site.btaPlovdiv - European Capital of Culture 2019: 30-Metre Tower Stage Dismantled after Formal Opening

105 CULTURE - PLOVDIV - STAGE

Plovdiv - European Capital of Culture 2019:
30-Metre Tower Stage
Dismantled after Formal Opening


Plovdiv, January 13 (BTA) - The dismantling of a 30-metre tower used as a stage during Saturday's formal opening of Plovdiv - European Capital of Culture 2019 started on Sunday. A performance mottoed "We Are All Colours" involved 1,500 participants, who wrote #together in Bulgarian and in English on two platforms, each 120 metres long, at the end of the programme.

The city's Mayor Ivan Totev announced the start of cultural events during the year when Plovdiv is representing Bulgaria. During its millennial history, Europe's oldest living city has been a cultural centre in the heart of several civilizations, and now brings together various ethnic groups and religions, said Totev.

Mariya Gabriel, the European Commissioner for Digital Economy and Society, said that Plovdiv, the first Bulgarian city to become a European Capital of Culture, had always been central to Bulgaria's and Europe's cultural history.

Addresses from President Rumen Radev, Prime Minister Boyko Borissov and the European Commission were presented to Mayor Ivan Totev. The opening event was attended by Vice President Iliana Iotova, National Assembly Chairperson Tsveta Karayancheva and more than 500 officials, including guests from European capitals of culture.

Sven Soren Beyer from phase7 performing.arts directed a spectacular show of music, lights and fireworks.

The year-long programme was prepared by the Plovdiv 2019 Foundation in four years. It comprises 300 projects and nearly 500 events in the South Central Region and in Varna, Sofia and Veliko Turnovo - the cities which made it to the second round of the race. The programme is structured around four platforms - Fuse, Transform, Revive and Relax - which reflect Plovdiv's characteristics. LI/DD




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