On July 1, 2025, State Opera Stara Zagora celebrated its 100th anniversary. To mark the centennial of the first opera company established outside the capital city, the program featured ten premieres, performances by the Children's and Adolescents’ Studio for Opera and Ballet, repertoire productions featuring guest stars, exhibitions, discussion forums, and a grand concert at the Antique Forum “Augusta Traiana” as the highlight of the celebrations.

In the final days of August, the Stara Zagora Opera is launching a new summer music festival in the village of Ognyanovo, nestled in the western slopes of the Rhodope Mountains, known for its healing mineral waters used since the Roman times. Ognyanovo Classic Fest 2025 will be held on a specially built stage at one of the luxury hotels under the motto borrowed from the famous aria in Puccini's Tosca – “Vissi d’arte, vissi d’amore” (“I lived for art, I lived for love”). Organizers promise “classics under the stars—beauty, inspiration, shared emotions and harmony for body and soul.”

The new festival will offer a classical gala evening and a special children’s program, set against the backdrop of the beautiful natural surroundings. On August 23, “where the warm mineral springs awaken the senses and the Rhodopes whisper legends”,the guests of Ognyanovo will be treated to a festive program of popular opera and operetta arias, duets, ensembles and instrumental pieces.

The festival will feature young and charismatic soloists from the State Opera Stara Zagora, led by the remarkable Tamara Kalinkina— soloist at the Kyiv National Academic Operetta Theatre and the National Opera of Ukraine, winner of numerous international competitions, and guest performer on major stages across Europe, Asia and South America.

Also performing are Desi Stefanova, Boris Taskov, Momchil Karaivanov, Stoyan Buyukliev and Ivan Kabamitov. The Orchestra of the Stara Zagora Opera will be conducted by Viktor Krumov.

A special highlight is the appearance of young instrumentalist Maria Borislavova, a student at the Musikene Higher School of Music of the Basque Country in Spain, who will perform several classical guitar pieces.

The festival’s most important guests—the children—will be treated to a fun, interactive performance called “Percussion in Class.” It introduces young audiences to both familiar and lesser-known percussion instruments such as the vibraphone, glockenspiel, and even… a whip (slapstick)!

Edited by Tsvetana Toncheva

Photos: State Opera Stara Zagora; BTA-archive