In August 2021, Bulgarian opera star Sonya Yoncheva, together with her team and partners, created a true musical celebration in the heart of Sofia. The Gala, which gathered nearly 6,000 people in front of the spiritual landmark of the Bulgarian capital – the St. Alexander Nevsky Cathedral – aimed to restore the nation’s pride and faith in culture after two years of hardship and restrictions due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
A special guest at this grand concert – which could have taken place in any European capital, but which Sonya insisted be held in Sofia – was none other than Plácido Domingo himself.
A film crew, led by director Emma Konstantinova and journalist Georgi Toshev, documented the entire process behind the making of this large-scale event, resulting in the release of the documentary Gala in Sofia.
The film captures rehearsals, exclusive behind-the-scenes moments, and interviews with both world-renowned artists, as well as several zarzuelas and arias by Verdi and Puccini performed by Sonya Yoncheva and Plácido Domingo at their joint concert, conducted by Maestro Nayden Todorov and accompanied by the Sofia Philharmonic Orchestra.
The film was produced by SY11 Events – the production company founded by the Bulgarian soprano – which is also behind the continuation of the project: Gala in Sofia 2025.
