The spectacle “Rigoletto” on 30 January will be to dedicated to the memory of Maestro Borislav Ivanov (1931-2022), reported from the Sofia Opera.

The doyen of the Bulgarian conductors was conductor-producer of this spectacle.

In the performance take part – as Rigoletto – Ventseslav Anastasov, Gilda – Stanislava Momekova, The Duke of Mantua – Reinaldo Droz, Sparfucile – Svetozar Rangelov, Maddalena – Aleksandrina Stoyanova-Andreeva, Giovanna – Blagovesta Mekki-Tsvetkova, Marullo – Atanas Mladenov, Borsa – Angel Antonov, Count Ceprano – Nikolay Voynov, Countess Ceprano – Silvana Pravcheva, A Page – Nadya Koleva, A Court Usher – Alexander Georgiev.

Conductor is Luciano di Martino and Stage Director – Plamen Kartaloff. Set Designer is Lyubomir Yordanov, Assistant Stage Director – Vera Petrova and Costume Designer – Elena Ivanova. Chorus Master is Violeta Dimitrova

Maestro Borislav Ivanov was head of the Varna, Sofia and Plovdiv opera houses, as well as of a series of prestigious opera festivals all over the world, told from the Opera.

He set the beginning of the opera festivals in Rhodes and on the Cyprus Island. He worked as Chief Music Director of the opera houses in Ankara, Deputy Chief Music Director and First Conductor of the opera house in Kassel, Germany. He was Chief Music Director of Das Sinfonie Orchester in Berlin.

For his overall artistic activity he was handed out many awards – Order of Cyrill and Methodius, the honorary Plovdiv Award, Golden Order of the Italian government for merits to Italian opera music and the highest distinction of the German government – "Cross for Merits" to the culture of Germany.

He worked with more than three generations Bulgarian opera singers. He considered that the talent of most of them was great – evidence for this is the respect, which they enjoy around the world.

The Maestro passed away yesterday, 22 January, in a Moscow hospital.