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Wagner has been known in this country since 1983, when "Tannhäuser" starring Anna Tomova-Sintova was presented at the Sofia Opera, and at the State Opera-Stara Zagora in 1984 with "The Flying Dutchman". Among the audience was Evdokia Zdravkova-Khorozova, who performed Wagner's title role in Stara Zagora.
Maestro Kartalov's book was presented by d-p Klaus Biland editor of the magazine "Dоr Nоuо Aоgkor". The introductory words were of the publisher of the book Ivan Granitsky, who made a comparison with the work of Plamen Kartalov and the poet Geo Milev through the words of the famous Danish poet Emil Berharn, who said on the occasion of the work of Geo - "You are all ardour". Thus, Plamen Kartalov's name is also associated with his interpretation of the great composer Richard Wagner - with this fervor.
The book launch also featured excerpts from Wagner's brilliant touring productions abroad. In southern Germany, the press was emphatic - "Wagner is back in his birthplace". Ovations followed the productions at the Bolshoi Theatre and all over the world.
The presenter of the book emphasised Maestro Kartalov's integral style, where music and what happens on stage are one. Unlike the so-called "staged opera" in Western Europe, where the concept is of performances outside time and space.
"Thank you very much to the singers who created Wagner's titles at Sofia Opera and Ballet for 10 years! We created a Wagner School with only Bulgarian singers, for which I am especially proud. We worked all year on one of the titles to make it such a success. This summer we are going to present the 7th of the Wagner titles" - said Maestro Plamen Kartalov.
Plamen Kartalov creates impressive works by Bulgarian composers Pancho Vladigerov, Lyubomir Pipkov and Ivan Spasov.
On his initiative, spectacular open-air opera productions have been staged - "Ivaylo" by Marin Goleminov and "Tsar Kaloyan" by Pancho Vladigerov, staged on the "Stage of the Ages" at the historic fortress of Tsarevets in Veliko Tarnovo, the same historic site where the opera takes place.
On the occasion of the 400th anniversary of the birth of the art of opera (1997.), Plamen Kartalov created the "Opera on the Square" festival, which transformed Sofia's largest square, Alexander Batemberg Square, into a stage for large-scale outdoor opera performances, attracting opera audiences from all over the world ("Aida", "Attila", "Carmen", "Prince Igor", "Turandot", "The Barber of Seville", "The Marriage of Figaro", "The King and the Carpenter", "Madame Butterfly", etc.).). He also created the Opera in the Park summer festival.
In March 2009 he staged for the first time in Bulgaria the opera Don Quixote by Masne. Also, for the first time in Bulgaria, he realized his grandiose project - the realization of the genius tetralogy "The Ring of the Nibelung" by Richard Wagner, dedicated to the 200th anniversary of the composer's birth. Since 2010, he has staged one title from the cycle each year (Das Rheingold, Die Walküre, Siegfried), and in June 2013, after the premiere of Sunset of the Gods (22 May 2013), his productions of all the movements of the famous tetralogy were performed. "The Ring of the Nibelung was performed for the first time in Bulgaria and the Balkans and with its staging the Sofia Opera and Ballet joined the worldwide celebrations marking the 200th anniversary of Richard Wagner's birth.
As a guest director, he visited the USA, Egypt, Australia, Greece, Cyprus, Malta, Serbia, Croatia, North Macedonia, Romania, Poland, Czech Republic, Hungary, Turkey, Germany, Switzerland, Italy, Japan, etc. He has an extensive repertoire - he has set titles by Verdi, Puccini, Masne, Delibes, Ponchielli, Bizet and many other composers.
Photos Rad Dimitrov
