A large scale stage for the spectacle is being constructed in front of St. Alexander Nevsky Cathedral

Since several days the passing along St. Alexander Nevsky Cathedral inhabitants of the Capital stop, astonished by what happens there. At the place, known still from the first protest rallies at the dawn of democracy, now metal and wood are spreading out in a large scale construction, which is growing fast from end to end on the historic square. Workers with safety helmets from early morning to nightfall carry around materials and are carefully fixing them on the raising more than meter and a half staging.

Everybody’s bewilderment lasts but a short time – several vinyls, hanging on the impressive and unprecedented until now construction, indicate that this is exactly the place, on which on 27, 28 and 29 June will be presented the expected with impatience premiere of Sofia Opera and Ballet – “Boris Godunov” by Modest Mussorgsky.

Neither the bad weather, nor the wind or the glimmering from time to time scared sun beams are in condition to stop the zeal of the working on Plamen Kartaloff’s newest provocative project. The director, who won popularity also with his taste to the imposing spectacles in the open air like “Aida”, “Prince Igor”, “Tsar Kaloyan”, has preferred – in the year of Mussorgsky’s 175th Anniversary – his famous work for the first of its kind production in front of the historic temple. Everyone, who is busy with the preparation of the upcoming premiere, is in a hurry, in order to manage to fit into the strict schedules. Only after several days, when the unseen till this moment stage will be completely ready, is expected to arrive the special stands for about 1400 spectators. Their installation will bring us maximally close to what’s forthcoming to happen before the audience.

In the middle of the month will begin intensive rehearsals and all teams of our first opera theatre are already in expectation of this moment. Till then the floor have the technical services, which will construct auxiliary tents, two entrances for spectators and two Ticket offices. And everything else, which is necessary so that we could become witnesses of an unprecedented and unique experience, dedicated to the memory of the three great basses – Boris Christoff (his 100th Anniversary), Nicolai Ghiaurov (his 85th Anniversary) and the recently deceased Nicola Ghiuselev. The spectacle is dedicated also to 90 years since the sanctification of the St. Alexander Nevsky Cathedral and is under the patronage of the Mayor of Sofia, Mrs. Yordanka Fandakova.