General manager Iva Hraste-Sočo appointed vice-president of Opera Europa at the annual conference in BarcelonaFrom the theatre — 18. March 2025.
From March 15 to 18, 2025 the Spring conference of Opera Europa, the largest association of opera companies and festivals in Europe that gathers together 240 opera theatres from 46 countries is taking place in Barcelona.
On Monday, March 17, 2025, within the General Assembly of the association, Iva Hraste-Sočo, PhD, the general manager of the Croatian National Theatre in Zagreb was appointed the vice-president of Opera Europa. This appointment comes after one year of her being a member of the Executive Board of Opera Europe with which the CNT in Zagreb additionally determined its reputation and influence in the European opera community. The appointment of Dr Iva Hraste-Sočo as vice-president of Opera Europa presents the highest rank any Croatian member had until now, i.e. the general manager of our national theatre in this significant international association.
It is a great honour to be appointed vice-president of Opera Europa, the respectable association that plays a significant role in shaping the future of opera on the European level. This appointment confirms the importance of the Croatian National Theatre in Zagreb in international theatre circles, but it is also an opportunity to contribute even more to the development of the European opera stage. I am looking forward to working with my European colleagues on the strengthening and innovating the opera stage said Dr. Iva Hraste-Sočo.
Along participating in the conference, the CNT in Zagreb presented itself in the artistic and educational part of the program. The young tenor Filip Filipović, soloist of the CNT in Zagreb participated in the recital of young artists, presenting the Croatian opera stage among rising singers from all over Europe. Also, he took part in the panel on young artists and managers, where together with his colleagues from other European theatres spoke about the challenges and prospects of creating an opera career in the current theatre environment.
Along the main part of the conference, between March 13 to 15, 2025, Barcelona hosted Opera Management Step Up, a specialised educational program intended for young opera managers. Mario Gigović, director of the Office of Creative production of the CNT in Zagreb participated in this program led by prominent experts.
The participation of the CNT in Zagreb at this conference additionally contributes to the international recognisability of the Zagreb Opera and the active role this national theatre has in shaping the European opera stage.
