With a Verdi concert at the Сlassic’s school will begin the celebrations of Sofia Opera for the 100th Anniversary of the great bass

Bulgarian and foreign performers from Italy, Belarus, Austria, Germany, as well as conductors from Russia and Japan will take part in the spectacles, which Sofia Opera and Ballet is dedicating to the 100th Anniversary of Boris Christoff. The six opera titles, in which the celebrated bass has sung, begin on

23 January at 14.00 h, with a concert with fragments from “Aida“ by Giuseppe Verdi at the National School for Ancient Languages and Cultures “Konstantin Cyril Philosoph “. Participants are the soloists Kostadin Andreev, Gabriela Georgieva and Gergana Rusekova. Piano accompaniment and conductor Velizar Genchev. On

24 January in “Don Carlos“ by Giuseppe Verdi at Sofia Opera and Ballet will take part the mezzo-soprano Cinzia Chiarini, Italy, in the role of Princess Eboli.

“Verdiata“ will continue from

7 to 11 February, as well as from 9 to 11 May with “Aida“ of the director Hugo de Ana.

In the spectacle on

8 February at 11.00 h, side by side with the soprano Gabriela Georgieva as Aida will present themselves also our famous tenor Kamen Chanev as Radamès and the baritone from Belarus Vladimir Petrov as Amonasro. In the spectacle the same day, but at 19.00 h, is forthcoming the guest-performance of the well-known Italian tenor Renzo Zulian in the role of Radamès.

On 9 February at 16.00 h, the baritone Vladimir Petrov, who has won popularity also in our country, will transform himself into Amonasro.

On 11 February at 19.00 h, the well-known Italian bass Carlo Colombara will sing as Ramfis, and the tenor Kamen Chanev as Radamès in the production of “Aida“.

On 27 March will sound the concert performance of “Nabucco“ – another masterpiece by Verdi, included in the cycle “Tutto Verdi“ with the special participation of the famous baritone Vladimir Stoyanov. In the role of Zaccaria will present himself Carlo Colombara. On

31 May Colombara will be Filippo II in the spectacle of “Don Carlos“.

In June the audience will hear again the interesting half-concert version of Beethoven’s only opera “Fidelio“ of the guest-director from Germany Hans-Joachim Frey, with the participation of the renowned bass Kurt Rydl (Austria) and the German tenor Endrik Wottrich, with Marius Donkin as the Narrator, the soloists Mariana Zvetkova, Silvana Pravcheva, Biser Georgiev, Dimitar Stanchev, Krasimir Dinev. Conductor will be Erich Wächter.

From 27 to 29 June in front of the “St. Alexander Nevsky“ Cathedral will be presented the work by Modest Mussorgsky “Boris Godunov“ of the director Plamen Kartaloff with conductor Konstantin Chudovski. The spectacles are dedicated to the world opera legends Boris Christoff and Nicolai Ghiaurov.

The tetralogy “Der Ring des Nibelungen“ by Richard Wagner, which will be performed on

23-29 July under the baton of the world-known conductor Kazushi Ono (Japan), is the last title, which Sofia Opera and Ballet is dedicating to the 100th Anniversary of Boris Christoff. With this jubilee are connected also

Gala concert of basses on 18 May, the birthday of the unique bass, and Jubilee conference, dedicated to his life and work, which will be held at the Bulgarian Academy of Sciences. As accompanying events are envisaged expositions, matinées, film show of documentaries and concerts.