The twelfth edition of the Mozart Festival in Bulgaria’s Pravets closed with the opera "Lucia di Lammermoor" and fireworks over the town. For five days guests and citizens enjoyed this festival of art. Renowned musicians and conductors performed and the forum marked the Mozart’s 260th birth anniversary; 400 years since the deaths of Miguel de Cervantes and William Shakespeare; and 200 years since the first premiere of the opera "The Barber of Seville" by Gioachino Rossini.

The audience enjoyed the rich concert program of the festival, which started with a concert of the Symphony Orchestra of the BNR that performed works by Mozart. Conductor was Dian Chobanov. Founder of the Mozart Festival, opera singer Christina Angelakova, told us more about it:

"It is difficult to organise a festival, especially one with a varied program and good performers. Organisation costs a lot but one should not stop at difficulties. We thank our sponsors, because they provided us with great support. Everyone is happy to come here and participate in the event. What could be better than that? Here we also establish contacts that are not only professional but truly human. I listened to Maestro Jose Gomez at a New Year's concert in Bulgaria. I was impressed by his attitude towards the soloist and orchestra. The magic is showing that you understand music and play it with all your dedication and desire.”

Conductor from Argentina Mario de Rose conducted the opera concert during the last night of the festival.  With him singers feel free and comfortable. I am glad that Maestro Rose is here and I hope this will not be his last visit, Christina Angelakova says and adds:

"Ballet has been looking for much more modern forms of expression in comparison to the opera theatre," Christina Angelakova says. "Therefore, the combination of opera and ballet is already a major step forward. We presented ballet in all accompanying performances. It turned out that it has many fans among the audience. One of the best performances from the past season was "Lucia di Lammermoor" at the Stara Zagora Opera and that is why it is part of the program. I and the people I work with are optimists and hope that the festival will have a long life."

Orlin Goranov, who played the role of Don Quixote in excerpts from the musical "Man of La Mancha" by Dale Wasserman, told us more:

"I think musical is what sums up the art of our century. It contains everything. Now, when we celebrate 400 years since the death of the great Cervantes and Shakespeare, who lived in the same era but never had the opportunity to meet, while their souls were somehow connected, the time has come where we must turn to Don Quixote. Who is the mad one here? Shouldn’t we rethink our lives and values?”

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=I4fofeMzRBQ - ("Man of La Mancha" by Dale Wasserman - Orlin Goranov and Marian Bachev)

Guest conductor from Spain, maestro Jose Luis Gomez, told us about his impressions from Bulgaria and from working with colleagues in the gala concert "Viva il vino spumeggiante".

"This is my second visit to Bulgaria. Maestra Christina Angelakova - such a famous singer in the history of opera, invited me. Pravets is a wonderful place with a beautiful stage. The audience is educated and it understands and likes music. I am originally from Venezuela. Getting acquainted with people here I have found out great similarities between Bulgarians and Venezuelans. Bulgarians are very open and warm people. Even if you're in the Balkans, one can immediately feel the Mediterranean spirit. The reception I received here made me happy because it is a pleasure to work with people passionate in making music. I hope I would come again in Bulgaria. "

Guest conductor Mario de Rose told us more about the final concert of the festival:

"This is the second time I have been performing at this prestigious festival. Performing music outdoors and especially opera is very difficult because of some specifics. But it is always a beautiful challenge, something different that I like to do. The selection of performers is wonderful because they are young people who sing beautifully."

English: Alexander Markov