During the period of 4th till 13th of September, 2015 at the National Theatre of Opera and Ballet "Maria Bieșu" will take place one of the most prestigious cultural events of the Republic of Moldova - International Festival of Opera and Ballet "Maria Bieșu". The XXIII Edition of Festival is special and is dedicated to 80 anniversary of Prima Donna Maria Bieșu.

At the press conference organized by the Ministry of Culture today, September 2, 2015, the Minister of Culture Monica Babuc said the following: "The International Festival of Opera and Ballet "Maria Bieșu" is one of the cultural events having the highest importance in the cultural life of the Republic of Moldova, initiated by the Prima Donna, Diva of the lyrical stage from Moldova, Maria Bieșu who would have celebrated in this year 80 years. Only for this reason, we want to organize a splendid event which is an exceptional art". The official noted: "As homage for our Diva, we can bring at the Festival known names who will participate in these performances and come to mention the importance of the name Maria Bieșu in our national culture, but also to bring joy and pleasure of meeting lyric art-loving public of Moldova".

Current edition of the Festival is organized under the aegis of the Prime Minister Valeriu Streleţ, by  the Ministry of Culture of the Republic of Moldova, the National Theatre of Opera and Ballet "Maria Bieșu" and the Musicians Union of Moldova. General sponsor of the event is the "Edelweiss" Foundation, general partners - Orange Moldova and BC "Moldova Agroindbank" SA. The program will include seven performances with a high artistic content - four operas and three ballets, with the participation of virtuous of great scenes from Poland, Italy, Spain, Switzerland, Germany, Japan, Romania, Russia, Ukraine, Moldova, Belarus, Serbia, South Korea, USA, as well as artists from our country that have an impressive career abroad.

At the edition from this year, the Festival will have as guests a well-known soloists such as Valentina Naforniţă, soloist at State Opera from Vienna; Andrei Jilihovschi, soloist at Bolshoi Theater; Tadeusz Szlenkier, Poland; Luna Vittoria, South Korea; Dinu Tamazlâcaru, Germany; Olga Basil; Olga Chelpanov, Russia; Claudia Caia, Romania; Jennifer Davison, USA; Yuka Ebihara, Japan; Carlos Moreno, Germany; Sergey Polyakov, Switzerland; Dragana Radacovic, Serbia; Pavlo Tolstoy, Ukraine; Maxim Woitiul, Poland and conductors Andriy Yurkevych Alexandru Samoilă, Alexei Baklan, Nicolae Dohotaru, Dumitru Cârciumaru.

On the Festival, on September 9, will take place the premiere of the opera "Otello", by Giuseppe Verdi.

The virtual dialogue that forever will remain the golden voice of Moldova by singers of nowadays, who aspire to the same status will participate at the Gala Concert, that will close the Festival. The program of concert will be focused on evoking  of artistic biography of soprano Maria Bieşu and also in this spectacle will be launched a photo album dedicated to Prima Donna, published by the help of masters Aurelian Danilă and Mihai Potârniche.

Since September 1990, when it was inaugurated in Chişinău the First International Festival of Opera and Ballet Stars, entitled "Invite Maria Bieşu", music lovers had the opportunity to admire the most known talents of opera and ballet from the worldwide. This festival was initiated and cared for 20 editions, by one of the most brilliant star in the firmament of universal interpretative culture, the most loved opera voice, Maria Bieșu.

Today, the International Festival of Opera and Ballet "Maria Bieșu" became one of the main symbols of culture of the Republic of Moldova, but Chișinău - a capital of lyrical art that brings together on the same stage the best autochthon artists, but also artists from the whole world. Being event unique in its magnitude, especially longitude of its existence, the International Festival of Opera and Ballet "Maria Bieșu" each time could state the national culture and autochthon values.

 The program of the International Festival of Opera and Ballet ”Maria Bieşu”, edition XXIII