Premiere of "Otello" by Verdi at the Plovdiv Opera.

The Plovdiv Opera presents the premiere of the opera Otello by Giuseppe Verdi on January 31st at 7:00 PM, conducted by Grigor Palikarov. The production is directed by Petko Bonev, who created it specifically for the revival of the FOIB Festival in Stara Zagora, and is now re-staging it at the invitation of the Plovdiv Opera's management. The set design is by Boris Stoynov, the costumes are created by Tsvetanka Petkova-Stoynova, and the dances are an adaptation of the choreography by Romina Slavova.

The opera Otello is one of Verdi's most magnificent works, based on the tragedy by William Shakespeare. Combining dramatic music, powerful vocal performances, and a deep psychological interpretation of the characters, the composer created a piece that remains one of the pinnacles of opera.

In the premiere performance, the Venetian Moor will be portrayed by Martin Iliev, soloist of the Sofia Opera. Kiril Manolov will play the role of Otello's mortal enemy, Iago, while Tanya Ivanova will shine as Desdemona – one of the most memorable roles in her career. They will be joined by soloists Elena Chavdarova, Mark Fowler, Alexander Baranov, Bozhidar Bozhkilov, Evgeny Arabadzhiev, and August Methodiev, alongside the Choir, Orchestra, and Ballet of the Plovdiv Opera. The Choir Master is Tsvetan Tsvetkov.

"In the 21st century, the figure of the Moor Otello remains just as relevant – it deals with the theme of the 'Other' person, their integration, and the difficulty of fitting into society. It touches on human love, pride, dignity, honor, and their opposite sides – lies, treachery, villainy, and intrigue. It's a story about an ocean of honor and love, treachery and villainy, and the unsuspected depths within them…" shares the director.

Tickets for Otello are available at the Opera box office, at Eventim outlets, and online at eventim.bg and grabo.bg.