The program begins on February 20 at 19:30, with the premiere of a short documentary about the making of the musical, created in partnership with NATFA. The screening will be followed by a discussion with the creative team, offering audiences a behind-the-scenes look into the ideas, meetings, and personal stories that shaped this ambitious Bulgarian project.
“The Secret of Music” tells the story of 14-year-old Emma, who, after losing her grandfather – maestro Petar Stoimenov – embarks on a musical journey to find herself and preserve his legacy. The show unfolds against the emotional backdrop of the 1990s, weaving themes of life choices, missed dreams, forgiveness, and the power of art as an invisible connection between generations, expressed through live music and compelling stage imagery.
On February 21 and 22, from 19:00, the musical will be presented with free admission and prior registration. The only paid performance on February 22 at 14:00 will feature Eva Ravlyakova as Emma, Andrey Manov as Mityo, Viktor Ivanov as Kiro, and Nikola Kostadinov as young Kuncho. Free seats for the evening performances will be allocated on a first-come, first-served basis via the following link, and registration for the limited number of wheelchair-accessible seats at Azaryan Theatre can be made through the Fest Team platform.
In addition to stage performances, the project has a clear educational and community mission. It includes a school program for students in grades 5–12, focusing on musical creation through interactive exercises, discussions, and meetings with the creative team, as well as masterclasses in partnership with NATFA for students, running until March 31.
The free performances of “The Secret of Music” are implemented as part of the Sofia Municipality project “Capital of Culture – The Pulse of Sofia,” under procedure BG-RRP-11.021 – Grant scheme “New Generation Local Cultural Policies for Large Municipalities.” The musical will continue its stage life in April at Azaryan Theatre, once again inviting audiences into a story where every song is a call to believe in the power of dreams, memory, and music.