In late March the State Music Theater Stefan Makedonski launched its new show of “Old Time Bulgarians” – a very popular Bulgarian operetta of a standing history on stage. In this programme we bring you more on the interpretations of the literary work on which the operetta is based, as well as music from the show.

“I love you, my dear fatherland! . . . You are that blessed land that blooms, that is full of tenderness, glow and grandeur. You have taught me to cry over every human misery – and that is a lot for any man . . .“ The full text of these patriotic words has for generations been part of literature school books in Bulgaria. The excerpt is from the short novel “Old Time Bulgarians” by Lyuben Karavelov – a poet, writer, encyclopedic scholar. He was born in 1835 and died at 44 leaving a rich literary and journalistic heritage. Karavelov was persecuted for his revolutionary activities and lived for many years in exile, away from his enslaved country. Some of his works were first published in foreign languages. “Old Time Bulgarians” first came out in Russian, in 1867. It was translated and published in Bulgarian in 1972. The story is structured around the relations between different generations in the patriarchal community as well as the friendship of two prominent figures, citizens of the town of Koprivstitsa, who arrange the marriage between their children. The operetta came to life nearly a century later – in 1959. Composer Assen Karastoyanov wrote the music and actor Kosta Rainov wrote the libretto. The result is a much loved domestic comedy, staged many times by different opera and drama houses in this country. Filmed fragments from the operetta have enjoyed numerous shows on the National Television. One of the most popular scenes is the duet of Yanka and Ivan. Listen to the performance of Lyudmila Cheshmejieva and Vidin Daskalov.

Bulgarians of several generations can hum to that tune Nikolay Aprilov, director of the latest version, is one of them. He is a graduate of the National Academy for Theater and Film Arts in Sofia. He remembers the time he first saw the show.

“Old Time Bulgarians drew my attention in 1999, Nikolay Aprilov explains. At that time I was hosting the kids talents show “Like the Lions”. I wanted to impress the kids with something specific. We had to shoot the show in the town of Koprovstitsa, Karavelov’s native place. I recalled the duet of Yanka and Ivan. I watched the show and loved it. It was then I decided that one day I should stage it again. I first did it in 2001 in Sliven. We toured all over Bulgaria and had about 70 performances in different places. It was a great success. I was convinced that the two major parts should be performed by actors and that the ratio music-theater should remain in favor of theatre. The rehearsals were a true school for exchange lessons in acting and singing.”
Listen next to a duet of Lila and Pavlin – the young ones, whose love faces all kinds of challenges before the happy end. The rendition is of Luydmila Cheshmejieva and Boris Nichev.

Here is one more duet from the operetta – Ercho and Gercho - the schemers in the plot performed by Minko Bossev and Trifon Jonev. 

The Sofia based show of Old Time Bulgarians contains also traditional dances merging with the operetta plot. The dances are performed by a group from the Phillip Kutev fol ensemble. The beautiful traditional costumes, the cunning folk humor in the story and the good acting are also adding to the success of the new show. Nearly a month after the first night show at the Sofia operetta theater house the audience keeps filling the hall to the brim. Finally listen to The Engagement Scene from Act Two of Old Time Bulgarians. 

English version: Iva Delcheva