site.btaUPDATED Sofia Opera's "Die Walküre" Performance Receives Standing Ovation by Audience in Skopje

Sofia Opera and Ballet's performance of Wagner's Die Walküre at the 52nd May Opera Nights on Saturday in Skopje was received with standing ovation. In the audience was North Macedonia's President Gordana Siljanovska-Davkova.

After the four-hour performance, the President commented: "I have never experienced such pleasure, so long, so passionate. Nietzsche was right when he said that without music the world would not be what it is. Public diplomacy is not like cultural diplomacy. I think none of us felt tired during those five hours. I don't know what was more perfect - the conductor, the director, the singers, the orchestra, the choreography, the set design. Thank you from the bottom of my heart. I needed such a thing. And I think art can achieve the impossible. That is what happened to me. There was little left for me to stand up and shout, 'Bravo.'"

Sofia Opera and Ballet head and director of the performance Plamen Kartalov thanked the management of the National Opera and Ballet in Skopje for the generous and hospitable welcome. "I want to assure you that our contacts will be truly fruitful. We look forward to welcoming you in Sofia in September to show how cultural diplomacy works," Kartalov said.

An opera by Wagner was presented for the first time in the country. Orce Istkovski, Artistic Director of the Skopje National Opera, described the staging of Wagner's work as "the most exclusive event of the festival." 

More than 130 representatives of the Sofia Opera and Ballet arrived in Skopje a few days ago - soloists, orchestra, a small ballet ensemble and all the technical staff needed to bring Scandinavian mythology to life on stage.

The event was organized with the support of the Ministries of Culture of Bulgaria and North Macedonia, in partnership with the Bulgarian Culture and Information Centre in Skopje.

The production is directed by Plamen Kartaloff. Evan-Alexis Christ is the conductor. The set design is by Hans Kudlich, and the costumes by Hristiana Mihaleva-Zorbalieva. Appearing in the lead parts are Thomas Hall as Wotan, Mariana Zvetkova as Fricka, Martin Iliev as Siegmund, Angel Hristov as Hunding, Gergana Rusekova as Brünnhilde, and Tsvetana Bandalovska as Sieglinde.

Die Walküre premiered in July 2023 during the Wagner Festival in Sofia, after an October 2022 staging at the Königswinkel Festival in Füssen. Then, in December 2023, the second part of Wagner's Ring was the closing performance of the Opera and Ballet Festival in Stara Zagora (Southeastern Bulgaria).