With a full house and international soloists, Plevens celebrated the 85th anniversary of the birth of opera prima Gena Dimitrova at the Ivan Radoev Drama-Puppet Theatre. Born in Beglez, a village near Plevens, Dimitrova performed on some of the world's largest stages and always remained connected to her birthplace. The concert-performance, "In the Temple of Opera," was organized by the Municipality of Plevens in collaboration with the Gena Dimitrova Community Choir, conducted by Anelia Decheva, and the Regional Historical Museum, which arranged an accompanying exhibition detailing Dimitrova's life and career.

International Soloists Attend

Two of Gena Dimitrova's internationally renowned students personally attended the event and performed in the concert: soprano Gabriela Georgieva, a soloist at the Sofia Opera, and tenor Ivan Momirov, a soloist in prestigious international venues. Momirov made his first appearance on a Plevens stage. The evening was hosted by another internationally renowned opera singer, Milena Yotova, who had performed with the unforgettable Gena Dimitrova. Pianist Mariana Mircheva also took part. Among those present were Milena Stoikova, Dimitrova's adopted niece, and residents of Beglez, along with Mayor Georgi Danov.

Program and Exhibition

The concert program included arias and choruses from operas in which Dimitrova had played central roles, leaving a lasting impression on her global career, such as "Nabucco," "Macbeth," "The Troubadour," "The Lombards," and "Aida" by Giuseppe Verdi, "Tosca" and "Turandot" by Giacomo Puccini, and "Norma" by Vincenzo Bellini. Conductor Anelia Decheva and pianist Mariana Mircheva provided the musical accompaniment. During the multimedia performance, clips from interviews with Gena Dimitrova and scenes from her emblematic roles performed on world stages were shown.

At the end of the performance, an art donation was announced for the Municipality of Plevens by artist Boyana Petkova, who drew a portrait of Gena Dimitrova. The donation was accepted by Deputy Mayor Dr. Pavlina Kirova. Before the performance, visitors had the opportunity to view the exhibition in the foyer of the theatre, which traces Dimitrova's life and career. The exhibition will remain accessible for visits until May 27, 2026.