National Music Academy turns 105 - celebrations begin with opera premiere

One of the most beloved works in the world opera repertoire – "La Bohème" by Giacomo Puccini, will premiere on May 20 and 21 at the National Music Theatre "Stefan Makedonski". The co-production of the theatre and the National Academy of Music "Prof. Pancho Vladigerov" (NMA) marks the beginning of the festive events for the 105th anniversary of the NMA's establishment – ​​an anniversary that will also be celebrated during the new academic year.

Director is renowned Ognyan Draganov, who believes that through Murger's plot Puccini has revealed his own life in Milan during his student years. Conductor is Deyan Pavlov, while the stage design is by Penyo Pirozov. The Academic Symphony Orchestra of the National Academy of Music participates in the performances.

The opera has been chosen because of the opportunity to include nearly 70 young performers from the Vocal Faculty of the Academy.

"The composition is international, as in recent years the Academy has been training many Chinese students and doctoral candidates, some of whom have excellent vocal training and are at a very high level,” Deyan Pavlov says. “This is an interesting combination of students of different nationalities who successfully work together."

"For some of the singers this is a graduation performance and what the audience will see is a kind of climax of everything achieved with the help of music teachers over the years. Lecturers in various disciplines, not only vocal, are extremely important for the growth of young artists," lecturer in acting Ognyan Draganov adds.

The performance is part of the program of the 26th edition of the European Music Festival. In partnership with the National Academy of Music, the previous two editions of the festival featured the operettas "The Land of Smiles" by Franz Lehár (2024) and "The Beautiful Elena" by Jacques Offenbach (2025).

Editor: Tsvetana Toncheva