"Money for culture and social needs has never been enough", said the Director of the Sofia Opera and Ballet.

What do artists expect from the authorities?

"We have been living in turbulent times recently. We don't feed on culture, but that is exactly the opposition to this careless and dismissive attitude of people in politics who don't need theatres, culture. We have regularly had those funds due to us once we work out the necessary planned indicators. The Opera works very intensively, it has a huge programme and a rich repertoire, we also have an audience," said the Director of the Sofia Opera and Ballet, Acad. Plamen Kartaloff in the studio of "The Day ON AIR".

According to him, every political authority should reflect on the processes that feed the economy.

"A theatre that also has an international audience and creates new and new audiences, it has its contributions to the economy. There must be priorities, there are things that are superfluous, there are things that can be given impetus and momentum both for the development of these cultural institutes and the creation of audiences that contribute personally to the maintenance of the respective institute," added Acad. Kartaloff on the air of Bulgaria ON AIR.

He is adamant that their funds are in the audience.

"If we have an audience – we will have revenue, we will have a subsidy. The maintenance of cultural processes depends on need and necessity. Money for culture and social needs has never been enough. But Bulgarians have got used to living with little money and having the ambition to do bigger things. This is a mentality and a patent of our society. It is not a good thing to drill and zombify with how bad it will be and what will happen", the Director of the Sofia Opera and Ballet was adamant.

And he admitted that on the new stage – "Pancharevo", they have 32 performances.

Asked how they choose the titles of the spectacles, he said, "There are 2 poles of repertoire choice. One, which is first and foremost, is for the theatre to grow and evolve with new works, the other is for the broadest audience to also be possessed and attracted. We're making a big effort in management and marketing."

Acad. Plamen Kartaloff shared that the season will open in October with the performance "Chatterers".

Watch the full conversation in the video.

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