site.btaLive Music Takes Centre Stage as 34th Varna Summer Festival Concludes

The 34th International Theatre Festival Varna Summer concluded on Thursday with the premiere of The Good Soldier Svejk. The production is based on Jaroslav Hasek’s novel and was staged by the Varna Puppet Theatre under the direction of Denis Simeonov.

Live music featured prominently across many events of the festival in 2026. Music and dance were central to Little England, which opened this year’s festival. Director Diana Dobreva and playwright Alexander Sekulov described their creative approach as building entire worlds rather than simply telling stories.

A highlight was the Fusion concert by violinist Vasko Vassilev and guitarist Carlos Yave at the Festival and Congress Centre, presented by Via Fest Foundation as part of the Intermezzo programme. The concert blended classical, romantic, and contemporary works by composers ranging from Bach, Saint-Saens, Vivaldi, and Paganini to Sting and Paco de Lucia.

Music by Philip Glass, Max Richter, Karl Jenkins, and Armand Amar accompanied Triptych, a production by Arabesque Ballet featuring three short choreographic works. Artistic Director Angelina Gavrilova emphasized that audiences should experience art through emotion and open senses rather than focus on understanding it intellectually.

Live musical performances also played a key role in Shakespeare’s The Tempest, staged by the Aron Tamasi Theatre from Sfantu Gheorghe, and directed by Viktor Bodo. Energetic and concert-like in spirit, the production showcased a young cast who impressed as both actors and musicians.