The Institute of Art Studies at the Bulgarian Academy of Sciences and the State Opera – Stara Zagora were co-organisers of the Scientific Conference “The Opera and the City”

The Institute of Art Studies at the Bulgarian Academy of Sciences and the State Opera – Stara Zagora were co-organisers of the Scientific Conference "Opera and the City", dedicated to the 100th anniversary of the founding of the Stara Zagora Opera. It was held on 27 and 28 November 2025 at the Zahari Knyazheski Regional Library as part of the 55th Festival of Opera and Ballet Art – Stara Zagora. Assoc. Prof. Stefka Venkova, PhD, Scientific Secretary, who also read a congratulatory address on behalf of the Director Prof. Joanna Spassova-Dikova, PhD, Prof. Anelia Yaneva, DSc, Prof. Rozmary Statelova, DSc, Ch. Assist. Prof. Zornitsa Dimitrova, PhD, Stavri Angelov, PhD, and Desislava Hristova, doctoral student, took part on behalf of the Institute.
One of the initiators of the conference is Ch. Assist. Prof. Emilia Junic, PhD, who, in addition to the scientific staff of the Institute, is also part of the Stara Zagora Opera team. At the end of the conference, she, together with Lyubomir Kutin, organisational secretary of the Festival of Opera and Ballet Art – Stara Zagora, presented the exhibition "100 Years in 100 Frames".
In the two days, many issues related to the history of opera art in Bulgaria were presented and discussed, with various performance and interpretation problems, as well as the musical mastery of the soloists, choirs, and orchestra of the celebrated institution. Thanks to Nevena Koralova, excerpts from the BNT fund were screened with recordings of performances by the Stara Zagora Opera. The participants at the conference had the opportunity to attend the Opera Brass Ensemble's concert, conducted by Gabor Mesaros.