Description of the attraction
The National Opera and Ballet Theater of Bulgaria begins its history in 1890. Then the first opera house was formed in Sofia, included in the Metropolitan Opera and Theater Company. A year later, the collective at the theater independently split into two troupes - opera and drama. However, in this capacity, they did not last long. This was due to insufficient funding and a small payback, which forced the company to cease its activities.
Opera art reappeared in the Bulgarian capital almost 20 years later - in 1908, when the Bulgarian Opera Society was formed. On the stage of the National Theater, for the first time, residents and guests of the capital saw excerpts from the operas "Troubadour" by Verdi and "Faust" by Gounod.
In 1909 the partnership presented the full-length opera Pagliacci by Leoncavallo. The successful premiere gave a start to the active and constant activity of the Sofia Opera Company. Following the world classics, the most significant works of Bulgarian composers were presented to the public. Thus, during the theatrical season, the opera troupe created, excluding symphony concerts, about 10 new productions.
In 1922, the Bulgarian Opera House received national status. The first ballet performance was presented in 1928, which was the reason to officially expand the name to the "Theater of Opera and Ballet".
The creative path of many outstanding world-famous artists began on the stage of the Sofia theater. Among them: N. Gyaurov, I. Petkova, N. Guselev, G. Dimitrova. The activity of the theater was interrupted only during the Second World War due to the bombing of the capital.
In the 21st century, the Bulgarian Opera and Ballet Theater strives not only to preserve the achievements of national art, but also to maintain public interest in the best examples of national culture.
The Easter Festival is held annually on the stage of the Sofia Opera House, during which famous and novice composers from Bulgaria are invited for a gala performance. Also in 2000, the management of the theater resumed holding the B. Christophe International Competition.
