The story
Mesembria Orphica Festival in Nessebar
Named for Mesembria, the ancient Greek name for Nessebar, and for Orpheus, myth's musician-poet, this classical music festival fills a small open-air amphitheatre near the old town's harbor with Mozart, Bach, Vivaldi and other repertoire performed by musicians from major European conservatories alongside Bulgarian soloists. Modern art exhibitions and tango or jazz sets round out the program. It works well as an evening add-on to a day exploring Nessebar's UNESCO-listed churches and cobbled lanes.
An open-air amphitheatre a few steps from the sea in Nessebar's old town hosts three nights of Mozart, Bach, Vivaldi, Schumann and Piazzolla, performed under the stars by classical musicians drawn from orchestras and conservatories in Vienna, Paris, London and Rome, alongside Bulgarian soloists.