The 26th International Opera and Ballet Festival “Maria Bieșu” begins in Chisinau on September 7 and will last until September 16. This year’s edition consists of eight performances – four operas, three ballets and a gala concert that will close the event, IPN reports.

Minister of Education, Culture and Research Monica Babuc told a news conference that holding at the start of September one of the most important cultural events that was launched and shaped for 20 years by opera singer Maria Bieșu became a tradition. The festival is devoted to the lyric theatrical art and places the good music and valuable singers at the forefront.

Tenor Mihail Munteanu said that by this festival Maria Bieșu, who was his stage mate throughout life, continues to live. “It is an extraordinary moment. The performances are very interesting and the public each time is extraordinary,” stated the artist.

Nicolae Dohotaru, artistic director of the National Opera House “Maria Bieşu”, said many nice festivals are held in the Republic of Moldova, but the festival devoted to Maria Bieșu is something special for our culture.

The festival is opened by Giuseppe Verdi’s opera in four acts “Macbeth”. On September 8, there will be put on the ballet in three acts “Romeo and Juliet” by Sergey Prokofiev. On September 9, the public can see the opera in four acts “Boema” by Giacomo Puccini. On September 11, there will be presented Piotr Tchaikovsky’s ballet in three acts “Swan Lake”.

Georges Bizet’s opera in four acts “Carmen” will be staged on September 12, Domenico Cimarosa’s comic opera in two acts “Secret Marriage”- on September 14, Aram Haciaturian’s ballet in two acts “Spartacus” – on September 15. The September 16 gala concert will have Peruvian-Austrian singer Juan Diego Florez and Moldovan singer who settled in Vienna Valentina Naforniţă as the special guests.

All the performances start at 6:30pm. The International Opera and Ballet Festival “Maria Bieșu” is organized by the Ministry of Education, Culture and Research, the Union of Musicians and the National Opera House “Maria Bieşu” under the aegis of Prime Minister Pavel Filip.