Maestro José Cura Opens New Year Music Festival at National Palace of Culture

Maestro José Cura is in Bulgaria to open the New Year Music Festival at the National Palace of Culture (NDK). A week before taking the conductor’s podium for Rigoletto at the Stara Zagora Opera, he met with students from the National Music Academy.

During the event, it was announced that the world-renowned conductor, tenor, and composer will also hold a masterclass at the Academy.

Maestro Cura reminded aspiring singers and conductors that the rules have changed: if the industry wants to manage them in its own way, young musicians should push back. He urged them to believe in everything they do on stage and to enjoy the performance so that the audience can feel the emotion—but to be wary of fleeting fame.

“The only way to succeed in life is to look within yourself and see what you can bring to the table,” José Cura said. “If you put out the same thing everyone else does, it’s very hard for people to notice you. Now, with the internet, everyone can see you the next day. That’s great, but it has a dangerous side. You might start believing you’re someone before you’ve delivered quality. So be careful not to become famous before you’ve become truly good,” Maestro José Cura said.