Madame Butterfly

The first production of the opera Madame Butterfly on the Stara Zagora stage was on 21.03.1942 with conductor and director Dimitar Hristov. In 1945 Anna Tomova-Sintova first appeared in front of the audience in the role of the child. "I was only 4 years old when I first appeared in front of an audience," says the world prima Anna Tomova-Sintova. "In those post-war years, I was literally with my mother (she was a chorus girl at the Stara Zagora Opera) every night by the stage. Here I debuted in the role of Butterfly's child, not to mention travelling literally all over the country. If you'll allow me, I'll make a comparison, perhaps a rather strong one, but Stara Zagora for Bulgaria is something like Florence for Italy."

This production was created for the opening of the Festival of Opera and Ballet Art - Stara Zagora in 2005, on the small stage of the Geo Milev Drama Theatre. During the 2005/2006 season, at the invitation of Columbia Artist Management, the show was performed in over 15 states of the USA. The touring production has received positive reviews and rave reviews from the American press and audiences. With little interruption between 2010 and 2012, the show never left the Stara Zagora stage, enjoying exceptional audience interest.

Nina Naydenova's directorial interpretation centers around the image of the Dream and the rehabilitation of its meaning. According to her, only a Big Dream can convey the uniqueness of a life. In the time of identical people - those who work and live according to certain, often planned and plotted goals - life, professional, others, forced to follow the rules of their time, the only recognizable person is the one pursuing his own Big Dream.

Running time: 2 hours and 30 minutes with one intermission
Performed in Italian with Bulgarian subtitles.
Premiere: 26.04.2005 - Festival of Opera and Ballet Art, Burgas. Stara Zagora