“The role of Fantine in “Les Miserables” cost me a great deal”, the performer shared
27.09.2025 12:17 Editor: Iskra Angelova
From a children’s dream of becoming a doctor to the spotlight on the biggest stage at the Sofia Opera and Ballet. Vesela Delcheva, known for her role as Sophie in the musical “Mamma Mia!” and for her heartfelt role of Fantine in “Les Miserables” chose music over medicine.
“Every child has different dreams. Mine was to become a doctor. When I was in high school, I focused on sciences and math, with an emphasis on Spanish. I was very thrilled by biology and I competed in Olympiads. I very much enjoyed this subject even though I’ve been involved with music throughout my entire life. I started singing when I was six. We have no other musicians in our family”, Delcheva shared for the “Inspirers” column by Maria Konstantinova.
Delcheva prepared both for the Music academy and to study medicine.
Her steps before the big stage
“When I took the exam at the Music academy and was accepted from the get go, I didn’t take my Spanish exam and didn’t even look back on biology and medicine. The first time I appeared on stage was in kindergarten. To me, that was the biggest stage back then. My teachers loved me very much and had me take parts in all concerts and this was the biggest thrill for me. Then, I performed at Hall 2, NDK, where we set original musicals together with Dimitar Kostantsaliev. After that, I reached the biggest stage: The Sofia Opera and Ballet”, Delcheva added for Bulgaria ON AIR.
Her parents noticed her talent and encouraged her to develop it.
“They supported me throughout all this time. They decided to enlist me in the “Talasamche” children’s vocal formation where Kostantsaliev developed my talent. He introduced me to the genre and I fell in love with it: I knew this was going to be my path. I was an incredibly shy child; this fire you see on stage now didn’t exist back then because I’ve worked in groups all my life. I love teamwork, I was never an individualist”, she commented.
Why she chose to stay in Bulgaria
Back then, her education in the UK turned out to be too expensive.
“I’m very closely connected to my home country, to my colleagues. I love Bulgaria and as hard as it is for an artist to thrive here, I dare say we have opportunities to showcase our talent. My breakthrough came when I was in the Academy. I was first invited to become Andrei Avramov’s assistant. Then, the biggest gift for me came: to set foot on the Sofia Opera stage, all thanks to maestro Plamen Kartaloff who provided me with everything I needed to develop my talent”, Vesela Delcheva added.
The role of Fantine in “Les Miserables”
“This role cost me a great deal: both emotionally and psychologically. I’m not a mother but I love children very much. Taking on this role, I tried to put myself in a mother’s shoes, to understand why a mother is ready to sell her own soul, her valuables and everything she believes in in order to protect the thing most precious to her: her child. I was greatly shaken by this role and I deeply experienced it on stage”, she admitted.
Delcheva shared that she often cries at home after having performed the role of Fantine.
See the entire interview in the video below: