Last night, the Croatian National television broadcasted review footage on the Third international opera festival which took place from the 9th to the 20th of September at the Croatian National theater in Zagreb.
One of the main accents on the “Into the World of Classics” show was the Sofia Opera’s tour with the production of “Die Walküre” by Richard Wagner.
Here are the impressions of the journalists who covered the festival:
A true holiday for the Wagnerians from the “Balkan Bayreuth” followed: Plamen Kartaloff, director of the Sofia Opera and Ballet has been doing this exact thing in Sofia for the last couple of years. Their ensemble visited us with the five hours long “Die Walküre”, directed by Kartaloff. The production reveals the full potential of the lead singers and the orchestra under the guidance of American conductor Evan-Alexis Christ while the grandiose stage, the “Ride of the Valkyries” scene and their bright red steeds set the hall on fire.”
With its international tours in recent years, the Sofia Opera has been employing cultural diplomacy which turns into a part of the broader process of cultural exchange on the Balkans and in the EU. Such partnerships develop international relations through art, creativity and joint projects.
It is no coincidence that acad. Plamen Kartaloff has underlined on many occasions that opera and art serve as a bridge between nations and cultures, encouraging friendship, understanding and shared values.
The Sofia Opera’s tours are an exceptional example of cultural diplomacy on the highest level and proved how art can turn into a strategic diplomacy resource.