zagora State Opera! I would like to extend my thanks to its administrative team of Vesselina Kasarova, Ognyan Draganov and Ivaylo Krinchev, who made this production of “L’Italiana in Algeri” possible, in which I was able to reveal my creative potential. Last, but not least, I would like to thank my teachers the great opera singer Alexadrina Miltcheva and the soloist of the National Opera Bayasgalan Dashnyam.”

In the category “Ballet Art” – a collective prize, the Ballet of the Stara Zagora State Opera was awarded “Crystal Lyre” for the spectacle of the ballet “Don Quixote”, whose premiere was on 27 November 2018. The prize was received by the director of the Stara Zagora State Opera Ognyan Draganov and the artistic director of the Ballet Silviya Tomova.

The “Crystal Lyre” was given by the choreographer and ballet-master of the National Music Theater Svetlin Ivelinov, who addressed both of them with the words: ”I specially congratulate Silviya Tomova for succeeding in creating a troupe which managed to cope with such a difficult and complex material and really achieve such artistic success! I also congratulate the director Ognyan Draganov, without whose help and support this troupe could not be!”

“I thank to all who support us – the Stara Zagora Municipality as well as the Ministry of Culture. We will work hard, continuing the development of the chamber opera in Stara Zagora. Ballet is a fragile art, which needs lots of support. I thank the Union of the Musicians and Dancers for this prestigious prize, for the high appreciation of our work!” – said at the conclusion of his address Ognyan Draganov.

“70 years Ballet – Stara Zagora, the second troupe, which was created after the Sofia one, is not a little achievement if we survey most of the European countries in terms of history. I am glad and happy that Mr. Ognyan Draganov invited me to work him. I thank the Ministry of Culture, the Stara Zagora Municipality for helping us to create for such a short time this splendid troupe. I thank Arshak Galumyan – the choreographer of the spectacle of the ballet “Don Quixote” – soloist with The Berlin State Ballet, I thank his brilliant assistant Krasina Pavlova – also a soloist with the Berlin State Ballet and my student, I thank Salvatore Russo for the magnificent costumes and sets. Last, but not least, most of all I thank our brilliant ballet-artists. They are wonderful, young, talented, coming from all over the world… In this connection, I invite you on 17 December to Hall 1 of the National Palace of Culture to see the ballet “Don Quixote”, performed by the Stara Zagora Ballet together with the exceptional stars Yana Salenko and Marian Walter. Thanks to all who help us!” – shared with the audience Silviya Tomova.
Congratulations!