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

Cardinal Pierbattista Pizzaballa

The Latin Patriarch of Jerusalem is to give a lecture in Sofia

On 12 November at 5:30 p.m., Cardinal Pierbattista Pizzaballa, Latin Patriarch of Jerusalem, will give a lecture in the Marin Drinov Hall of the Bulgarian Academy of Sciences, at the invitation of the corresponding member of the Pontifical Committee for..

published on 11/12/25 8:45 AM

Bulgarian director Andrey Hadjivasilev leads film workshop in Havana

To mark the 65th anniversary of the Cuban animation studio Instituto Cubano del Arte e Industria Cinematográficos (ICAIC), Bulgarian director Andrey Hadjivasilev conducted a film workshop with students in Havana, the Bulgarian Embassy in Havana..

published on 11/11/25 4:50 PM
Николай Гяуров

Remembering basso Nicolai Ghiaurov

On this day five years ago (in 2020), a memorial plaque dedicated to the world-renowned Bulgarian bass Nicolai Ghiaurov (1929–2004) was unveiled in Modena. It was in this Italian city that the celebrated opera singer lived and worked from 1981 until his..

published on 11/11/25 8:05 AM