Podcast in English
Text size
Bulgarian National Radio © 2025 All Rights Reserved

The Sofia Opera House performs in Ankara on the occasion of the 100th anniversary of the Turkish Republic

Photo: Sofia Opera house

"Bulgaria greets Turkey: Happy Centenary of the Republic!" - is the motto of the gala tour of the Sofia Opera and Ballet in Ankara and Istanbul. 

The Bulgarian National Opera will present its production of "Tosca" by Giacomo Puccini. The tour is under the patronage of the First Ladies of Bulgaria and Turkey, Desislava Radeva and Emine Erdogan. 

The performance will take place tonight (8 November) at the Ankara State Opera and Ballet. On 11 November, the artists will demonstrate their exquisite mastery at the Atatürk Cultural Centre in Istanbul.

The choice of the opera Tosca is linked to the figure of the visionary, reformer and friend of Bulgaria Mustafa Kemal Atatürk, who, during his tenure as military attaché in Sofia (1913-1915), was actively involved in the cultural life of the Bulgarian capital and a regular spectator of the performances of the Bulgarian Opera Society. "Tosca was one of Atatürk's favourite operas, BTA recalls.

"Cultural diplomacy is one of the most powerful booster rockets of our foreign policy," said Bulgarian Ambassador to Turkey Angel Cholakov during a meeting at the BTA Press Club in Ankara dedicated to culture and education as a bridge between Bulgaria and Turkey.

In the archives of the BTA there are records of the memorable days of October and November 1923, when the foundations of the Turkish Republic were laid," said BTA General Director Kiril Valchev. He recalled that the Sofia Opera's tour to Turkey is entirely for charity, with the proceeds going to the areas affected by this year's devastating earthquakes.



Последвайте ни и в Google News Showcase, за да научите най-важното от деня!
Listen to the daily news from Bulgaria presented in "Bulgaria Today" podcast, available in Spotify.

More from category

Divna Shalich Lafchieva's "Homelands" and the message of how to be at home everywhere

They say that Divna Shalich Lafchieva was a woman with many homelands. Like the multifaceted nature of her soul, she was also a woman with many vocations. But the most important thing is that from the paths she has left her..

published on 3/23/25 8:51 PM

Naiden Todorov conducts opera gala in Prague with Angela Gheorghiu

The director of the Sofia Philharmonic Orchestra, Nayden Todorov, will conduct an opera gala in Prague tonight featuring renowned Romanian soloists. Soprano Angela Gheorghiu and tenor Teodor Ilincăi will perform arias and duets by Handel, Puccini,..

published on 3/23/25 5:49 PM
Margarit Tsanev – Margo

Artist Margarit Tsanev – Margo left this world with a flight

A young Bulgarian artist decided to leave this world in the middle of the past century in order to preserve his incorruptibility, even though he was defeated by the system on a purely physical level. Currently, in the gallery of the..

published on 3/19/25 9:37 PM