site.btaSofia Opera Captivates Zagreb with "Die Walkure"

The audience at the Croatian National Theatre in Zagreb rewarded the Sofia Opera’s production of Wagner’s Die Walkure with prolonged applause and standing ovations, according to Croatian daily Vecernji List.

The review highlights the outstanding performances of the soloists, particularly Olafur Sigurdarson in the role of Wotan, and praises the impressive stage design and precisely directed staging by Plamen Kartaloff.

"Passionate fans of Richard Wagner certainly filled the auditorium of the Croatian National Theatre in Zagreb last night, where the artists of the Sofia Opera and Ballet delivered a spectacular performance of Die Walkure – a production that, under the direction of Plamen Kartaloff, has long become an international phenomenon," the newspaper writes.

"The audience’s response – extended applause and standing ovations – clearly showed their enchantment with the Sofia Opera’s performance."

According to the article, the overall impression was not only of an artistic triumph for the Sofia Opera and Ballet but also a valuable contribution to the Zagreb Opera Festival, affirming its importance on the European festival map.

The report also reveals that, thanks to the current leadership’s vision, Zagreb audiences will have the rare opportunity to enjoy two Wagner operas in a single season. Following Die Walkure, a new production of Tannhauser is expected to premiere in May 2026 – marking an artistic achievement unseen for decades at the Croatian National Theatre.

Die Walkure has become the crown jewel in the Sofia Opera and Ballet’s repertoire, Vecernji List notes.

Over the past 15 years, the Sofia Opera has built a unique, internationally recognized Wagnerian cycle, a vision that began in 2010 under the leadership of director Plamen Kartaloff, aiming to stage the full Ring cycle with Bulgarian soloists. "But it achieved far more," the publication continues, noting that the company has since won the hearts of audiences at prestigious venues such as Fussen (Germany), the Bolshoi Theatre (Moscow), the Teatro Verdi in Salerno (Italy), and in Skopje. Now, Zagreb joins this growing list of high-profile international engagements.

Vecernji List concludes by calling the Sofia Opera’s production of Die Walkure a true cultural phenomenon that continues to bring Wagner’s music closer to audiences across Europe.