COUNTESS MARITZA

OPERETTA

"Countess Maritza" by Imre Kálmán, hailed by critics as a "pearl of operetta classics," comes to life on the stage of the Ruse State Opera in a production by the star of Bulgarian operetta, Alexander Mutafchiyski.

Love and passion know no barriers; they do not yield to prejudice. This timeless truth is revealed and conveyed by Imre Kálmán in his brilliant and much-loved operetta, Countess Maritza. Created exactly 100 years ago—its premiere took place at Vienna’s Theater an der Wien on February 28, 1924—it is rightly regarded as one of the brightest examples of the operetta genre. It is no coincidence that the great Hungarian composer is recognized as the "King of Operetta," and his works are undisputed models of New Viennese operetta, characterized by a highly dramatic conflict of love and social class, which intensifies sharply in the finale of the second act and is resolved in an unexpectedly happy ending at the close of the performance.

Conductor: Dimitar Kosev Director: Alexander Mutafchiyski Chorus Master: Stelyana Dimitrova-Hernani Scenography: Denis Ivanov Costumes: Yana Dvoretska Choreography: Natalia Osipova

Cast: Countess Maritza – Teodora Chukurska Prince Moritz Dragomir Populescu – Stoyan Stoyandzhov Baron Koloman Zsupan – Ivan Penchev Count Tassilo Endrödy-Wittenburg – Petar Kostov Lisa – Gloria Pencheva Manya – Kremena Gancheva Princess Bozena – Asya Ruseva Cseko – Dimitar Kyurkchiev Penyichek – Stilyan Tsvetkov

Chorus, ballet and orchestra of the Ruse State Opera