Podcast in English
Text size
Bulgarian National Radio © 2025 All Rights Reserved

First Bulgarian pop opera staged at National Palace of Culture

Photo: library

On May 19, audiences will be able to see the first pop opera in Bulgaria based on Oscar Wilde’s “The Fisherman and his Soul” in Hall No.1 of the National Palace of Culture in Sofia. It is an ambitious production with more than 100 performers; the music is by Minko Lambov and the libretto by Ana Topalova. In the words of the composer, the two stared working together in 2012.

“Even before that we had worked on a major project together – the symphony ballet “Tempest” by Alexander Ostrovsky. It was not a commercial project, so we decided to do something that would reach out to a broader audience. That was how we came up with the idea to produce Oscar Wilde’s tale, a story many people are very fond of, a tale that conveys a profound philosophy and is suited to children and adults alike.”


The authors have cast beautiful singer Vessy Boneva in the role of the mermaid. Nencho Balabanov is the fisherman and Mariana Popova – the witch, singer from the Sofia Opera House Stefan Vladimirov is the priest. Johnny Iliev is cast as the devil and Amalia, lead vocalist of the funk formation Dirty Purchase is given the most serious of all roles in the opera, that of the soul. In terms of the music, the opera offers an innovative approach and makes use of different techniques of composition. The music by Minko Lambov brings together on stage opera and pop singers with a symphony orchestra, a pop-rock band and a choir with conductor Maestro Kiril Lambov and this helps create a special blend of harmony.

''The pain of the world'' - the air of the Soul

“I love the eclectic and to me blending genres is fun,” he says. “I am not living with the feeling that I am the best jazz, pop or any other kind of composer. It gives me great pleasure to blend elements that may seem incompatible. It is not easy because as it is said “there is a measure in everything’. There is always the risk that it will not work out, but then the result could be something unique. I hope that in this case the latter will be true.”

The fantastic glow-paint costumes for “The Fisherman and his Soul” – costumes that have never before been seen in Bulgaria - are the work of Kremena Halvadjyan. The Symphonietta orchestra provides the accompaniment for the 150-minute long show.

“We recorded one of the dances of the fisherman and his soul together with renowned violinist Svetlin Roussev. I met up with him quite by chance; I had already written the music for piano and violin. I mustered up the courage to ask him to perform it and he agreed. We made the recording in Shoumen a few days ago and then I sent it to Paris for mixing. I am proud to say that this is one of the names of world renown involved in this project.”

The team that produced the pop opera is hoping that it will give the audience pleasure but also that it will touch viewers with the story of true love and the price we are ready to pay for it.

Nencho Balabnov as the Fisherman

English version: Milena Daynova




Последвайте ни и в Google News Showcase, за да научите най-важното от деня!
Listen to the daily news from Bulgaria presented in "Bulgaria Today" podcast, available in Spotify.

More from category

Concert of Musica Antica – Sofia with rarely performed works

Baroque music concert with works by rarely performed composers will be presented by Musica Antica – Sofia ensemble and soprano Girgina Girginova in the Bulgarian Cultural Center in Sofia.  Along with European Baroque, the audience..

published on 11/30/24 7:00 AM

Todor Gadjalov - ''Locked Door''

Young singer Todor Gadjalov presents his new original song "Locked Door". It is inspired by the struggle of every person with their own obstacles and challenges. "This is a story about the way up – difficult, but full of hope. The song is about..

published on 11/29/24 2:22 PM

Mary Boys Band - "Wake Me Up When May Comes"

Mary Boys Band keep their promise to drink the summer to the last drop with their new song "Wake Me Up When May Comes". Staying true to themselves, on the eve of winter, the musicians immerse us in warm emotions, typical of all their songs from the..

published on 11/28/24 9:41 AM