The King of the Waltz: 200 years of Johann Strauss - son
Opera Open
Gala

Johann Strauss - son

The King of the Waltz: 200 years of Johann Strauss - son

The National Musical Theatre - guest performance

Details

The National Musical Theatre - guest performance

There’s hardly anyone who wouldn’t know who we’re talking about. Born 200 years ago, he not only carried on but surpassed the legacy of his father—who bore the same name—and became the most celebrated figure in a brilliant musical dynasty: Johann Strauss II!

You may ask, why only call him a "king"? Well… so as not to be blasphemous. The most popular (and wealthiest!) musician in Vienna during his time, Strauss perfected the Viennese musical style, blending Tyrolean yodels, waltz rhythms, and traditional dances such as the polka, galop, czardas, and quadrille, enriched with Hungarian, French, Slavic—even Egyptian and Persian—motifs, particularly in his two famous marches. He gained widespread recognition, though not without envy. Rumor had it that the music of Die Fledermaus had been stolen, to which Johannes Brahms—an admirer of Strauss—responded: “Leider, nicht von mir” ("Unfortunately, not by me").

You will hear the magnificent overture from the comic opera The Gypsy Baron, along with arias, duets, and ensembles from this operetta and others including Vienna Blood, A Night in Venice, and Die Fledermaus, performed by the orchestra, choir, and soloists of the Stefan Makedonski National Musical Theatre. Our uniquely talented ballet company will dazzle you with world-famous waltzes such as The Emperor Waltz, Voices of Spring, and The Blue Danube. And finally, we will pay tribute to the father—without whom the son would not have existed—with the rousing Radetzky March.

Enjoy the performance!

— Yuli Damyanov

Creative Team

Yuli Damyanov
Yuli Damyanov
Conductor
Aleksandar Mutafchiyski
Aleksandar Mutafchiyski
Director
Nikolay Nikolov
Set Designer
Yana Dvoretska
Yana Dvoretska
Costume Designer
Evgeniya Raeva
Costume Designer
Tsvetanka Petkova - Stoinova
Costume Designer
Tatyana Yaneva
Tatyana Yaneva
Choreographer
Yoanna Stoyanova
Choreographer
Ivan Lipchev
Multimedia

Cast

Zornitsa Damyanova
guest
Zornitsa Damyanova
Soloist
Edelina Kaneva
guest
Edelina Kaneva
Soloist
Marcho Apostolov
guest
Marcho Apostolov
Soloist
Penio Pirozov
guest
Penio Pirozov
Soloist
Olga Dinova
Olga Dinova
Soloist
Dobrina Ikonomova
Dobrina Ikonomova
Soloist
Krastan Ktastanov
Krastan Ktastanov
Soloist
Hristo Sarafov
Hristo Sarafov
Soloist
Stefani Krusteva
Stefani Krusteva
Soloist
Temenuzhka Trifonova
Temenuzhka Trifonova
Soloist
Vladimir Grudkov
Vladimir Grudkov
Soloist
Denko Prodanov
Denko Prodanov
Soloist
Stefan Petkov
Stefan Petkov
Soloist

Location

Ancient Theatre
Ancient Theatre
Address 3 Tsar Ivan Asen II St., 4000 Plovdiv, Bulgaria

The Ancient Theatre in Plovdiv, built in the 2nd century, has a capacity of around 2,200 seats and is an active cultural venue for concerts and theatrical events.

More Info

Useful Information

Cancelled Performances

More Info

Policy for Bad Weather at Outdoor Events

More Info

Ticket Exchange

More Info

Special Needs

More Info

Rules for Visiting

More Info

Childcare during Performances

More Info

For Schools - Organized Visits to Performances

More Info

Guest Performances (Tours)

More Info