The biblical legend about the suffering of the enslaved Hebrew people in Verdi’s masterpiece will take place from 23 to 31 July next to the St. Alexander Nevsky Cathedral with performers from 5 countries

A new imposing stage will build the Sofia Opera in July – this time from the northern side of the St. Alexander Nevsky Cathedral, where from 23 to 31 July in six evenings will take place the drama of the first historical-heroic opera by Giuseppe Verdi – “Nabucco”. The newest project of the stage director Plamen Kartaloff is the second one after the production of “Boris Godunov” by Mussorgsky in 2014, in which was used the imposing natural scenery of the Patriarchal cathedral.

The trapezium stage with the form of unfolded roll – with 40 meters length and 10 meters depth and the 4-floor Semiramida gardens, built on a massive pyramidal construction, as well as a veritable Stairways to heaven, which ends with Moses’s hands, will impress the huge audience with the new large-scale creative challenge with Maestro Kartaloff’s signature. There is one very emotional and fatal phrase in the opera “Nabucco” by the Maestro of the Italian revolution Giuseppe Verdi, which could be connected with today’s demographic, political, spiritual and economic crisis in our country: “Oh, my Motherland, beautiful and lost...” This phrase springs out of the thoughts with golden wings, so that they could land on rocks and hills of the motherland, on the ravaged towers of far-off glorious times and of the golden harps of believers and poets, with the hope that God would inspire a song and inspire the virtuous ones. The connection with the weeping and the moaning from the Chorus of the Hebrew Slaves from “Nabucco” is metaphorical with our days, when on our mother earth are getting born so many talents, people with enormous energy from different strata, but enslaved by the unconcern, the neglect of the valuable, by the political, economic and cultural home muddle. And the fruit of the combination of the material and the spiritual work of art creates the culture of one nation, and without culture what kind of a nation is it... That is why as an appealing peal and as from the Temple of Salvation, we have chosen to sound the messages from “Nabucco” by the immortal maestro of the Italian revolution Giuseppe Verdi”, pointed out Plamen Kartaloff. He and the entire creative team have long ago shown taste and high achievements in the mastering of big stages in the open air. The set design idea is by the stage director, and the costume design – by Tsvetanka Petkova-Stoynova.

A real star presence will decorate the multinational cast of performers of the main roles from Bulgaria, Italy, Israel, Georgia and Romania. In the famous work by Verdi in the role of Nabucco will shine Vladimir Stoyanov and Kiril Manolov. Four are the performers of Abigaille: Gabriela Georgieva, Iordanka Derilova, Radostina Nikolaeva and Susanna Branchini, Italy. In the role of Zaccaria will present themselves the guest from Italy Roberto Scandiuzzi, Dimitar Stanchev and Svetozar Rangelov. In the rest of the roles – Daniel Damyanov, Daniel  Ostretsov and Rosen Nenchev (Ismaele); Diletta Scandiuzzi, Italy, Oana Andra, Romania, Tsveta Sarambelieva and Shay Bloch, Israel (Fenena), Angel Hristov and the Georgian guest Kakhaber Shavidze (the High priest), Krasimir Dinev and Hrisimir Damyanov (Abdallo), Elena Stoyanova and Silvana Pravcheva (Anna).

Two years ago Plamen Kartaloff said that with the production of “Boris Godunov” was erected a new altar of the opera – in front of the St. Alexander Nevsky Cathedral. On 23, 24, 28, 29, 30 and 31 July this altar will be stage for one of the most interesting titles in Giuseppe Verdi’s work, which he himself considered as the beginning of his creative development. The spectacles will be conducted by Mikhail Sinkevich from Russia and Grigor Palikarov. 

The premiere of “Nabucco“ is dedicated to the Jubilee 125 years Sofia Opera and is under the patronage of the Mayor of Sofia Municipality Yordanka Fandakova as an important part of the cultural programme of the capital. The premiere of Verdi’s celebrated opera became possible thanks to the kind support by the Ministry of Culture, with the sponsorship of Utex, United Bulgarian Bank, Mtel, Bulstrad.

Media partners are the Bulgarian National Television and the Bulgarian National Radio.