Skopje, 9 May 2024 (MIA) — A premiere performance of Giuseppe Verdi's opera in four acts "The Troubadour" will open the 52nd May Opera Evenings at the National Opera and Ballet on Thursday evening. As is tradition, the festival will close with Verdi's "Aida" on May 31.

Described as a "symphony of love, revenge and destiny," the May Opera Evenings performance of "The Troubadur" is directed by Ivan Popovski and conducted by Enrico Dovico from Italy.

Tenor Zoran Sotirov plays the lead and mezzo-soprano Sanja Anastasija from Serbia plays Azucena. Other cast members include Marjan Jovanoski, Sandra Mitrovska, Vladimir Sazdovski, Dejan Stoev, Ana Rojdeva, Tihomir Jakimovski and Jane Dunimagloski, accompanied by the National Opera and Ballet choir and orchestra.

"The Troubadour" will have a reprise performance on May 11, with Ivan Eminovikj conducting. The set designer is Miodrag Tabachki from Serbia. Marija Pupuchevska is the costume designer and Sasha Evtimova is the choreographer.

On May 15, the festival will offer a performance of Pyotr Ilyich Tchaikovsky's "Sleeping Beauty" ballet, conducted by Nayer Nagui from Egypt and featuring soloists from Bulgaria.

On May 18, the Sofia Opera and Ballet will perform the Macedonian premiere of Richard Wagner's "The Valkyrie."

On May 23, Vesna Gjinovska Ilkova will appear in the leading role of Giacomo Puccini's "Tosca" accompanied by performers from Serbia and Romania.

On May 28, the Slovenian Chamber Music Theater will perform the contemporary a cappella chamber opera "The Wedding."

On May 31, Verdi's "Aida" will be conducted by Nimrod David Pfeffer from Israel. The performance will feature Austrian soprano Monika Medek as soloist, accompanied by opera singers from China, Italy and Bulgaria. The cast also includes Macedonian bass Igor Durlovski. mr/