Singer Mihaela Fileva to play Queen in 'Swan Lake' on her birthday

Bulgarian singer Mihaela Fileva, one of the country's best-known pop stars, is preparing to step into the world of classical ballet with a role in Swan Lake by the Stara Zagora State Opera. On May 15, Fileva will play the Queen at Sofia's National Palace of Culture alongside internationally recognised ballet dancers Anna Tsygankova and Giorgi Potskhishvili.

In social media posts, Fileva described the experience as "a completely new world" for her. She noted that the Queen is largely a mime role, though she said the challenge and excitement were still considerable.

Fileva has previously appeared in musical productions by the Stara Zagora State Opera, including as Esmeralda in The Hunchback of Notre-Dame and Juliet in Romeo and Juliet.

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The production is directed by prima ballerina Sylvia Tomova, artistic director of the Stara Zagora Opera ballet company, and preserves the classical choreography of Marius Petipa and Lev Ivanov.

The show premiered in 2017 and has toured successfully in the Netherlands and Germany over the past five years. Further performances in both countries are planned for late 2026 and early 2027.

Editing by Tsvetana Toncheva and Elena Karkalanova