OPERA OPEN 2024 - THE OPERA IS HERE!

OPERA OPEN 2024 at the Ancient Theater in Plovdiv celebrates the 70th anniversary of the creation of Opera Plovdiv with a strong international content and genre diversity, a trademark of the festival. The modern vision and high professional level of the performances with soloists, orchestra, choir and ballet of Opera Plovdiv combined with the unique features of the Ancient Theater attract more and more foreign audiences and develop international opera tourism.

A main highlight in the program of OPERA OPEN 2024, which will certainly be among the leading musical events for Bulgaria during the year, is the grand opening with a Gala of the world-renowned opera diva Aida Garifulina. The soprano is a regular guest artist at the most prestigious opera houses and concert halls in the world, including the Royal Opera House (London), La Scala (Milan), the Metropolitan Opera (New York), Grand Opera (Paris), Arena di Verona (Italy) and the Salzburg Festival. Her world career began with winning Placido Domingo 's Operalia competition, and her talent and fame brought her together with opera stars such as Andrea Bocelli, Anna Netrebko, Juan Diego Florez, etc, as well as stars of the pop scene and cinema such as Robbie Williams of the coverage 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 with the participation of international artists - the opera "Carmen" by Bizet and the ballet "Romeo and Juliet" by Prokofiev.

After setting a record for the largest number of spectators at an opera performance at the Ancient Theater in 2015, "Carmen" returns to the ancient outdoor stage with a premiere production by director Ursula Horner. The fiery Serbian mezzo-soprano Ljubica Vranes, the Portuguese tenor with a successful career on the European stage, Carlos Cardoso, and the Polish baritone Daniel Miroslav, who participated in the prestigious opera festivals in Florence and Glyndebourne, England, have been invited to play the central roles.

The ballet troupe and the Orchestra of Opera Plovdiv are preparing the premiere of "Romeo and Juliet" by Prokofiev on July 12th and September 4th. The play is staged by Valentina Turku and her team from Theater Maribor, Slovenia. The distinguished artist is the author of the choreography of over 130 ballets, opera and theater productions and is the winner of dozens of prestigious European awards. Her style, perfected in the school of the legendary Maurice Bejart, sets a new standard in the quality and expressiveness of contemporary classical ballet.

Opera Plovdiv will celebrate the 100th anniversary of Puccini's death with "Turandot" with tenor Khachatur Badalyan, applauded at the Arena Di Verona and on the stages of opera houses in Palermo, Catania, Cagliari, Venice, Warsaw, Vancouver and the Bolshoy Theater in Moscow, the Mariinsky Theater in St. Petersburg, etc. His partners are the soloists of Opera Plovdiv Tanya Ivanova and Evgenia Ralcheva.

After a 5-year absence, one of the most emblematic and audience-loved opera titles of the Ancient Theater - "Aida" returns with an upgraded scenographic atmosphere by video artist Petko Tanchev and choreography by Mariana Kruncheva on July 20 and 30 August.

Verdi fans will also enjoy the performance VIVA VERDI with selected scenes from the Italian composer's most famous operas on July 3rd.

In August, the OPERA OPEN 2024 program is aimed at fans of operettas and musicals. Among the titles on the program are Jesus Christ Superstar by Andrew Lloyd Webber on August 21st and VIVA L'OPERETTA, VIVA L'OPERA with guest soloists from European operettas on August 24th.

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

By tradition, 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. Having turned into a recognizable cultural brand, OPERA OPEN puts the city of Plovdiv on the map of leading European open-air opera festivals.

"OPERA IS HERE!" is the slogan that unites the celebrations for the 70th anniversary of Opera Plovdiv 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 past and future with the fragile and elusive Now. The opera is here - to participate in the pulse of the city.

Tickets for OPERA OPEN are now on sale in the Eventim network and online at eventim.bg. Only until April 7th, the most zealous fans can take advantage of an EARLY PROMOTION - a 50% discount for tickets in price categories for the prices of BGN 50, 60, 70, 80 in the central sectors with promotional code EARLY online at eventim.bg and at the ticket offices. As usual, promotional packs and cards will also be available.

PROGRAM OPERA OPEN 2024

25.06 OPERA OPEN 2024: AIDA GARIFULlINA GALA – opening, 9 p.m.

29.06 OPERA OPEN 2024: TURANDOT - Puccini - 9 p.m

03.07 OPERA OPEN 2024: VIVA VERDI - 9 p.m

06.07 OPERA OPEN 2024: CARMEN - Bizet - 9 p.m

12.07 OPERA OPEN 2024 ROMEO AND JULIET - Prokofiev -9 p.m.

16.07 OPERA OPEN 2024 – THE TASTE OF TIME: THE BIG VOICES OF BG ROCK MUSIC - 9 p.m.

20.07 OPERA OPEN 2024 AIDA – Verdi - 9 p.m

21.08 OPERA OPEN 2024 JESUS CHRIST SUPERSTAR - 9 p.m

24.08 OPERA OPEN 2024 VIVA L'OPERETTA, VIVA L'OPERA - 8:30 p.m.

27.08 OPERA OPEN 2024 THE ADAMS FAMILY - 9 p.m

30.08 OPERA OPEN 2024 AIDA - Verdi - 8:30 p.m

04.09 OPERA OPEN 2024 ROMEO AND JULIET - Prokofiev - 8:30 p.m.

15.09 GALA IN HONOR OF RAYNA KABAIVANSKA - 8 p.m.