The International Opera and Ballet Festival “Maria Bieșu” will be held in Chisinau during September 8-25. The program this year includes four operas, two ballets and a gala concert that will involve invitees from ten countries. The event will be opened by the opera in four acts “Carmen” by Georges Bizet where soprano Valentina Nafornița will play the part of Micaela. Romanian soprano Ramona Zaharia will act the role of Carmen, while Jonathan Tetelman that of Don Jose, IPN reports.
On September 10, there will be presented the ballet in four acts “Swan Lake” by Pyotr Tchaikovsky. The part of Odetta is played by Ukrainian ballet dancer Iana Salenko. On September 11, the public will see Giacomo Puccini’s opera in three acts “Turandot”, with Hanying Tso from Italy starring in it.
On September 15, there will be shown the ballet in two acts “Giselle”, on September 18 - Giacomo Puccini’s opera in four acts “Boema”, while on September 22 the opera in four acts “Aida” by Giuseppe Verdi.
The gala concert on September 25 will feature Ukrainian artist Anna Litvinova and Romanian artists Florin Guzgă and Alexandru Constantin.
In a news conference, Minister of Culture Sergiu Prodan said that the 30th edition of the Festival is staged after a difficult pandemic period when activities in theater halls were restricted. “But the current war in the neighboring country also leaves a serious imprint on our economic and cultural life. However, this Festival exists and will definitely continue to exist,” stated the official.
Nicolae Dohotaru, artistic director of the National Opera and Ballet Theater “Maria Bieșu”, said that during the pandemic the Festival was held behind closed doors and was broadcast on TV only. The actors know what it is like to perform in the absence of spectators. But this method of holding the Festival also showed that the Festival was, is and will be.
Attending the news conference, Valentina Nafornița said it was an honor for her to sing at this Festival at home. “I want the public to realize how nice it is to have these great artists on the stage. It is very hard to bring them together in a theater outside such a cast. We were able to bring them together in our country. I’m delighted to sing again together with Jonathan Tetelman,” stated the soprano.
Romanian soprano Ramona Zaharia noted she would like this Festival to exist long and to reach its 130th edition. “It is important to be near arts and culture as only arts and culture can help us realize the situations witnessed in the world. Only this way can we get at the absolute truth,” said Ramona Zaharia.
The budget for organizing the Festival “Maria Bieșu” is about 2 million lei. Tickets are available from the ticket offices of the National Opera and Ballet Theater “Maria Bieșu” and online.
