Crystal Palace Premiere in Bulgaria

CMDI is proud to present the Bulgarian premiere of the acclaimed contemporary ballet, Crystal Palace, which will be staged at the State Opera Stara Zagora across October 2023, March 2024, and May 2024. The production will mark the first presentation of this internationally celebrated ballet in Bulgaria, establishing the work as a new highlight within the country’s cultural season.

Originally premiered in Malta in 2017, Crystal Palace is based on the evocative music of composer Alexey Shor and tells the extraordinary true story of Empress Anna Ioannovna’s 18th-century ice palace and the dramatic events surrounding it. Blending historic narrative with contemporary choreography, the ballet has earned a reputation for its vivid theatricality, emotional depth, and striking visual identity.

The Bulgarian premiere will see performances on the 12th and 13th October 2023, 7th and 8th March 2024, and 11th May 2024. It features choreography by Ekaterina Mironova, staging and editing by Aneliya Dimitrova and Romina Slavova, musical direction by conductor Viktor Krumov, and visual design by Denis Ivanov. The cast will be led by the soloists and corps de ballet of the Stara Zagora State Opera, supported by the theatre’s full orchestra, with a special vocal appearance by soprano Desi Stefanova.