The Sofia Opera and Ballet’s “Elektra” conquered the stage in Poland

Published at 11:03 on 04.05.2025

The production toured Istanbul on the 29^th of May with which it became one of the most watched performances of the season.

A team of over one hundred people. One truck full of decors and musical exquisiteness. This is the “Elektra” production of the Sofia Opera and Ballet. Composer: Richard Strauss. A new world music stage.

Bydgoszcz, Northern Poland. The stage of “Opera Nova” near the shore of the river Brda welcomes the first Sofia artists to arrive. The orchestra is expecting its conductor to arrive from Los Angeles: Evan Alexis Christ. The orchestra, together with the lead singers and the stage equipment staff prepares for the dress rehearsal.

Photo: BTV

Acad. Plamen Kartaloff is the director of “Elektra”.

“We’re excited because this is the first time this title is being performed here. “Elektra” is not only a modern title written one century ago, it also carries a lesson for our contemporary viewers because the story unfolding on stage is identifies with the true character of its modern protagonists and us being here at the 31^st international opera festival is a great honor and we’re thankful for the trust”, the director said.

Photo: BTV

An hour before the performance, the stylists of “Opera Nova” were already busy with working on the makeup of ancient heroes and on beautiful props and wigs.

Lilia Kehayova is the first among the female artists to get her makeup put on: she will perform on stage as Elektra, the heroine who wants to avenge her father Agamemnon’s death who was murdered by her own mother and her lover.

Photo: BTV

“It’s really very hard to portray such a person. Elektra challenges me both vocally and theatrically”, the actress shared.

She will perform on stage together with her mother Clytemnestra, her sister Hrisothemis and Elektra’s confidants and servants whose roles will be performed by Sofia Opera lead singers.

Close to half an hour after the beginning of the performance, while the Sofia Opera ladies are on stage, the male lead singers are only just getting their makeup done.

Atanas Mladenov is starring as Orest: Elektra’s brother. His character murders his own mother Clytemnestra and her lover Egist thus defending his father’s honor.

“Doing this requires you to be extremely cold-blooded and this is not always possible to achieve throughout the performance”, the actor said.

Photo: BTV

The finale of “Elektra” was greeted with wild ovations and several bows by the audience in Bydgoszcz.

This is the Sofia Opera’s third visit at “Opera Nova” in Bydgoszcz, having already won an award for “Elektra” in South Korea and the opera being set for the first time in Poland since 1971.

Photo: BTV

“As the festival’s director, I’m proud to host such a rare and hard to perform production such as “Elektra”. I was shocked by the audience’s reaction. This wasn’t the Sofia Opera’s first visit, we already know the high level at which they perform. I promise you, this won’t be their last visit, either”, Maciej Figas, director of “Opera Nova”, stated.

Photo: BTV

After the big success of the festival in Bydgoszcz, the Sofia Opera and Ballet will tour Istanbul with “Elektra” on the 29^th of May, with which the performance becomes one of the most watched ones for the season.

https://btvnovinite.bg/predavania/tazi-sabota-i-nedelia/elektra-na-sofijskata-opera-i-balet-pokori-scenata-v-polsha-video-snimki.html