Sergio Berlioz to premiere Holocaust-inspired sonata based on novel about Bulgaria's wartime actions

Composer Sergio Berlioz is set to premiere his sonata for piano and cello, "Morskata Gradina," internationally. The work draws inspiration from Sophie Goldberg's novel "El jardín del mar," a narrative shedding light on Bulgaria's largely untold story during World War II. Goldberg's novel focuses on the unique stance of Bulgaria and its King Boris III, who resisted sending their Jewish population to Nazi extermination camps, a stark contrast to the fates of Jewish populations in other occupied European nations. The novel's protagonist is Alberto, a six-year-old boy who survived the Holocaust, a character based on Goldberg's own father, Alberto Bejarano. Goldberg emphasizes her gratitude towards the Bulgarian people and their king for their actions, stating, "if it hadn't been for them, we wouldn't be alive." Berlioz, deeply moved by the novel, felt a personal connection to the story. He shared that his own grandparents and great-grandparents perished in the Holocaust, particularly those from Thessaloniki, Greece. This shared heritage and personal tragedy forged a strong bond between Berlioz and Goldberg, who are both of Sephardic Jewish descent. Berlioz explained that the sonata aims to evoke four significant moments from the narrative, focusing on themes of compassion and piety. The premiere, initially planned for April 29, was postponed due to the passing of Goldberg's father on that very morning, adding profound personal significance to the rescheduled June 7 performance, which will now serve as an honor to both Goldberg's father and the Bulgarian people.

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What happened in many countries, but of Bulgaria, this tiny country, is not known and something very important happened.