On an open stage and under the night sky, Sofia once again transforms into a capital of opera. “Opera at the Square” brings back some of the most beloved titles outside the theater’s walls and proves that great art can be accessible to anyone.
“We boldly decided to take on this risk. We’ve heard many times there’s no state budget for opera but we decided to overcome this obstacle. The Sofia Opera has the best financial indicators and we’re capable of creating good conditions for self-funding”, prof. Plamen Kartaloff, director of the Sofia Opera, shared on the “Denyat ON AIR” show.
“The minister of culture has now twice visited our performances and is predisposed to cooperation”, Kartaloff noted.
“Even if they promise us more funds, we mustn’t take their words for granted. The most important thing is to keep doing our job and to attract more audiences. From a more specific audience, we expand to the open stage opera goers. We’ve had cases of people saying they don’t want to go to the opera but would rather go see an opera at the square”, Kartaloff commented for Bulgaria ON AIR.
According to him, the main thing is to master the space among nature, with sound also being different on an open stage.
“My task is to turn opera into an artform which can unfold in its natural environment. It’s even more fun for the artists this way. It’s important to create an acoustic environment where they can perform comfortably, without their voices undergoing changes. This is easily achievable with microphones: however, the idea is for them to perform amid natural acoustics without microphones where the audience can hear them sing clearly”, Kartaloff said.
In the following days, Sofia residents and visitors will enjoy a series of performances on the festival’s repertoire.
11 Jul 2026Bulgaria ON AIR