Press conference on the programme of the 54th Festival of Opera and Ballet Art - Stara Zagora 2024
News публикувана на: 12.11.2024
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A press conference on the occasion of the beginning of the Festival of Opera and Ballet Art (FOBI) took place today at 11.00 a.m. in the building of Stara Zagora Municipality. The traditional forum will again welcome its guests with an attractive and interesting program. FOBI is organized by the State Opera - Stara Zagora, with the support of the "Culture" program of Stara Zagora Municipality and the Ministry of Culture.
The emblematic event is celebrated for the 54th time in the City of Lime Trees. The festival will be held from 22 November to 4 December 2024 with a rich and accompanying program.
The press conference was attended by the Deputy Mayor of Stara Zagora Milena Zheleva and representatives from the Stara Zagora State Opera - Ognyan Draganov, Director, Sylvia Tomova, Artistic Director of the ballet, Lyubomir Kutin, Organizing Secretary of the festival and Iveta Marinova, Inspector in the ballet company.
Milena Zheleva welcomed everyone to the press conference and invited the organizers to present their rich program.
Ognyan Draganov introduced the upcoming program of the festival. This is a unique event for the Bulgarian opera and ballet culture. I would say that there is no other such festival in the region".
He explained that there will be 8 events in 10 evenings. Of them - 4 opera titles ("Gianni Schicchi", "The Samodivas", "Das Rheingold", "The Mercy of Titus"), 3 Bulgarian titles ("The Bulgarian Basses" on the occasion of the 110th anniversary of the birth of Boris Hristov, "Dialogue with Solitude" and "The Misunderstood Civilization"). Draganov said that more than 1000 artists will come from all over the world. The ballet "Coppelia" will also be staged, with two premiere dates, on November 29 at 7 p.m. and November 30 at 4 p.m. Also making a guest appearance will be the National Ballet of El Salvador, which will present an original ballet concert on November 24 at 4 p.m.
One of the highlights of the festival is the accompanying programme, which according to the opera director is the beating heart of a festival. It includes "Meeting the Arts with a Smile" - a meeting with the artist Valentin Donchevsky, "100 Years of Konstantin Iliev" - a presentation of the autobiographical book "Word and Deed" with the participation of arch. Ventsislav Iliev, son of the composer . Accompanying events will also be the presentation of the edition of Flavia Papachena's book on the artist Salvatore Russo, "Memories of Kamen Chanev" and a lecture seminar by Prof. Dr. Gabriele Brandstetter.
"It is important to me that this festival continues, despite all the difficulties. It is the beating heart of Stara Zagora," Draganov emphasized.
He thanked Stara Zagora Municipality for its good partnership in the preparation of the festival. We are happy that we can organize such a festival. It is an honour and responsibility for us. I think we have done it with dignity over the years."
Sylvia Tomova explained to the audience the ballet programme and the participation of the ballet company in the performances. She emphasized that there are very few ballets in Europe that have so many years of companies. This year marks the 75th anniversary of the Stara Zagora Ballet Company. She thanked Ognyan Draganov and the Municipality of Stara Zagora for the participation of the National Ballet of El Salvador.
Lyubomir Kutin said he expects the Saturday-Sunday afternoon events to attract more families and visitors.
Iveta Marinova gave more details about Prof. Dr. Gabriele Brandstetter's lecture. She is the founder of the Centre for Movement Research at the Institute for Theatre Studies and the Master's Programme in Dance Art Science at the Free University of Berlin. The lecture seminar she will present is "On the lightness of dance - how we see, describe and preserve dance today" will take place on 2 December 2024 (Monday) from 8.00 pm in the Opera House foyer.
At the end of the press conference Milena Zheleva drew three winners from the game on the Facebook page of the State Opera - Stara Zagora. There a question related to the festival was asked - "When was FOBI founded?". The three winners won gold cards, which entitle them to free access to the performances and events at FOBI.
The upcoming edition of the 54th Festival of Opera and Ballet Art - Stara Zagora this year focuses on the 100th anniversary of the death of Giacomo Puccini, the 125th anniversary of the birth of the great ballet dancer and ballet teacher Anastas Petrov, 110th anniversary of the birth of the Bulgarian bass Boris Hristov, 100th anniversary of the birth of the Bulgarian composer and conductor Konstantin Iliev, 75th anniversary of the ballet troupe of the State Opera - Stara Zagora and in memory of the 60th anniversary of the world-renowned tenor Kamen Chanev.
Stara Zagora Municipality
