Simeona Gerdzhikova

Sofia National Opera and Ballet

Sofia National Opera and Ballet in brief - 1908 – A resident chorus was established - 1909 – First performance of an entire opera was given – Pagliacci by Leoncavallo - 1920 – The first resident orchestra was established - 1923 The company "Opera Fellowship" became a State organization under the name of National Opera - 1928 – First independent ballet performance Coppélia, set by Atanas Petrov - founder of professional ballet in Bulgaria - 1923 – 1944 – Intensive development of the institution with over 100 performers - 1944 – 1989 – socialist times: creative exchange with the USSR and other socialist countries - 1989 – present – contemporary management of Sofia Opera and Ballet: - First tours in the USA and Japan, first participations in music forums in Switzerland, Greece, Turkey, etc, guest performances in Füssen, Germany; Minsk, Belarus, etc. - Guest performers and new members in the ballet company from Japan, the UK, Italy, France, Switzerland, Moldova and Albania - The Easter Festival and the Christmas Soirees became traditional as well as the New Year performances and concerts – A glass of champagne at the opera house, summer opera performances at outdoor stages, chamber performances, performances for children and babies. For more information: https://www.operasofia.bg/en/about-us/history