In the middle of the week, the Sofia Opera presented to its audience Richard Strauss’s masterpiece "Elektra".

In the main roles, the audience enjoyed the performance of Lilia Kehayova, Mariana Zvetkova, Tsvetana Bandalovska, Daniel Ostretsov, Veselin Mihaylov, Angel Hristov, Stanislava Momekova, Diana Vassileva, Dimitar Stanchev, Silvana Pravcheva and others.

Conductor Evan-Alexis Christ, Director Plamen Kartaloff.

Here is what the audience shared after the unceasing applause:

"I am happy to be at the Sofia Opera again after these pandemic restrictions! I am exceptionally excited about this production of "Elektra"! This is really a very complex musical and dramatic matter, with which the team of the Sofia Opera has coped brilliantly! I am amazed by the performance of the wonderful Lilia Kehayova /Elektra/, whose performance for me was a bright ray in this captivating tragedy! Her vocal data and her emotional artistry provoke sincere sympathy for the fate of this legendary character! Let's pay tribute to these wonderful artists, who for two hours are constantly giving their best on the stage in the performance of very complex and demanding immense talent parts! This is a great achievement, this is Everest of the opera singing!”

Olya Al-Ahmed, journalist

"Tonight I want to express my admiration for everything we saw on the stage and for the magical performance of these truly virtuoso artists! The modern, attractive and spacious scenography created an impressive atmosphere, which allowed the artists to brilliantly express their talent! Today we heard amazing voices, among which Lilia Kehayova stood out with her captivating vocality! She amazed us with her vocal data, her artistic plastics and her stunning incarnation in the image of Elektra! The artists acted their mise-en-scènes emotionally and demonstrated amazing vocal skills! The famous conductor Evan-Alexis Christ with his inherent temperament reached exciting climaxes with the orchestra, which I think at times caused explosive sound effects, as if an entire army is achieving this large-scale musical impact! This unique production is another well-deserved success of the Sofia Opera!"

Isak Gozes, journalist

"I'm watching this title for the second time since the role of Elektra in the previous spectacle was performed by Diana Guglina. In fact, I would visit this spectacle a few more times, because with the different soloists we can enjoy the individuality of each great artist and this gives a different look to each performance, and the impact on the audience is unforgettable! I am a Greek graduate and I can appreciate the director's vision in the modern interpretation of the ancient plot, with this respectful turn of our attention to the impact of that era! I admire this time too, the performances of Lilia Kehayova /Elektra/, Mariana Zvetkova /Klytemnestra/, Tsvetana Bandalovska /Chrysotemis/, Daniel Ostretsov /Egist/, Veselin Mihaylov /Orest/ and all other such inspired artists! The orchestra was undoubtedly artistically impressed by the charming conductor Evan-Alexis Christ and presented us with a large-scale and powerful emotional performance of this famous work by Richard Strauss! Tonight, the entire artistic team deserved the unceasing applause of the enthusiastic audience, which once again duly appreciated this great achievement of the Sofia Opera!"

Toni Tsolov

"And this is my second visit to this production of "Elektra" too and I can share again that I admire all the artists, as well as this brilliant performance of the orchestra, which is a great test for any musician! This is a complex work, as a combination of original symphony with the performance of some amazing singers, which causes aesthetic culminations in the perception of the composer’s philosophical idea and its fascinating realization directed by maestro Plamen Kartaloff! This influential performance proves the respectable prestige of the Sofia Opera, as few theaters around the world would have made such an achievement in interpreting this so testing work by Richard Strauss!"

Dr. Dragomir Dardanov

"I can compare this production of the Sofia Opera with the opera titles I have seen in Germany, where I have lived for a long time! In this case, I admire the directorial ideas of maestro Plamen Kartaloff, who offered us a very original vision of this ancient plot, so delightfully combined with the brilliant performance of your famous orchestra! I am very impressed by the participating artists, whose talent stands out in every performance! I am happy to be here again, because I returned to Bulgaria especially to see this spectacle! Thank you all for the experience! "

Tsvetelin Naydenov, Germany

"After the endured two pandemic years, this production of "Elektra" for us and our friends was a breath of fresh air, a great aesthetic pleasure! We are fascinated by the image of Elektra, which was presented to us by the charming Lilia Kehayova with her unforgettable performance! The other artists also admired us with their talent and the impactful transformation into their characters! We are watching an opera by Richard Strauss for the first time and we were just shaken by the heated emotions and passions on the stage, combined with this powerful impact of the orchestra! Undoubtedly, your theatre presented us with a masterpiece from the treasury of opera today!"

Ivan and Emanuela Milanovi

"I am delighted with this performance of the Sofia Opera! I am fascinated by the strong impact of your orchestra! You have great artists, who have brilliantly coped with these difficult and highly professional roles! For me, a great achievement is the harmony achieved between the orchestra and the artists, as in this work by Richard Strauss, there are many culminating moments that require great synchronicity between all participants! The director's vision is very original and this raises the value of the realization of this so complex work! I am glad that I had this chance to see a great achievement of your Opera!"

Daniela Koshta, Columbia, Spain

"We are three representatives of the Academy of Music, Theatre and Fine Arts in Chisinau. Today we eagerly visited the Sofia Opera especially to see how your creative team has coped with this complex musical language of Richard Strauss! We admire the direction of this spectacle! In the roles of Elektra and Klytemnestra we saw the amazing singers Lilia Kehayova and Mariana Zvetkova! You have a stunning orchestra that was brilliantly conducted by the conductor Evan-Alexis Christ! In our opinion, with this spectacle today you have performed a real feat! The complex relationships and tragic dramas in this opera, we see how they resonate with our time, in which again, unfortunately, we see the raging military and human passions! Please express our gratitude for everything that your artists, the director, the conductor and this unique orchestra have presented to us today!"

Victoria Tkachenko, PhD of Arts, Professor at the Music Academy of Chisinau

"I am an opera singer from Chisinau and today I can express my admiration for this production of "Elektra" at the Sofia Opera! I am fascinated by the performance of the brilliant Lilia Kehayova in the role of Elektra! I have no words to express my great impression of the performance of your orchestra, so inspiredly directed by the remarkable conductor Evan-Alexis Christ!"

Anastasia Devozka, opera singer from Chisinau

"And I want to congratulate the entire team of the Sofia Opera for this musical holiday, which presented us today through this exciting production of "Elektra"! The performances of your great artists, of this unique orchestra and its conductor caused great emotions in me! With such a creative team, there is no doubt that many more great successes await you, which I sincerely wish you!"

Emilia Moraru, PhD of Arts from Chisinau