We’re happy to share that on the 2nd and 3rd of November, from 11pm, the musical poem “The Hermit of Rila” will be broadcast on BNT 2; music by Father Kiril Popov, script by Tihomir Pavlov. This extensive production was realized by Plamen Kartaloff on Saint Alexander Nevsky Cathedral, Sofia, at the end of July this year; Kartaloff’s director and scenography concepts were also used. His Holiness patriarch Daniil, bishop of Sofia, attended the premiere. The production is dedicated to the one hundredth anniversary of the Saint Alexander Nevsky Cathedral sanctification.

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We’re going to see actor Iriney Konstantinov perform as Ivan Rilski, with Atanas Mladenov portraying the saint in his youthful years. Also starring: Angel Hristov, Ivan Radev, Dimitar Stanchev, Nikolay Petrov, Veselin Mihaylov, Stefan Vladimirov.

With the participation of the Sofia Opera orchestra and choir (choir under the conductorship of Violeta Dimitrova) and a children’s choir led by Dimitar Kostantsaliev. Performance conductor: Zhorzh Dimitrov.

With the special participation of the “Special police force” department at SDVR.

Nela Stoyanova and Kristiyan Stoyanov worked together with Plamen Kartaloff on scenography. 3D Mapping and digital scenography by Vladimir Grancharov (Elektrick.me). Emil Dinkov handled artistic lighting.

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With this production, the Sofia Opera continues the “Opera at the Square” tradition, after the huge success of “Boris Godunov”, “Nabucco”, “Aida”, “Tsar Kaloyan” and “Knyaz Igor” at “Al. Batemberg” square, years ago.

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Let’s enjoy “The Hermit of Rila” together: the magical tale of St. Ivan Rilski’s life.