site.btaUPDATED Poet, Composer, Singer Mihail Belchev Dies at 79

Singer, composer and poet Mihail Belchev has passed away at the age of 79, his wife Kristina Belcheva told BTA on Monday. Mihail Belchev was born on August 13, 1946, in Sofia. Among his most popular songs are Mladostta Si Otiva (Youth Is Fading), Ne Ostaryavay Lyubov (Don't Grow Old, My Love), Otkrovenie (Revelation), and Priyatelstvo (Friendship), among others.

He directed television productions and films, including the first television pantomime performance, Kragovrat. He also composed music for theatre productions and films. He served as Director of the Sofia City Library from 2008 to 2013.

Belchev was the author of the autobiographical book Closer and Closer to the Angel (2024). He was awarded the Order of Cyril and Methodius, First Class (1982), four first prizes from the Golden Orpheus festival (1969, 1984, 1990, 1998), and a lifetime achievement award from the same festival (1996). He was granted the title Honoured Artist in 1987. He was the first recipient of the Georgi Dzhagarov National Literary Award of the Union of Bulgarian Writers (July 14, 2004). He was also awarded the Order of Stara Planina, First Class (December 12, 2018), named Honorary Professor of the University of Library Studies and Information Technologies (May 25, 2021), and made an Honorary Citizen of Sofia (2004).

In a message of condolences to Belchev's family, President Iliana Iotova wrote: "We have lost Mihail Belchev, a profoundly rich personality whose multifaceted art left a mark on the cultural life of the country and on each of us. His works are experienced as something deeply personal. The deep soul of the renowned artist, from which flowed a source of lyricism, stories, melodies, and songs, expressed our emotions and inspired courage and faith in life, in love, and in humanity."