The 5th edition of the Masterpiece of World Opera was undoubtedly, one of the most valuable and glamorous cultural events, held at the end of the European Year of Cultural Heritage
on the occasion of the Christmas holidays at the Sofia Opera and Ballet on the 5th of December. An invitation to the event, organized and sponsored by the Italian Chamber of Commerce in Bulgaria celebrating its 15th anniversary, was shared by its president, Mr. Marco Montecchi. The concert took place under the patronage of H. E. Mr. Camillo Zuccoli, Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of the Northern Maltese Order, and H. E. Mr. Stefano Baldi, Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of the Italian Republic, with the assistance of the Sofia Opera and Ballet. The event was charitable - the proceeds of the tickets were for charity, humanitarian and hospital initiatives backed by the Embassy of the Sovereign Maltese Order in Bulgaria.
At the beginning of the concert, the national hymns and Christmas songs were performed by our famous Children's Choir "Bodra Smyana" together with the opera stars. And then, under the leadership of maestro Giuseppe Sabbatini, the Sofia Philharmonic Orchestra, the people and the soloists made fascinating performances of overtures and arias from the works of the great masters of the world opera like: Gioacchino Rossini, whose 150th death anniversary is marked this year, Giuseppe Verdi, Giacomo Puccini, Pietro Mascagni...