On July 22, 2026, Nikola Nikolov, Ambassador of the Republic of Bulgaria to the Republic of Armenia, met with Academician Professor Plamen Kartaloff, longtime director of the Sofia Opera and Ballet, a distinguished director, opera manager, and educator, regarding the Embassy’s initiative to strengthen ties between the national opera and ballet theaters of Bulgaria and Armenia.

During the conversation, Ambassador Nikolov informed Plamen Kartaloff of Armenia’s confirmed desire for cooperation. They also discussed the need to strengthen cultural ties between the two countries. Maestro Kartaloff discussed with Ambassador Nikolov the idea of signing a memorandum of cooperation in the future, with the aim of establishing future cultural exchanges and carrying out activities to promote joint cooperation in the fields of culture and the arts, co-productions, artistic exchanges, and a range of other activities to realize opera and ballet projects of mutual interest to both countries.

On behalf of the management of the Armenian National Academic Opera and Ballet Theater, Ambassador Nikola Nikolov extended an invitation for soloists of the Sofia Opera and Ballet to perform in Yerevan on September 22, Independence Day of the Republic of Bulgaria, which was accepted with gratitude and in anticipation of many future joint activities.

Ambassador Nikolov and Maestro Kartaloff also discussed the rich program of the Sofia Opera and Ballet and the high international acclaim for the theater’s work and Bulgaria’s achievements in its Wagner repertoire.

Maestro Kartaloff, please continue to inspire and to create with love and dedication many new creative ideas and projects!

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