As Christmas approaches the Sofia National Opera and Ballet is offering audiences an array of exciting events. Starting on 4 December until the 27th, its playbill features a multitude of opera, ballet and children’s shows, a special selection for the Sofia Opera’s Christmas Festival.

The event opened on 4 December with a concert featuring “Christmas Oratorio” by metropolitan bishop Hilarion Alfeyev – the first time it has been performed – with soloists Atanas Mladenov - baritone, Angel Hristov- basso, Tsvetana Bandalovska -soprano, Hrisimir Damyanov –tenor, Raya Nacheva - mezzosoprano and Antonia Ivanova – soprano, together with the Sofia Boys’ Choir and the Sofia Opera orchestra. The festival continued with much-loved operas and ballets like: La Traviata and Don Carlos by Giuseppe Verdi, Samson and Delilah by Camille Saint-Saëns, Giselle by Adolphe Adam, Nutcracker by Tchaikovsky. The soloists include names like Nadya Krasteva, Roberto Scandiuzzi (Italy), Diana Tugui (Romania), Kiril Manolov, Ventseslav Anastasov and Nikolay Bikov.

The Christmas Festival of the Sofia Opera and Ballet also features a “Christmas concert – world opera classic masterpieces” with conductor Luciano de Martino (10 December). Opera lovers will also be able to hear songs and overtures by Georges Bizet, Charles Gounod, Pietro Mascagni, Giuseppe Verdi and Giacomo Puccini.

Christmas is a time of love, affection and rejoicing, most of all for children. That is why the Christmas Festival at the Sofia Opera and Ballet features a festive programme for the youngest with the operas Hansel and Gretel, Winnie the Pooh, Little Red Riding Hood and others; or for children with a preference for ballet and dancing - Cinderella and Snow Tale. And even babies can get a taste of the art of opera with the special baby concerts.

Find our more here

The audio file contains the following arias:

.  Aria of Philip from Don Carlos, Nicolai Ghiaurov singing

.  Aria of Prince Calaf – Nessun Dorma from Puccini’s Turandot, performed by Rumen Doykov with the Bulgarian National Radio Symphony Orchestra.

.  Aria of Layla from Act 2 of Pearl Fishers by Georges Bizet, Sonya Yoncheva singing with the orchestra of the French Radio 4

English: Milena Daynova