Three years ago, on 18 January 2014, after Academician Plamen Kartaloff’s idea, in the repertoire of the Sofia Opera and Ballet entered the so called “Concerts for Babies”. They became a hit in the programme of our first opera theatre. Even to this day, the tickets for this first in Bulgaria initiative run out with a cosmic speed. The interest to them is growing with each day past. Impatient parents grab them still in the beginning of each month.

The Friday, Saturday and Sunday concerts are for the growing up – from 0 to 3-year old. The purpose is from the earliest age they to be drown close to classical music. Through emotional approaches of effect on the senses, we are looking for activation and stimulation of the mental, intellectual and emotional growth of the little ones.

“We would like through these concerts to preserve at least for one hour the children, our future, from the aggression on the street and from the music of law quality, with which they are surrounded. We hope also with the help of the parents to succeed to do this” – pointed out the Director of the Opera still at the first edition of “Concerts for Babies”.

Director of the concerts if Yulia Krasteva.

For the anniversary, she shared that she is very happy because of the phenomenal interest, shown by the kids, as well as by their relatives. Krasteva revealed some of the elements of the past and of the forthcoming spectacles: “Yes, these concerts are for the most little – with the nipples, the Pampers, the ones, who can walk, and those who are creeping, for the crying, the playing, these, who get their finger in the nose, pull their hair, eat the toy of the next child. These concerts are for everyone, who for the first time learns to listen to music. Yes, even for those, who are sleeping… We start with “Departs the Children’s Train”, which will lead us on a trip. We continue with the traditional “Welcome” for the kids and their parents and with thematic songs, dedicated to the winter, the spring, the summer and the autumn. We shall not miss the most known titles as “Who Doesn’t Eat Vegetables” and “Grandfather and Turnip”. Then follows a mini block, which is the main transition to the acquaintance of our youngest audience with the music instruments. For the second part, we have prepared fragments from most popular titles, among which “Hänsel und Gretel”, “Little Red Riding Hood”, “The Grumpy Goat”, “Winnie-the Pooh”.

The director revealed also that the team of “Concerts for Babies” includes also a cycle for the animals, new songs for each forthcoming season and more and more... The surprises are forthcoming…

The concerts take place in an environment, close to the usual for the children. The kids sit comfortably on pillows on the ground and in the company of their mothers, fathers, grandmothers, grandfathers or elder sisters and elder brothers during ca. 60 minutes. They listen to favourite songs for children, vocal and instrumental fragments from classical opuses. The instruments and their sound are entirely appropriate for the early age of the youngest visitors of the Opera. The concerts are divided in two parts with a short interval among them.

The concerts take place each Friday, Saturday and Sunday at 11 h.