ROSSINI'S MASTERPIECE SEMIRAMIDE TO BE PERFORMED IN BULGARIA FOR THE FIRST TIME

ROSSINI'S MASTERPIECE SEMIRAMIDE TO BE PERFORMED IN BULGARIA FOR THE FIRST TIME AT OPERA OPEN FESTIVAL IN THE ANCIENT THEATRE OF PLOVDIV

Opera Open Festival will present Gioachino Rossini's Semiramide for the first time in Bulgaria on July 11 at the Ancient Theatre of Plovdiv.

The production, originally created for the Tirol Festival Erl (Austria), is staged by the distinguished Austrian conductor Gustav Kuhn, who also serves as director and set designer. The adaptation of the production for the unique setting of the Ancient Theatre is realized by Mark Fowler and Maria Radoeva, together with set designers Petko Tanchev and Elitsa Georgieva. The performance is conducted by Federico Tibone.

Based on Voltaire's 1748 tragedy of the same name, the opera tells the legendary story of Semiramis, Queen of Babylon, who ascends the throne following the death of her husband. Written for Venice in 1823, Semiramide was Rossini's final opera composed in Italy before he permanently moved his creative focus to Paris. While Rossini is most widely associated today with celebrated comic masterpieces such as The Barber of Seville and La Cenerentola, his serious operas were equally admired by his contemporaries.

Often regarded as the culmination of Rossini's achievement in the opera seria genre, Semiramide combines dramatic grandeur, extraordinary vocal virtuosity and a richly colored orchestral score.

In Gustav Kuhn's production, audiences are immersed in a world of striking visual symbolism. Each principal character is accompanied by a marble animal reflecting their personality and destiny: Semiramide is represented by a lioness, the military leader Assur by an elephant, while Arsace—later revealed as the supposedly dead royal heir Ninia—is symbolized by a giraffe.

The production premiered in Erl in 2017 and marked the acclaimed debut of soprano Maria Radoeva in the title role. A graduate of Raina Kabaivanska's renowned vocal school, Radoeva received critical praise for a performance distinguished by the “noble brilliance of her coloratura.” Audiences at Opera Open 2026 will have the opportunity to experience one of her signature roles.

She is joined by internationally acclaimed Rossini tenor Manuel Amati, Teatro Comunale di Bologna soloist Alena Sautier, as well as Bozhidar Bozhkilov, Maria Anastasova, Alexander Baranov and Evgeniy Arabadzhiev.

A special guest in the preparation of the production is celebrated opera diva Darina Takova, widely recognized as one of the foremost contemporary interpreters of the role of Semiramide. At the invitation of Opera Plovdiv, she joins the creative team as vocal and stylistic consultant for the soloists.

“I am happy and proud that this monumental masterpiece will finally be presented in Bulgaria and introduce Plovdiv audiences to such a rare and precious work. It is a true luxury for every opera lover,” says Darina Takova.

The production features the Orchestra, Chorus and Ballet of Opera Plovdiv. Chorus masters are Atanaska Popova and Tsvetan Tsvetkov, while Balázs Schwarz serves as concertmaster.

Tickets for Opera Open are available at the Opera Plovdiv box office, the festival's summer ticket office in central Plovdiv, through the Eventim network nationwide, and online via Eventim.bg and Grabo.bg.

The event is part of the festival programme of Plovdiv – European Capital of Culture.