At first glance, Sofia doesn’t shine bright on the world opera map. However, if we recall how many famous Bulgarian lead singers have graced the music-stage temple of Talia, we realize the true greatness of the Bulgarian opera singing school. It’s enough to mention the name of bass Nikolay Gyaurov and the soprano Raina Kabaivanska who, according to many, are the greatest bass in history (Nikolay’s wife was prima donna Mirella Frenni) and the greatest Tosca of our time, respectively. Raina visited Split two decades ago where she held a concert together with her own class of students.

Filka Dimitrova was a permanent member of the Split opera for a long time (Pletikoshic being her husband). We also remember Svetla Vasileva’s visit (together with Placido Domingo at the Procurables) and later: at two productions at the Croation national theater in Split (Louisa Miller by Verdi and Manon Lescaut by Puccini). The prematurely passed away tenor Kamen Chanev was also a desired guest and we completely justifiably accept Zlatomira Nikolova as one of our own singers, especially when it comes to the Split summer festival. The Bulgarian opera singers in Croatia even have a published monographic encyclopedic edition.

The following information remains beyond our knowledge but the Sofia Opera and Ballet hosts the “Sofia Opera Wagner Festival” during June, after the end of the season.

Plamen Kartaloff is the Sofia Opera’s director: a famous director and intellectual who is one of the most influential authorities in Bulgaria’s cultural life. He’s visited Split as the director of “The Barber of Seville” by Rossini and produces almost all Sofia Opera performances back home while mentoring his young successors.

Every year, under his directorship, the complete “Der Ring des Nibelungen” tetralogy by Wagner is performed along with another music drama by the master of Bayreuth, in two performances. Last year I truly enjoyed the music holiday watching the first two parts of the tetralogy: “Das Rheingold” and “Die Walküre” while “Lohengrin” was also performed. This year, beside the entire “Ring”, “Tannhäuser” will premiere.

All lead singers participating in the operas (over forty people) are local artists, graduates of the fantastic Bulgarian opera singing school. Sofia is not on the edge of the map at all…