On the 12th of December, another title joins the Sofia Opera’s rich repertoire for our youngest viewers. In 1988, composer Jules Levy created the musical “The Ugly Duckling” inspired by Hans Christian Anderssen’s fairytale of the same name. The libretto tackles the same deep topics as the original does: differences, acceptance and inner beauty. Both in the musical and in the fairytale, the Ugly duckling’s adventures take center stage.
“The Ugly Duckling” is a story about hope, perseverance and the triumph of the individual over societal prejudices reminding us that all of us have our own unique path and place in this world”, director Yuliya Krasteva shared.
The main role will be performed by Diana Vasileva and Stanislava Momekova; the Ugly duckling’s mother will be portrayed by Rada Toteva. Also starring: Silvana Pravcheva, Nikolai Petrov, Kalin Dushkov, Dimitar Arnaudov, Dimitar Kutsarov, Plamen Grandzhan, Tsveta Sarambelieva, Elena Stoyanova, Maria Pavlova, Petya Petrova, Nadya Koleva as well as their young colleagues Anelia Veselinova, Yoana Dineva, Faye Shams, Alexandra Nosikova, Elena Kozhuskova, Yoanna-Mikaela Dimitrova, Georgi Dzhanov.
Libretto: Sabina Tyankova, adapted by Yuliya Krasteva, the performance’s director. Costumes: Nela Stoyanova. Plastics: Katya Petrovska. Performance conductors: Igor Bogdanov and Zhorzh Dimitrov.
The director’s decision regarding scenography is to recreate the different scenes and seasons as a metaphor through the use of Elena Shopova’s effective multimedia and mapping.
The story takes place in the span of one year, going through all four seasons: summer, autumn, winter and spring. The seasons aren’t just a backdrop change: they reflect the Ugly duckling’s emotional and spiritual path. Summer represents birth, the confusion of having come into the world and being rejected after. Then comes the period of greatest challenge: winter and loneliness. Finally, spring arrives: it coincides with the duckling’s transformation into a beautiful swan.
The costumes portray the animals’ main characteristics: a duckling, a swan, a turkey and a hen, but are also stylized enough to allow the actors to convey human emotions. This method enhances the fairytale’s universal nature.
Yuliya Krasteva, director:
“The Ugly duckling is hatched in a duck’s nest but it’s larger and grayer than all the other ducklings. Everyone insults it and calls it ugly. The duckling is rejected by its own family, it’s thrown out of the yard and from the forest’s high society because it’s different, and not only in looks. It also has dreams: to swim and to fly high.
Because of its dreams, the Ugly duckling is cast out of society. However, it retains its individuality, doesn’t lose hope and keeps following its ultimate dream of wanting to fly, until the very end. During the performance’s finale, the Ugly duckling finds its own place in the world and gains recognition by joining the swans: a symbol of purity, nobility and inner beauty. It’s patience and hope are rewarded. The final transformation of the Ugly duckling into a beautiful swan symbolizes its physical and spiritual growth as well as the revealing of its hidden potential. All this shows that sometimes it takes time for one’s true self to come forth. Despite all hardships and rejections, the Ugly duckling never loses hope.
The audience is left with the notion that we mustn’t despair during times of temporary hardship because everyone has the chance to find their own happiness and recognition; we mustn’t get discouraged but instead we must follow our dreams and stay true to ourselves, despite the hardships.”
The premiere performances of “The Ugly Duckling” in December are sold out. The next performances will take place on the 24th of January, the 8th and 22nd of February and on the 7th and 21st of March.
https://www.24chasa.bg/ozhivlenie/article/21893148
