125 years after the premiere of Puccini’s most popular and loved opera, the Sofia Opera opens its new season with a performance of “Tosca”. This hymn praising love and freedom will be conducted by Daniel Oren. In August, the maestro closed the “Opera at the Square” festival with a triumphant performance of Ludwig van Beethoven’s Ninth symphony.
The performances will take place on the 26th and 28th of September. Three of the currently most popular singers in the world are invited for the main roles: Maria Jose Siri (Tosca), Stefan Pop (Cavaradossi) and Claudio Sgura (Baron Scarpia). Also starring: Angel Hristov, Petar Buchkov, Emil Pavlov, Alexandar Georgiev, Maria Pavlova, the Sofia Opera orchestra and choir (choir conductor: Violeta Dimitrova).
Plamen Kartaloff’s production is one of the most iconic titles in the Sofia Opera’s repertoire and has been among its most performed works for over fourteen years now: it has enjoyed success on international stages including ones in Japan and Turkey.
“I put in the effort to create a performance full of passion, revolution and fire. Four of the protagonists die, not due to political reasons but in the name of love. The finale is unique: it’s not important that Tosca jumps into the abyss, what’s important is that love perishes”, Plamen Kartaloff said.
The new season at the Sofia Opera will be filled with many world-famous performers’ visits, with three of them happening at its very start.
Maria Jose Siri’s performances are always accompanied with the most flattering reviews: “A highest-class performer, not only because of her voluptuous vocality but also because of her aura which perfectly resembles Renata Tebaldi’s accomplished and well-rounded voice.”
Everyone admires her “brilliant high notes” (Neue Zürcher Zeitung) combined with “a steel vocality, lyrism and pathos” (The Financial Times). Her interpretations are highly praised and in 2017 she was awarded the prestigious “Oscar della Lirica” prize.
The singer will arrive in Sofia after a series of performances at the “Arena di Verona” festival where she was applauded for her role as Abigaile in “Nabucco” and “Aida”.
Stefan Pop visited the Sofia Opera last season when he performed in “Messa Da Requiem” by Giuseppe Verdi. Back then, he expressed his great desire to return to Bulgaria, this time with a performance role. This will happen multiple times throughout the upcoming season. After opening the season with “Tosca”, Stefan Pop will perform as the Duke in “Rigoletto”.
“… when he unleashed the full might of his voice, his colossal “Vitoria!” (Victory!) shout was probably heard all the way in “Bow” street and still resounds in my ears…”, an astonished viewer shared after a performance of “Tosca” in “Covent Garden”, London.
“Bulgarian and Romanian singers’ voices go very well together which I like because I believe we are the same: we share a sensitivity other people don’t have. We’re like a family, you get that feeling immediately on stage, you feel it with your entire being”, the singer shared as he expects his return on the Bulgarian stage.
Claudio Sgura is one of the leading baritones today in Verdi’s repertoire as well as in operas by Verdist composers. The role of Scarpia is among the most important ones in his carrier. He has performed it on some of the greatest stages in the world such as the Metropolitan Opera in New York, the Vienna Staatsoper, the operas in Sidney, Torino, Oslo, Genova, Rome, at the festivals in Macerata and “Arena di Verona”.
“The secret to Claudio Sgura’s success as an opera singer is that he is exceptionally charismatic, very grounded and possesses the right amount of moderation combined with a great love for his work…”
“He knows how to keep his audience enchanted, thrilled and always wanting more.”
“Music is life and I thank God for having bestowed the gift of singing to me!”, Sgura shares.
Tickets for performances of the new season at the Sofia Opera and Ballet are already being sold.