site.btaPresident Iotova Extends Greetings to Composer Mitko Shterev on His 80th Birthday

President Iliana Iotova has extended greetings to Bulgarian composer Mitko Shterev on his 80th birthday, the Press Secretariat of the head of State said.

In her address, Iotova said that Shterev remains an unsurpassed example of an expressive spirit, noting that he continues to inspire many of today’s young musicians and composers.

“With its inherent spirit of innovation, your music - insightful, sensitive, and moving - has remained close to the hearts of several generations of Bulgarians,” Iotova added. She highlighted Shterev’s original compositions and arrangements, as well as the landmark albums and concert performances of the band Diana Express, founded by Shterev, which have stood the test of time and remain embedded in the public memory, the Press Secretariat said.

The President expressed confidence that the well-deserved recognition and the love of generations of admirers will continue to bring Shterev "warmth and emotions."

Shterev (born 1946) is one of Bulgaria’s most prominent authors of popular and film music, according to the website of the Sofia Philharmonic. In 1974, he founded the band Diana Express and remained closely associated with it for the next decade, writing nearly all of the group’s music. He is also the author of numerous hit songs performed by renowned singers Lili Ivanova, Emil Dimitrov, Vasil Naydenov, and Margarita Hranova, among others. His songs have been released on vinyl records in Russia, the Czech Republic, Germany, France, the Netherlands, and Italy. In 1996, he was named Film Composer of the Century by the Union of Bulgarian Film Makers.