The ninth "Opera of the Peaks" festival in Belogradchik pays tribute to Giacomo Puccini

The ninth edition of the "Opera of the Peaks" festival will be held from today until August 18, against the majestic backdrop of the Belogradchik cliffs. The festival is organised by the Sofia Opera.

The festival will begin with the opera Tosca on the occasion of the 165th anniversary of the birth of Italian composer Giacomo Puccini. Two other masterpieces - Madama Butterfly and Turandot - will be performed in his honour. The programme also includes Luigi Cherubini's opera Médée and the musical Mamma Mia! by Benny Andersson and Björn Ulvaeus.

The opening performance of Tosca will feature soprano Radostina Nikolaeva, Georgian tenor Mikheil Sheshaberidze, baritone Veselin Mihailov, young singers from the Children's Complex in Belogradchik, the Sofia Opera Orchestra and Choir conducted by Italian conductor Gianpaolo Mazzoli.