Fifteen years ago, in early February, the Sofia Opera started one of the most wonderful and inspiring initiatives – the children's educational programme "We are going to the opera and ballet". The idea was of acad. Plamen Kartaloff and the realization – of the director Yulia Krasteva.

The first productions were the adapted version for children of Mozart's "Die Zauberflöte", the timeless story of "Hänsel und Gretel" by Humperdinck and the musical fairy tale for children "Petya and the Wolf" by Sergei Prokofiev.

Over the years, over 35 spectacles have been staged and attended by over 200,000 spectators. The children's programme has attracted thousands of children and their parents. The performances are for children from the age of 3 upwards have been a huge success. Most of the first-time spectators of these opera, ballet and musical performances are now regular visitors at the Sofia Opera.

Since several years the children's spectacles have been perfrormed outdoors – in the park of the Academy of Defence, on Lake Pancharevo, in the summer cinema theatre "Gabite" in Belogradchik, on the Baba Vida fortress in Vidin, in Velingrad, Pravets and Veliko Tarnovo. This makes the experience even more interesting and enjoyable and gives access to the spectacles to an even greater number of spectators.

Anyone who hasn't managed to bring their children to see "Little Red Riding Hood", "The Sleeping Beauty", "The Lost Princess" and "Winnie-the-Pooh" can do so this week. The spectacles are from Friday to Sunday and tickets are waiting for you at the Sofia Opera box office or online on our website.

Happy birthday!