Opera under the summer sky – “Stage of the Ages” at the Tsarevets Fortress

From July 3rd to September 10th, 2021 the most emblematic cultural event of Veliko Tarnovo – the summer opera festival “Stage of the Ages” will take place. Titles of operas from Stara Zagora, Varna, Sofia, Ruse, Vratsa, Plovdiv and the Konstantin Kisimov Music and Drama Theater – Veliko Tarnovo will be presented on an open stage in the Palace of the Bulgarian Kings – the Tsarevets Fortress.

For the first time within the festival, there will be a master class of the world opera prima Krasimira Stoyanova (August 21-23). Part of this year’s program is the “Stage of the Ages – a look to the Future” initiative, which is specifically aimed at young audiences and includes the participation of children’s groups. “Stage of the Ages – a look to the future” is the big surprise this year. For the first time on the big stage, the children’s school for classical ballet “Classica” – Veliko Tarnovo will perform “The Nutcracker” (July 5). “Bon-Bon Music” – Sofia will also take part in the festival with the musical “Cinderella” (July 23).

The opening of the festival will be on July 3rd with the latest and most impressive production of the ballet “Sleeping Beauty” to the music of Tchaikovsky by the State Opera – Stara Zagora. There will be two performances by the Tarnovo theater – Verdi’s “La Traviata” (July 16) and “Old Time Bulgarians” (September 10). For fans of classical music, there will be works by Bach and Mozart on two, three and four grand pianos, performed by “Baynov Piano Ensemble” (July 30). “Folklore and classics with the music of Georgi Andreev” (August 21) is a concert by the Symphony – Vratsa.

Tsarevets will also be the stage of two of Mozart’s emblematic works – “The Marriage of Figaro” (July 25) performed by the Ruse Opera and “The Magic Flute” (August 26) by the Theater and Music Production Center – Varna. On August 29th the Varna Theater and Music Production Center will perform “Man of La Mancha”. And on September 4th the Plovdiv State Opera and Poets Live will perform “Poets and Music”.

Traditionally, the accompanying festival program will be held at the Summer Theater and will include the concerts “Sting the opera” (June 30) by the State Opera – Stara Zagora, and the Military Big Band. “Let’s listen to cinema” (July 6) by Hilda Kazasyan and the Pleven Philharmonic and “Symphony way” (August 11) by Vasil Petrov and the Symphony – Vratsa.

The opera festival “Stage of the Ages” 2021 is organized by the Municipality of Veliko Tarnovo and is the winner of the prestigious label “Europe for festivals. Festivals for Europe “2020 – 2021 and for yet another year is part of the platform of the European Festival Association.