Skopje, 25 June 2025 (MIA) -- The National Opera and Ballet is staging a new production of "Madame Bovary" starring prima ballerina Marija Kichevska Shokarovska, who is celebrating her career's 25th anniversary this year.

According to organizers, Kichevska Shokarovska's dedication and her energetic, emotional performances have left a lasting mark on Macedonian ballet.

Inspired by Gustave Flaubert's novel, "Madame Bovary" is a story of a woman's yearning for passion beyond her mundane reality, ultimately resulting in her tragic downfall.

In addition to Kichevska Shokarovska as Emma Bovary, the cast includes Francisco Giménez Ruiz as Charles Bovary, Balázs Lőcsei as Rodolphe Boulanger, Dmytro Chebotar as Monsieur Lheureux and Andrew Cook as Monsieur Homais. They are accompanied by the National Opera Ballet dancers and orchestra.

The ballet is set to music pieces by Camille Saint-Saëns, Maurice Ravel, Jules Massenet, Felix Mendelssohn and George Frideric Handel. Armenian conductor Eduard Ambartsumyan will conduct the orchestra. The concertmaster is Kliment Todorovski.

The ballet was choreographed by Victor Ishchuk of Ukraine. The set and the costumes were designed by Andrey Zlobin and Gana Ipatieva, also of Ukraine.

 A repeat performance is scheduled for June 27 at 8 pm. mr/