Programme - https://bit.ly/3wvP04c

Tickets - https://bit.ly/3IAXPMF

The OPERA OPEN 2022 festival, which takes place at The Ancient Theatre in Plovdiv continues its policy of presenting a multi-genre programme with the participation of world-class guest artists. The main priority of the team is the development of international opera tourism in Bulgaria, combining in a unique way live musical art with the ancient heritage of Plovdiv, following the example of European festivals on ancient outdoor stages.

Highlights of the programme in 2022 are the premieres of the ballet Anna Karenina, the opera Nabucco and the return of Orpheus and Eurydice, which was seen by over 7,000 people in 2019 and confirmed Plovdiv's name as European Capital of Culture. Guest artists with international careers such as Stefano Poda, Leo Muich, José Cura, Carlos Almaguer, Michal Znamniecki, Ursula Horner, Krasimira Stoyanova, Marta Petkova, Kiril Manolov, Martin Tsonev, Maria Radoeva and others will again present their talent at The Ancient Theatre.

The OPERA OPEN 2022 selection is entitled "A Different World" and includes titles that inspire faith through the purifying power of art - from the celebration of light in Stefano Poda's Orpheus and Eurydice, to the Jewish chorus that became an anthem for freedom in Nabucco, to the vengeance over vice in Mozart's Don Giovanni, to the power of sacrifice for the sake of humanity in Veselka Kuncheva's Jesus Christ Superstar and Maria of Buenos Aires. The opening Peace Concert of the Children's Choir of Bulgaria on 19 June, in which over 400 children will send their messages through song, will be a kind of "gateway" to the different world that artists dream of.

A creative highlight for the entire Opera Plovdiv collective will be the premiere ballet performance of Anna Karenina on 26 June, in which the literary masterpiece meets the imagination of a great interpreter-choreographer - Leo Muich. The artist has choreographed his own works for soloists at the American Ballet Theatre and the Paris Opera, as well as dance numbers at the Berlin Staatsballet, the National Tokyo Theatre, the National Theatres of Hungary, Slovenia, Croatia and Serbia. The ballet companies of Opera Plovdiv and the Macedonian Opera and Ballet in Skopje collaborate in the production with soloists Marta Petkova, Nikola Hadjitanev and Emil Yordanov. A significant role in the performance is given to the Orchestra of Opera Plovdiv, which interprets the brilliant music of Tchaikovsky under the baton of maestro Dian Chobanov with the special participation of the virtuoso violinist Lia Petrova.

The premiere title Nabucco by Giuseppe Verdi is seen by the production team of director Nina Naydenova as a parable about the power of faith, firmness and trust for deliverance. The title with the famous chorus of the enslaved Jewish people sounds more relevant today than ever against the backdrop of the world crises. Special effects experts from the Boyana Film Centre will help to impressively recreate the devastation of the biblical epic. One of the best Bulgarian basses of our time, Martin Tsonev, who has worked for the most famous opera houses in Germany for years, has been invited to play the role of Zacharias. On the stage of The Ancient Theatre he will partner with festival audience favourites Kiril Manolov, Tanya Ivanova and Maria Radoeva.

After a successful run at the Thessaloniki Concert Hall, one of the largest cultural complexes in Greece, Mozart's Don Giovanni returns to The Ancient Theatre on 7 July, directed by Michal Znamniecki. On August 24, audiences will be able to relive the dramatic story of Tosca, told against the backdrop of a huge fallen angel, as performed by the premiere solo cast of 2021 - Tania Ivanova, José Cura and Carlos Almaguer. In early September, The Ancient Theatre will also present for the first time Veselka Kuncheva's Jesus Christ Superstar by Andrew Lloyd Webber and Tim Rice and Maria of Buenos Aires by Astor Piazzolla. 

The first international competition for young tenors "The Voice of Kamen" will take place during the festival from 22 to 26 August, the closing gala of which will be held at The Ancient Theatre with the special participation of conductor José Cura and the prima Krassimira Stoyanova.

Again for the first time, from 4 to 12 June, Graffiti OPERA OPEN will be launched - a selected programme of performances and concerts for young audiences on an alternative stage in the courtyard of the Plovdiv branch of the Technical University (former French College). The main highlight will be the premiere of the hit musical Fame, which will be a musical celebration for the graduating school classes.

In 2022, the OPERA OPEN festival will partner with the Encho Keriazov Foundation's Night of the Stars on June 1, the Milcho Leviev Association for Culture and Education's Sonata 57 jazz project on June 15, and the IL VOLO SING MORICONE concert on July 11 and LAIBACH on September 17.

Tickets for the OPERA OPEN 2022 titles excluding partner projects are available online at eventim.bg and in the Eventim network.

OPERA OPEN 2022 DISCOUNTS only at the Opera Plovdiv box office:
- FAMILY AND FRIENDS PACKAGE: If you purchase 5 or more tickets for 1 performance, you can enjoy a discount of 5 BGN for each ticket in the 20 and 30 BGN price categories.
- FESTIVAL PACKAGE: If you purchase tickets for 3 or more titles from the programme, you can enjoy a discount of 5 BGN for each ticket from the 30 BGN price category.
- 2X2 MONTHLY PACKAGE: If you purchase at least 2 tickets for 2 shows from the programme in one month, you can enjoy a discount of BGN 10 for each ticket from the BGN 30 price category.

The discounts can only be used at the Opera Plovdiv box office and at the OPERA OPEN summer box office on the Main Street (will be open from May), subject to availability of seats in the respective price category. 

OPERA OPEN 2022 is part of the Legacy II programme of Plovdiv ECOC 2019.

Programme - https://bit.ly/3wvP04c

Tickets - https://bit.ly/3IAXPMF