INTERNATIONAL OPERA WORKSHOP (For conductors)
 
Bourgas, Bulgaria
June 20 - July 17, 2005 
Mozart's: Cosi fan Tutte
Verdi's: Il Trovatore
With the Bourgas Philharmonic Orchestra

SINGERS CLICK HERE

How to get to Bourgas

Program Description  

A workshop for CONDUCTORS interested in gaining experience in conducting opera in a theatre setting (stage and pit).  It is limited to 16 conductors; each will work with the Bourgas Opera (including the Philharmonic orchestra, chorus, ballet and technical staff); as well as with participants of the singing division of the workshop. The two operas will be studied, with at least TWO casts of singers for each opera. It is a strict requirement of the workshop that participating conductors know the BOTH operas COMPLETE.

At the end of the workshop each cast will have one complete performance  for a total of a minimum of four fully-staged performances, there will also be two concert performances with orchestra. Conductors who reach a minimum standard as determined by the faculty will conduct a section of EACH opera at a public performance. 

Conductors rehearse with the orchestra and singers.  When performance repertoire has been allocated, each conductor will conduct the assigned section with the orchestra in rehearsals, as well as in a dress rehearsal and performance or concert. Conductors will also attend conductors' clinics which include piano and singer(s) with emphasis on recitative accompaniment as applicable. Conductors also attend and/or conduct staging rehearsals.

Faculty

Milen Nachev

The conductor was Milen Nachev and he is a star. His conducting style was charged with energy. Every motion was both dramatic and expressive, wrote the North Carolina Citizen-Times critic.

Mr. Nachev has been the Principal Conductor of the Bulgarian National Radio Symphony Orchestra in Sofia “for life”. He was also the Principal Conductor with Belgrade Radio & Television Symphony Orchestra. Milen Nachev was appointed as Principal Conductor of the Balkan Philharmonic Orchestra in 2001 as well. In 1983, Milen Nachev was appointed to the position of Principal Conductor with the Rousse State Opera Theater, Bulgaria. Then in 1989, he was appointed its Artistic and General Director. After that, he was appointed Conductor of the Sofia National Opera and Ballet Theatre as well.

As Principal Conductor of the Bulgarian National Radio Symphony Orchestra, Mr. Nachev created many successful recordings with Gena Dimitrova, Raina Kabaivanska, Veselina Katzarova, Anna Tomova-Sintova, Nikolai Giaurov, Nikola Giuselev, Alexandrina Milcheva, and many concerts and tours to Spain, France, Germany, Italy, Belgium, Portugal, Greece, Turkey, Serbia, and Romania among other countries. 

His engagement highlights during 2004-2005 include guest conducting invitations with the Saint Petersburg Philharmonic, Russia; Marinskii (Kirov) Theater, Saint Petersburg, Russia; Teatro Colon, Buenos Aires, Argentina; Bucharest National Radio Symphony, Romania; Philharmonic Orchestra of Buenos Aires, Argentina; Sofia National Opera & Ballet Theatre, Bulgaria; and Bogotá National Symphony Orchestra, Columbia among others.

In May 2004 Mr. Nachev was invited from Teatro Colon, Argentina to realize a new production of Verdi’s Don Carlo. This production received five-star reviews by all major regional newspapers. Also, he received an invitation by Valery Gergiev to conduct Puccini’s Madam Butterfly in Marinskii (Kirov) Theater, Saint Petersburg, Russia in 2005. Mr. Nachev has also been invited to conduct Verdi’s Othello during the Sofia National Opera tour of Japan in November, 2005. 

Mr. Nachev was a Faculty Professor with the Bulgarian State Conservatory and Master Class Faculty Professor with many International Opera Workshops in Europe. He was also Faculty Professor of Conducting Workshop in Conservatoria Superior de Liceo, Barcelona, Spain.

Pablo Kohan in Espectáculos, Buenos Aires wrote, “Milen Nachev impressed the hall by the firmness of his gesture and his command and control of the orchestra. He showed great precision in the markings, with very clear directives in his choice of tempi, the construction of the phrasings that were impeccably expressed by the musicians of the Buenos Aires Philharmonic at Teatro Colon.”

Now Mr. Nachev lives in Los Angeles, California with regular engagements throughout Europe, North and South America. 

Valeri Vatchev

An expert conductor and producer of international reputation, his professional experience includes major tours in Germany, Austria, USA, Italy, Greece, Czech Republic, Romania, USSR, South Korea, Hungary, and Spain. He is presently a consultant for Symphonic Workshops and is the Music Director for the IOW. He is the principal conductor of Philharmonia Bulgarica, Sofia and The Amadeus Symphony Orchestra, Sofia. In 1999 he conducted Bulgarian National Radio Symphony Orchestra and Stefanos Korkolis in the gala concert for the Special Olympics in Athens at the Megaron Concert Hall. Since 1993 he has been the principal conductor and Music Director of the State Philharmonic Orchestra in Vratza , Bulgaria . He has been the Conductor of the State Philharmonic Orchestra, Varna, Bulgaria; the Principal Conductor and Music Director of the Kardjali SO and Conductor of the State Opera, Stara Zagora . 

A graduate of Dobry Christov Music School , Varna , Bulgaria, Vatchev was awarded a silver medal in violin and a gold in conducting. He completed his MM in orchestra and choir conducting at the National Music Academy , Sofia Bulgaria in 1988 and continued his studies 
with a fellowship under Professor Karl Oesterreicher in Vienna. He has received many awards for conducting and sits on the jury of several international festivals and competitions. Vatchev’s CD, TV and Radio recordings include BMG, Greece; BMG, Ariola , Muenchen; Minerva, London; Fontec, Japan; Arcobaleno, Belgium; Stageone, Korea; Wildflower recordings, USA, private labels; Mitteldeutsche Rundfunk, Germany; National Radio Bulgaria; Radio Varna, Bulgaria Kabel TV; Radio Craiova; KBS, Korea.  

He is returning for his fifth year as faculty with the International Opera Workshop.

Antonia Joy Wilson Antonia Joy Wilson began studying conducting while pursuing her degree in violin at the University of Denver, later undertaking graduate studies in conducting at the University of Southern California, where she was selected to perform in a conducting master class with Claudio Abbado; at Yale School of Music; and at the University of Colorado, Boulder. Antonia began her professional conducting career at twenty-one as guest conductor of the Colorado Symphony Orchestra. At twenty-three, she became the Exxon Affiliate Artists Conducting Assistant, working with Maestro Leonard Slatkin and the Saint Louis Symphony Orchestra, and helped edit their weekly concert recordings for National Public Radio. Dr. Wilson was First Prize Winner of the International Conducting Competition in Mexico in 1996; she has also won awards in Europe, leading to guest appearances in the Czech Republic with the West Bohemia Symphony in Marienbad; the Beethoven Chamber Orchestra in Hucvaldy; and the Bohuslav Martinu Philharmonic in Zlin. Gifted as both a symphonic and choral conductor, Dr. Wilson is also the Artistic Director and Conductor of Le Festivale, Denver’s summer music festival. Her work with the New Jersey All-State Orchestra and the Jefferson Symphony Orchestra (CO) has been documented on compact disc.

“The Bombay Chamber Orchestra’s performance was superbly alert and exciting, thanks mainly to the highly gifted conductor: whatever she touched sprang to life!” 

Accommodation (included in your fee)

Workshop accommodation and breakfast daily is included in your fee. All participants stay in single  rooms. Hotel Primoretz is located in the "Sea Garden" 10 minutes walk from the Bourgas Opera House on the Black Sea.  

Applications and Fees
Workshop Fee: $2300 USD includes all tuition, and single accommodation, welcome reception, end of workshop party and  a video of one performance. After your application has been accepted you will be invoiced. Your place in the workshop is not guaranteed until we have received your deposit of US $500. Your deposit guarantees your place in the workshop, places in the workshop will not be held without a deposit.  The balance of fees is due  May 15, 2005. 

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