Stara Zagora Opera invites audiences to “On the Shores of Ancient Seuthopolis”

Beneath the tranquil surface of the Koprinka Reservoir, the ancient city of Seuthopolis, the capital of Thracian ruler Seuthes III, continues to live on. From August 27 to 30, 2026, for the sixth time, one of Bulgaria’s most spectacular open-air stages will bring music, theatre and dance to the shores of the submerged city.

The “On the Shores of Ancient Seuthopolis” festival was launched by the Stara Zagora State Opera in 2021, with the support of Kazanlak Municipality, as part of the traditional “Festivals in the Valley of the Thracian Kings”.

In previous years, audiences have applauded some of the most impressive productions by the Stara Zagora Opera, including Turandot, Carmen, Attila, The Pearl Fishers, Tsar Kaloyan and Nabucco, as well as the ballets Nestinarka and Ghetto, the operetta La Belle Hélène, the musicals Esmeralda, Notre Dame de Paris and Romeo and Juliet, the musical-theatrical fairy tale Beautiful Green Bird, and a series of symphonic and opera concerts.

Today, the festival has established a distinctive identity of its own, combining a diverse, multi-genre repertoire and spectacular productions with a unique sense of the millennia-old history of the site.

Each edition adds a new dimension to Kazanlak’s cultural map, transforming the shores of the Koprinka Reservoir into a stage with its own artistic identity. This year, “On the Shores of Ancient Seuthopolis” offers an intriguing programme featuring Bulgarian opera classics, a celebrated European operetta and a contemporary concert.

On August 27, audiences will be treated to The Madman (Lud Gidiya) by Bulgarian composer Parashkev Hadzhiev, inspired by the poem of the same name by Pencho Slaveykov. With its vivid characters, gripping plot and rich musical language, the work, which literally embodies the Bulgarian national spirit, is a natural choice for the shores of ancient Seuthopolis, where the legends and spirit of the Bulgarian land live on.

The production is conducted by Vladimir Boshnakov and directed by Alexander Moutafchievski. The leading roles of Iliya and Zornitsa are performed by Stoyan Buyukliev and Emilia Terzieva. Alongside the soloists, chorus and orchestra of the Stara Zagora State Opera, the production also features the Zagore Municipal Folklore Ensemble.

On August 29, the stage by the Koprinka Reservoir will welcome the elegant humour, beautiful melodies and festive spirit of Johann Strauss II’s sparkling operetta masterpiece Die Fledermaus, again conducted by Vladimir Boshnakov.

Conductor Vladimir Boshnakov focuses on young musicians and Bulgarian classics

The festival will conclude on August 30 with the concert Rock Swings, featuring Vasil Petrov, the orchestra of the Stara Zagora State Opera and guest performers, under the baton of Tsvetomir Vasilev.

The “Festivals in the Valley of the Thracian Kings” are among the most significant cultural events organised by Kazanlak Municipality. Every year, they bring together traditional and contemporary forms of various arts to promote the cultural heritage of the ancient Thracians.

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Edited by Tsvetana Toncheva