Immediately after the triumphant performances with which this year’s edition of the “Muses on the Water” festival closed, the Sofia Opera ballet ensemble set off for Larnaca, for two performances of “Zorba the Greek” on the 29th and 30th of July, on the municipal amphitheater “Pattihio” stage.
As part of the 41st festival in Larnaca, our troupe will present this iconic production with the participation of lead Bolshoi theater ballet dancer Igor Tzwirko as Zorba and the Kazan ballet lead dancer Oleg Ivenko as John. Our national ballet’s wonderful premiere lead dancers Marta Petkova and Katerina Petrova will perform the role of Marina; Vincenzo Karuana and Nikola Hadzhitanev will be Manolios and Charlotte Berard: Madame Orthans.
“Based on Nikos Kazandzakis’ novel and produced using Mikis Theodorakis’ timeless score, this spectacular two-act ballet with 22 scenes is choreographed by Lorca Massine and premiered at Arena di Verona on the 6th of August, 1988. Since then, it has been performed in over thirty countries in front of more than three million viewers: a true hymn of freedom passion and the Greek spirit”, the performance adverts state.
In Bulgaria, “Zorba the Greek” was first produced by Lorca Massine on the 12th of May, 1995, on the National Palace of Culture stage, by invitation from Plamen Kartaloff. The performance is one of the most successful productions in the National Opera and Ballet’s history and is performed in full halls to this day. This is also one of the most attractive performances with which our ballet troupe recently toured in different parts of the world.
The “Pattihio” amphitheater was built by the “Nikos and Despina Patihi” foundations and is part of their charity initiatives in Larnaca and Limassol.
