Hit musical “Don Juan” comes to the stage of National Palace of Culture in Sofia

For decades, the National Palace of Culture in the Bulgarian capital has upheld a wonderful tradition of presenting examples of the most attractive music-and-stage genre - the musical. On the stage of Hall 1, audiences have seen both world-famous hits and intriguing new Bulgarian titles. Over the past month, enormous public interest has surrounded the upcoming performances of the spectacular French musical “Don Juan” which will be staged six times - from January 28 to February 1, 2026.

In 2003, the author of the music, libretto, and lyrics - the French singer and composer Félix Gray - decided to recreate the famous seducer in a contemporary play, drawing on the three most popular works about Don Juan: the first dramatization of the legend by Tirso de Molina, Don Juan or The Stone Guest (Dom Juan ou le Festin de Pierre) by Molière, and the operatic masterpiece Don Giovanni by Mozart and Da Ponte. In Gray’s musical, the archetype is reinterpreted, with emphasis placed on Don Juan’s inner conflict. The protagonist is a fearless yet vulnerable rogue and criminal who seduces many women but ultimately falls deeply in love.

The world premiere of Don Juan took place in February 2004 in Montreal. The musical immediately became a hit thanks to its lavish sets and costumes, striking special effects, and dynamic stage action filled with duels and battles. Particularly impressive is the choreography, entirely based on Spanish folklore, especially the passionate genre of flamenco.

After its triumph in Canada, the production enjoyed great success in France, South Korea, China, Taiwan, and Japan. Two of its songs topped the Canadian charts for weeks, and director Gilles Maheu, also known for his work on the premiere production of another famous French musical “Notre-Dame de Paris received a special award. Leading independent French producers Charles and Nicolas Talar are part of the production’s management team, which set records in ticket and album sales.

Bulgarian audiences will see an updated version of the work, created after the pandemic and successfully presented in China, Japan, South Korea, and Canada. Commenting on the upcoming performances, author Félix Gray emphasizes that it is a “great joy to present the renewed version of the musical in beautiful Bulgaria”.

Edited by Tsvetana Toncheva
English version: Rositsa Petkova