"La bohème", "Die Zauberflöte", "Anna Karenina" and Carmen" will complete the colourful programme in early spring.
We begin the third month of the year with the music of Mikis Theodorakis and the ballet "Zorba the Greek". The performance is on 1 March and in the main roles you will see Nikola Hadjitanev, Emil Yordanov, Venera Asparuhova, Georgi Banchev and Charlotte Berard.
On 2 March, we will enjoy for the second time Sonya Yoncheva's incarnation as Mimì in Giacomo Puccini's opera "La bohème". Under the baton of Boyan Videnov will also sing Liparit Avetisyan as Rodolpho, Veselin Mihaylov as Marcello, Anton Andreev as Schaunard and Nikolay Voynov as Colline and Stanislava Momekova as Musetta.
On 14 March the Sofia Opera lifts the curtain for the second opera premiere of the season. This is "Die Zauberflöte" by W.А. Mozart. The production is directed by Vera Petrova, conducted by Svetoslav Borisov and Alexandra Lubchansky, set design by Molly O'Cathan and lighting design by Simon Bennison. An international cast of soloists takes the lead roles in Mozart's final opera, which premiered in Vienna with the composer himself conducting. Here are the principals and performers who will take part in the six performances: The Wizzard – Nikolay Pavlov, Nikolay Petrov, Sarastro – Angel Hristov, Biser Georgiev, Petar Buchkov, Tamino – Blagoj Nacoski, Emil Pavlov, Hrisimir Damyanov, Pamina – Silvia Teneva, Stefani Krusteva-Pavlova, Queen of the Night – Brigitta Simon, Diana Vasileva, Lucie Kaňková, Papageno – Atanas Mladenov, Grzegorz Sobczak, Papagena – Diana Alexe, Stanislava Momekova, Monostatos – Krasimir Dinev, Plamen Dimov-Grandzhan, First Lady – Eleonora Jojoska, Ina Petrova, Silvana Pravcheva, Second Lady – Vivien Georgieva, Natalia Stoyanova, Third Lady – Alexandrina Stoyanova-Andreeva, Vesela Yaneva, First Boy – Leda Ignatovich, Maria Doncheva, Second Boy – Ivan Radev, Maria Tsotsomanska, Ruzha Lalovska, Third boy – Anastasia Haltakova, Magdalena Popova, Speaker – Anton Andreev, Nikolay Voynov, First priest – Anton Andreev, Nikolay Voynov, Second priest – Angel Antonov, Rosen Nenchev, First knight – Stepan Morozov, Second knight – Kiril Konstantinov.
The next performances are on 15, 16, 17, 29 and 30 March. In the last two performances for the first time a woman will be at the conductor's desk of the Sofia Opera and this is Alexandra Lubchansky.
On 19 March the great prima ballerina of the Sofia Opera Krasimira Koldamova will be celebrated with a gala performance. Students from her ballet studio and soloists and corps de ballet of the Sofia Opera will dance in the two parts of the concert, which include the second act of the ballet "Giselle" by Adam and "The Soul of the Kaval", choreographed to music by Theodosii Spassov.
Ballet "Anna Karenina"'s final four performances of the season are also this month. Katerina Petrova, Tsetso Ivanov and Emil Yordanov will dance on 21 and 24 March, and Marta Petkova, Nikola Hadjitanev and Guilherme Alves – on 22 and 23 March. The performance will be brilliantly choreographed by Leo Mujić and will feature the singer Tsvetana Bandalovska and the violinist Stoimen Peev. The conductor is Andrey Galanov. We close the month of March with Plamen Kartaloff's superb production of Georges Bizet's opera "Carmen". The performance is on 31 March and will feature Violeta Radomirska, Kostadin Andreev, Ventseslav Anastasov and Silvia Teneva.
Be sure to bring your children and grandchildren to our children's programme performances. Tickets are still available for the recent premiere of "Carnival of the Animals", as well as "Die Zauberflöte", "Shegobishko's on the Island of Miracles", "Das Rheingold", an adaptation for children, and more.
Forget your busy working life for a moment and be transported to musical relaxation with the magical spectacles performed by remarkable opera and ballet artists!