MAD GUIDIYA – The First Opera Premiere of the Stara Zagora Opera for 2026
News публикувана на: 23.02.2026
Go back
On March 6, 2026, at 7:00 PM, the premiere of the opera “Mad Gidiya” by Parashkev Hadzhiev will take place on the stage of the State Opera – Stara Zagora. This marks the third premiere production of “Mad Gidiya” at the Stara Zagora Opera (previous productions in 1960 and 2000), and the first here for stage director Alexander Mutafchiyski.
The conductor is Maestro Vladimir Boshnakov, choreographer Petya Vaneva, chorus masters Mladen Stanev and Stefania Ruseva, and concertmaster Anna Ivanova. The set design is by Ivan Tokadzhiev, with multimedia by Anna-Maria Tokadzhieva.
At a press conference today at the BTA Press Club in Stara Zagora, director Alexander Mutafchiyski and conductor Vladimir Boshnakov spoke about the creative process behind the production.
“The gene of the Bulgarian is encoded in this opera; it carries the morality of the National Revival, because for me the action unfolds in that historical period. The message is about Art, which awakens people to action. And also about the ethnic tolerance for which Bulgarians are known. I am delighted to work with such young and vocally gifted artists, intuitive to what the director and conductor offer. They invest tremendous effort and soul into this production so that it may reach the audience in the best and purest way,” said director Alexander Mutafchiyski.
“If I were to define the message of the opera ‘Mad Gidiya’ in one sentence, it would be: Art makes a person free. That is exactly what the main character, Iliya, does—he shows people how to think freely. The opera contains clear leitmotifs: for love (Iliya and Zornitsa), Oriental themes (Osman Bey), and others. As a researcher of Parashkev Hadzhiev, I find his musical dramaturgy here extremely interesting. Yes, ethnic tolerance is present in the music of ‘Mad Gidiya’—an openly Oriental dance (the Kadi and two guards) alongside the dance of Ensemble ‘Zagore’ in one continuous line… I have always strived to promote the work of Bulgarian composers—both as a conductor and now as a director. I have staged two other operas by Parashkev Hadzhiev. This time it is especially interesting because ‘Mad Gidiya’ belongs to the ‘childhood’ of a composer whom I first came to know through his mature works,” said Vladimir Boshnakov, conductor of “Mad Gidiya” and director of the State Opera – Stara Zagora.
Martin Petkov, choreographer of the Municipal Folklore Ensemble “Zagore,” also participated in the press conference. He shared that the choreography in the production is a collective effort by the ensemble’s artists.
“Yes, the dramaturgical character of ‘Mad Gidiya’ is closely tied to Bulgarian folklore. Our dances adhere as closely as possible to authentic Bulgarian folklore. The dances are from Thrace and Northern Bulgaria, as the action takes place in a Dobrudzha village. The music was a challenge for us—although classical instruments are not unfamiliar to us—but we succeeded and will delight the audience,” said the choreographer of ‘Zagore.’
Cast for the Premiere Performance on March 6
Radan, a wealthy villager – Ivaylo Dzhurov
Radanitsa, his wife – Tereza Brakalova
Zornitsa, Radan’s daughter – Tanya Lazarova
Iliya (Mad Gidiya), farmhand; beloved of Zornitsa – Nikolay Motsov
Mecho, farmhand; friend of Iliya – Teodor Petkov
Kuna, farm girl; beloved of Mecho – Elena Petrova
Father Matey – Martin Dimitrievski
Osman Bey – Valeri Turmanov
The Kadi – Marin Rusinov
First Wealthy Villager – Kostadin Yakshev
Second Wealthy Villager – Lyubomir Petkov
Drummer – Milen Denev
Also participating are the Orchestra and Chorus of the State Opera – Stara Zagora and the Municipal Folklore Ensemble “Zagore.”
“Mad Gidiya” in Stara Zagora Through the Years
The premiere of the newly created work was mounted by leading figures of the opera world: chief conductor Asen Naydenov, chief director Dragan Kardzhiev, designer Mariana Popova, and choreographer Ivan Todorov. It premiered in Sofia on November 15, 1959—just ten and a half months after Parashkev Hadzhiev began working on the libretto proposed by Ivan Genov, based on motifs from Pencho Slaveykov’s poem “Mad Gidiya.”
The composer’s inspiration flourished; the musical dramaturgy closely followed that of the libretto. The national character of the music is undeniable. Although critics had remarks about the libretto, “Mad Gidiya” would soon be called a “classic Bulgarian work,” compared to “The Bartered Bride,” and would enjoy interest from many theaters, including abroad. Ultimately, the best judges of any work are the audience and time.
The Stara Zagora Opera was the first theater outside the capital to present “Mad Gidiya.” The premiere took place on December 8, 1960, about a year after the Sofia premiere. The production team included chief conductor Lyuben Pintev, director Georgi Petrov, designer Petar Ruskov, chorus master Ivan Dimov, and guest choreographer from Sofia Ivan Todorov. The production was staged for two consecutive seasons with 33 and 11 performances respectively.
On April 8, 1962, the 40th performance of “Mad Gidiya” by the Stara Zagora company took place—an especially festive event attended by the composer himself and numerous official guests. The occasion marked not only the 40th performance of the opera but also the 3,000th performance in the history of the Stara Zagora Opera.
The Stara Zagora production was also presented in Sofia at the Third National Review of Opera Theaters on June 30, 1962—its final performance in that staging.
The second production of “Mad Gidiya” appeared on the theater’s bill for two seasons as well, though with significantly fewer performances, despite the dedication of the entire creative team.
Chief Assistant Prof. Dr. Ema Zhuneva
