site.btaUPDATED Stage of the Ages Open-Air Opera Festival Opens in Veliko Tarnovo

The official opening ceremony for the 9th Stage of the Ages Open-air Opera Festival took place at the site of the palace of the medieval Bulgarian tsars on Tsarevets Fortress in Veliko Tarnovo on Saturday evening.

Saturday's performance was the ballet Carmen by Bizet, presented by the Ruse State Opera and conducted by Viliana Valcheva. The libretto, choreography and production is by Natalia Osipova. Alexander Krunev appeared as the Toreador, Peter Kostov as Don Jose, and Petya Tsoneva as Carmen.

Before the performance, Stage of the Ages artistic director Vladimir Boshnakov addressed the audience, welcoming them to "one of the most prestigious events in the field of classical arts in Bulgaria". He recalled that the festival is organized by Veliko Tarnovo Municipality with the support of the Regional History Museum and the Municipal Tourist Agency, and is held under the auspices of the Culture Ministry. Yet again, Stage of the Ages has been awarded the prestigious label "Europe for Festivals, Festivals for Europe" 2024-2025, Boshnakov noted.

This year's edition will feature opera, ballet, musicals and concerts in three programmes on three stages in the course of three months (until September 11). The repertoire will be presented by the opera houses of Varna, Stara Zagora, Ruse and Plovdiv, the Konstantin Kisimov Music and Drama Theatre of Veliko Tarnovo, the Stefan Makedonski National Musical Theatre of Sofia, Sinfonietta Vratsa and the Pleven Philharmonic. 

The open-air stage on Tsarevets Hill will also host the next three titles of the main programme: Sinfonietta Vratsa with Tribute to Ennio Morricone on July 13, Lehar's operetta The Land of Smiles by the Konstantin Kisimov Theatre on July 19, and the latest item on the bill of the Stara Zagora State Opera, Bizet's The Pearl Fishers, on July 27. The world famous Turkish dance group Fire of Anatolia will perform at the Veliko Tarnovo Summer Theatre on August 3. Next on the programme is Wagner's The Flying Dutchman by the Varna Theatre Production Centre at the Konstantin Kisimov Theatre on September 2. The Stefan Makedonski National Musical Theatre will put the finishing touch to the main festival programme at the Summer Theatre on September 4, with Hello, How Are You, My Friend, a musical adapted from Stefan Diomov's best loved pop songs. 

The Festival has a special programme for children and youth titled "Stage of the Ages: A Look at the Future". 

The 9th Stage of the Ages started on July 4 with a tour of the Shanghai Kunqu Opera Troupe. The Musical Magic concert of conductor Yordan Kamdzhalov with the Pleven Philharmonic launched the accompanying programme, which also includes Vassil Petrov: The Best, The Taste of Time (Kiril Marichkov at 80) of The Foundation Band and the Plovdiv State Opera Orchestra, and Live on Broadway with Rafi Bohosyan and the Ruse Opera.

BTA is media partner of the event.