Photo: The premiere of “Tannhäuser” at the Sofia Opera. Photo by Nikola Uzunov/BTA

Sofia, 26.06.2025 (BTA)

The premiere of “Tannhäuser” at the Sofia Opera tonight concluded with a ten-minute applause, an audience up on its feet and “Bravo!” shouts.

A true master and Wagner expert, a visionary and a world-class director: these were just a part of the audience’s praises for acad. Plamen Kartaloff who is the director of the ninth Richard Wagner piece in his ensemble’s repertoire. “Tannhäuser” also marked the beginning of the Wagner festival.

The production, close to five hours in length, is performed by an entirely Bulgarian ensemble.

“This is a huge accomplishment for the Sofia Opera which has shown in recent years that it can measure up to all other world-famous theaters which can afford to set Wagner’s works, with its lead singers and orchestra ensemble as well as with acad. Kartaloff’s purposeful politics of discovering new voices to perform Wagner’s operas”, the Sofia Opera commented.

“The score of “Tannhäuser” is the score of the free man, free of prejudice and the limitations of rationality. Our production is set during this anniversary year for the Christian Catholic world; it is a cleansing of sort as well as a spiritual salvation and forgiveness”, acad. Plamen Kartaloff shared.

Also a part of the “Tannhäuser” ensemble: conductor Konstantin Trinks; scenography by Sven Jonke; costumes by Hristiyana Mihaleva-Zorbalieva; artistic lighting by Andrew Haidinyak. Vocal preparation by conductor Velizar Genchev; plastics: Maria Ilieva; assistant director: Yuliya Krasteva. Starring tonight: Martin Iliev as Tannhäuser, Petar Buchkov as Hermann, Landgrave of Thuringia, Tsvetana Bandalovska as Elizabeth, Radostina Nikolaeva, Gabriela Georgieva as Venus. Also starring: Atanas Mladenov, Emil Pavlov, Stefan Vladimirov, Angel Antonov, Angel Hristov, Maria Pavlova.

Present was Marian Batchev, the minister of culture, who watched the performance from the front row of the floor one balcony. After the finale, a basket of flowers gifted from him was presented on stage as well as one from the president, the prime-minister, the National Assembly chairman, the Sofia Mayor, the SDS party, the Bulgarian Bank of Development, the “G.S. Rakovsky” Military academy and BTA whose general director, Kiril Valchev, was also among the audience.

https://www.bta.bg/bg/news/lik/919239-s-10-minuten-aplauz-zavarshi-premierata-na-tanhoyzer-v-sofiyskata-opera