Ohrid, 12 July 2023 (MIA) - Opera diva Angela Gheorghiu, accompanied by the orchestra of the National Opera and Ballet, conducted by Ciprian Teodorașcu from Romania, will open this year’s 63rd edition of the Ohrid Summer Festival on Wednesday evening at the Ancient Theatre in Ohrid.

Angela Gheorghiu is considered the most glamorous opera star. Her beautiful voice makes the stage shine wherever she performs around the world. She is counted among the best performers in the history of opera, with exceptional vocals, technique and deep dramatic and musical intelligence.

Ohrid Summer Festival, where art-lovers will indulge in 34 concerts, 7 theatre performances, ballet, a photo exhibition, and book promotions, will last until August 20.

The stages of the Ancient Theater, Dolni Saraj, the Church of Saint Sophia, and the Cultural Center will welcome more than 1,000 artists from Serbia, Czech Republic, Italy, Slovenia, Poland, France, Turkey, Israel, USA, Ukraine, Spain, Montenegro, Greece, Germany, Romania, Portugal, Egypt, Russia and North Macedonia.

Among the world-famous names, violinist Nemanja Radulović, Double Sense orchestra, jazz trio and dance recital by Frank Dupree, violinist Irina Muresanu with FAMES orchestra, Niš chamber orchestra Concertante, clarinetist Pablo Barragán along with pianist Eloïse Bella Kohn, ensamble La Spagna, ensamble Camerata Academica from Slovenia, violinist Roman Simovic, pianist Alexey Botvinov, concert by Joseph Tawadros, and many others will take the stage.

Among local artists, the audience will have the opportunity to listen to pianists Dino Imeri, Mimoza Kjekja with individual recitals, the piano duo Gelebeshevi, trio Aura, a traditional concert by the Macedonian Musical Youth, a wind trio with flutist Ilija Zimbo, and on the last day, the Pro Ars choir with Sasho Tatarchevski as conductor will perform a newly created piece by professor Zhivojin Glishikj titled '12 Months'.

On 4 August, Joana Amendoeira, Pedro Amendoeira, and João Felipe will perform fado music for the festival's birthday celebration," Chadlovska informed.

The Ohrid Summer Festival will bring one of the greatest acting names of all time John Malkovich, on 26 July, with the play 'The Infernal Comedy: Confessions of a Serial Killer' directed by Michael Struminger, while 'Anna Karenina' will be performed on 29 July, by Újvidéki Színház Novi Sad theater, directed by Dejan Pojkovski.

The festival program also includes the premiere of Christopher Marlowe's 'Edward II' performed by the Jordan Hadzi Konstantinov- Dzinot theatre, directed by the Ukrainian director Andriy Zholdak. The Ohrid National Theatre will perform Dimitri Danailov's 'Serjozha e tup,' with Dajana Nikolovska as director. The Vojdan Chernodrinski Prilep Theatre will perform Giovanni Boccaccio’s greatest literary works The Decameron, dramatized by Lidija Mitoska-Gjorgjievska, directed by Martin Kochovski.

The biggest regional stars, actor Miloš Biković with Florian Zeller's play The Lie, along with Tamara Krcunović, Miodrag Radonjić, and Jelisaveta Teodosić, directed by Nikola Ljuca, and produced by the Belgrade Drama Theater, will close the festival.

The renowned international festival Ohrid Summer was founded in 1961 and is held every year in the period from July 12 to August 20 in Ohrid, under the auspices of the President of the Republic of North Macedonia, with financial support from the Ministry of Culture, the local self-government, as well as numerous sponsors and donors.

Since 1994, Ohrid Summer Festival has been a member of the European Festival Association (EFA), which connects about 200 festival and festival associations in 40 countries.

Photo: MIA