The Sofia Opera presents a new interpretation of “Der Ring des Nibelungen”. This was announced by the opera team to journalists today during the presentation of the upcoming summer festivals of the national cultural institution.
"We are doing a new “Der Ring des Nibelungen”, confident that it will be improved, conceptually expanded and giving a new impetus to opera stages to which we already have an invitation," said Acad. Plamen Kartaloff, Director of the Sofia Opera and director of the tetralogy.
Set designer Hans Kudlich said that the new vision of the production was inspired by surrealism. "With Acad. Kartaloff we understand each other from half a word. What I like about him is that he can tell stories for the audience. He starts from the story, from the music, and assembles the action from individual pieces to make a whole, and that impresses me because it sets him apart from the usual productions of other directors," Kudlich added.
"The most important thing is to reread the music even more deeply and to enter with deep understanding and insight into a fantastic narrative of characters and events and societies, starting from mythological time in the context of modern times and with an eye to the future. For Wagner's music is the music of the future," said Acad. Kartaloff.
"We went together again to tell everyone "Come to Sofia to see how in any crisis an art lives, so strong and so important, not only for us but for the whole world," said Acad. Plamen Kartaloff. "We are giving a way to all young artists to improve. We spare no expense or time to invite the best specialists to work for the singers. Anna Tomowa-Sintow is one of them. We constantly give a chance to our famous artists who help with their experience in master classes. One of them is Orlin Anastassov, who today starts his classes in the won after eight years Alexandar Stamboliyski Hall. I was not able to take all the floors where we wanted to make a museum of Bulgarian opera singing glory. But at least we managed to get one hall out – out of all the nomenclature, bureaucracy and status quo of things you can think of," said Acad. Kartaloff. Orlin Anastassov is the artist who made his debuts all over the world at the age of 20 and now wants to be useful and help because he feels the Sofia Opera as his theatre, he added.
"I have the fortune and opportunity to impersonate some of Wagner's characters. Now you will see a new reading, which I hope will be a surprise, and everyone will experience the pleasure that Wagner brings, his philosophy and in general the energy that we will recreate with our voices," said soprano Radostina Nikolaeva.
"I participated in the first “Der Ring des Nibelungen” more than 12-13 years ago. I'm honoured that I'm still singing, even though many – journalists and colleagues alike – have accused us of going voiceless. This is not true. Richard Wagner is not just difficult to sing or to stage. It is a visit card of every great theatre in the world," said opera singer Mariana Zvetkova.
"For us, this partnership is an inspiration and a thank you. Because we have a common cause and we work for it, and that is for Sofia to be a city of art, and for art to be what leads us forward and helps us in all our life situations. It is important for us that we have such a partner, who breaks the clichés – that opera is a difficult art, that Wagner is difficult, that opera is not for children, that it is impossible to make art in the pandemic, that Bulgarian art is not at the world level, that opera cannot attract tourists... All these clichés Kartaloff Academy makes to dust and ashes," said Bilyana Genova, director of the Culture Directorate of Sofia Municipality.
"It is a great honour for us that the festival "Muses on the Water" takes place in the Pancharevo region and more specifically at the Pancharevo Dam – a place that has incredible natural resources. We, as the district administration, do our best to improve the environment according to the possibilities we have. We believe that every production and the messages it brings change society. This is the goal – art to make people and society on a higher level so that we can develop," said Daniela Hristova, Deputy Mayor of Pancharevo District.
As reported by BTA, "Opera in the Park" begins on 24 June with "Concert for Babies" in the park of the Academy of Defence "G. С. Rakovski". This is the 14th year of the festival. This year, the festivals "Muses on the Water" (on Lake Pancharevo) and "Opera of the Peaks" (on the Belogradchik Rocks) will also take place.