The Performance of Verdi’s Rigoletto, Greeted with Sincere Applause from the Audience, Formally Marked the Reopening of the National Theatre and the Continuation of the Artistic Season

On December 7 with Verdi’s operatic masterpiece Rigoletto, under the baton of conductor Stefan Zekić, the National Theatre in Belgrade reopened its doors to its loyal audience.

The reopening was met with exceptional interest, as demonstrated by the fact that tickets had been sold out days in advance.

At the end of the show, filled with deep emotional charge, dramatic tension, and Verdi’s powerful music, the delighted audience awarded the artists with several minutes of enthusiastic ovations.

Vuk Zekić and Nevena Đoković appeared for the first time in the leading roles of Rigoletto and Gilda. The ensemble also included Siniša Radin, Aleksandar Stamatović, Miloš Gašić, Anđela Simić, Pavle Žarkov, Darko Đorđević, Mihajlo Šljivić, Željka Zdjelar, Andreja Kalezić, Teodora Ilić, and Slobodan Živković.

Until the end of the month, our loyal audience can look forward to an exceptionally exciting programme featuring beloved opera, ballet, and drama performances. The timeless holiday classic - The Nutcracker ballet - which brings special joy to audiences of all ages every year, will have as many as eight performances. 

This magical title that became a traditional feature of New Year’s and Christmas holiday festivities, brings the magic eagerly awaited each year by many ballet and music lovers. With the magnificent music of Pyotr Ilyich Tchaikovsky, impressive choreography, and lavish costumes, this artistic spectacle offers an unforgettable experience and takes the audience into a world of dreams and imaginative stories.

The festive atmosphere will be further enriched by programmes intended for our youngest audience - the children’s opera Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs, as well as the gala concert New Year’s Musical Magic.

Also, at the end of the month, the return of Johann Strauss’s famous comic operetta Die Fledermaus (The Bat) is planned.

Thanks to its melodic richness, diverse orchestral colour, evocation of different atmospheres, comic characters, and lively stage play, Die Fledermaus has long earned the reputation of being one of the finest comic operettas. Strauss’s musical gem is also well known for its overture, which traditionally holds a place in the programme of the famous Vienna New Year’s Concert.

This month will also bring the premiere of the drama Madame Olga, based on the text by Milutin Bojić and directed by Jug Đorđević. The National Theatre is preparing this production in co-production with the National Theatre of the Republic of Srpska in Banja Luka, where the premiere is scheduled for December 10, while the Belgrade premiere will be held on December 24 on the “Raša Plaović” Stage.