OPERA OPEN 2024 Program is Annonced

OPERA OPEN 2024 - THE OPERA IS HERE!

OPERA OPEN 2024 at the Ancient Theater in Plovdiv celebrates the 70th anniversary of the founding of the Plovdiv Opera with a strong international presence and genre diversity, a trademark of the festival. The contemporary vision and high professional level of the performances featuring soloists, orchestra, choir, and ballet of the Plovdiv Opera, combined with the unique setting of the Ancient Theater, attract an increasing number of international audiences and develop international opera tourism.

The main focus of the OPERA OPEN 2024 program, which will certainly be among the leading musical events in Bulgaria for the year, is the grand opening with a Gala featuring the world-renowned opera diva Aida Garifullina. The soprano is a regular guest artist at the most prestigious opera houses and concert halls worldwide, including the Royal Opera House (London), La Scala (Milan), the Metropolitan Opera (New York), the Paris Opera, the Arena di Verona (Italy), and the Salzburg Festival. Her international career began with winning the Operalia competition by Placido Domingo, and her talent and fame have brought her collaborations with opera stars such as Andrea Bocelli, Anna Netrebko, Juan Diego Flórez, as well as pop and cinema stars like Robbie Williams at the opening of the Moscow Olympics and Meryl Streep in the Oscar-winning film "Florence."

The special edition of OPERA OPEN in 2024 includes two premiere productions featuring international artists – Bizet's opera "Carmen" and Prokofiev's ballet "Romeo and Juliet."

After setting a record for the most spectators at an opera performance at the Ancient Theater in 2015, "Carmen" returns to the ancient stage with a premiere production directed by Ursula Horner. The central roles feature the fiery Serbian mezzo-soprano Lubica Vranes, Portuguese tenor Carlos Cardoso with a successful career on the European stage, and Polish bass Daniel Miroslaw, known for his appearances at prestigious opera festivals in Florence and Glyndebourne, England.

The ballet troupe with the Orchestra of the Plovdiv Opera is preparing a premiere of "Romeo and Juliet" by Prokofiev on July 12th and September 4th. The performance is directed by Valentina Turcu and her team from the Maribor Theater, Slovenia. The distinguished artist is the author of choreography for over 130 ballets, operas, and theatrical productions and has won dozens of prestigious European awards. Her style, perfected in the school of the legendary Maurice Béjart, sets a new standard in the quality and expressiveness of contemporary classical ballet.

The Plovdiv Opera will commemorate the 100th anniversary of Puccini's death with "Turandot" featuring tenor Khachatur Badalyan, acclaimed at the Arena di Verona and on the stages of opera theaters in Palermo, Catania, Cagliari, Venice, Warsaw, Vancouver, and the Bolshoi Theater in Moscow, the Mariinsky Theater in St. Petersburg, among others. He will be joined by soloists from the Plovdiv Opera, Tanya Ivanova and Evgenia Ralcheva.

After a 5-year absence from one of the most iconic and beloved opera titles at the Ancient Theater – "Aida" returns with an upgraded scenographic atmosphere by video artist Petko Tanchev and choreography by Mariana Krаnchеva on July 20th and August 30th.

Fans of Verdi will also enjoy the performance "VIVA VERDI" featuring selected scenes from the most famous operas of the Italian composer on July 3rd.

In August, the program of OPERA OPEN 2024 is focused on operetta and musical fans. Among the titles in the program are "Jesus Christ Superstar" by Andrew Lloyd Webber on August 21st and the show "VIVA L'OPERETTA, VIVA L’OPERA" featuring guest soloists from European operetta theaters on August 24th.

In the year of Raina Kabaivanska, OPERA OPEN 2024 ends with a Gala in her honor on September 15th featuring the stars of her international master classes who are already building successful careers.

Traditionally, OPERA OPEN is part of the Festival Program of Plovdiv – European Capital of Culture 2019 and among the highlights of the cultural policy of the Plovdiv Municipality. Evolving into a recognizable cultural brand, OPERA OPEN puts the city of Plovdiv on the map of leading European open-air opera festivals.

"THE OPERA IS HERE!" is the slogan that unites the celebrations for the 70th anniversary of the Plovdiv Opera and the OPERA OPEN festival in 2024. The opera is Here – in its City, in its Country, in the hearts of its citizens. It is here to connect the past and the future with the fragile and elusive Now. The opera is here – to participate in the pulse of the city.

Tickets for OPERA OPEN are already on sale in the Eventim network and online at eventim.bg. Until April 7th, the most zealous fans can take advantage of the EARLY PROMOTION - a 50% discount on tickets for price categories ranging from 50, 60, 70, 80 BGN in the central sectors with the promotional code EARLY online at eventim.bg and at ticket offices. Promotional packages and cards will also be available as usual.

OPERA OPEN 2024 PROGRAM

June 25: OPERA OPEN 2024: AIDA GARIFULLINA GALA – opening, 9:00 PM

June 29: OPERA OPEN 2024: TURANDOT - Puccini - 9:00 PM

July 3: OPERA OPEN 2024: VIVA VERDI - 9:00 PM

July 6: OPERA OPEN 2024: CARMEN - Bizet - 9:00 PM

July 12: OPERA OPEN 2024: ROMEO AND JULIET - Prokofiev - 9:00 PM

July 16: OPERA OPEN 2024 – THE TASTE OF TIME: 80 years of Kiril Marichkov - 9:00 PM

July 20: OPERA OPEN 2024 AIDA – Verdi - 9:00 PM

August 21: OPERA OPEN 2024 JESUS CHRIST SUPERSTAR - 9:00 PM

August 24: OPERA OPEN 2024 VIVA L'OPERETTA, VIVA L’OPERA - 8:30 PM

August 27: OPERA OPEN 2024 THE ADDAMS FAMILY - 9:00 PM

August 30: OPERA OPEN 2024 AIDA - Verdi - 8:30 PM

September 4: OPERA OPEN 2024 ROMEO AND JULIET - Prokofiev - 8:00 PM

September 15: GALA IN HONOR OF RAINA KABAIVANSKA - 8:00 PM.