Burgas State Opera opens its 2026/2027 season tonight at 7pm with Georges Bizet's "Carmen".

Ivan Kozhuharov conducts. This year he received Burgas council's special award for his contribution to the city's cultural life.

Velichka Minkova sings Carmen. She first sang the role on the Burgas stage in March. In 2025 she won first prize at the third "Stoyan Popov" international opera competition.

Valeri Georgiev sings Don José, Valeri Turmanov is Escamillo, and Nona Krastnikova plays Micaëla. Delyan Slavov sings Captain Zuniga, Gabriela Yordanova is Frasquita, Maria Yurkovskaya is Mercédès, Andrey Yurkovsky is Le Dancaïre, Yani Nikolov is Le Remendado, and Yordan Hristozov plays Moralès.

The orchestra, choir and ballet of the Burgas opera take the stage, joined by the "Milka Stoeva" children's choir under conductor Marieta Seklemova. Galina Kalcheva is the choreographer, Alexander Chepanov trained the choir, and Lina Peeva and Petar Tiholov are assistant directors.

The love triangle between the free-spirited Carmen, Don José and the bullfighter Escamillo, which also draws in Micaëla, ends in tragedy. Bizet's music has made "Carmen" one of the most performed and best-known titles in the world opera repertoire.