site.btaUPDATED Sofia Music Weeks to Bring World-Class Musicians, Premieres and Cultural Bridges to Bulgaria

This year’s Sofia Music Weeks festival will feature internationally acclaimed performers, world and Bulgarian premieres, and celebrations of major musical anniversaries, organizers announced Tuesday. Culture Minister Evtim Miloshev praised the festival as a leading classical music event. “Investment in the Sofia Music Weeks festival is above all an investment in Bulgarian culture and international prestige,” the minister said during a press conference dedicated to the festival. Also attending were Sofia's Deputy Mayor for Culture and Tourism Irina Dakova, Prof. Momchil Georgiev from the festival team, and Maestro Nayden Todorov, conductor of the Sofia Philharmonic.

“At this moment, when for several days we have been caught up in the euphoria surrounding Eurovision Song Contest [and the Bulgarian win], my presence here is meant to show my respect both for classical music and for the broad field of Bulgarian culture,” said Culture Minister Evtim Miloshev.

According to him, the opening of the festival with a gala concert by performers from the Kabaivanska School at Bulgaria Hall, accompanied by the Sofia Philharmonic under the baton of Nayden Todorov on May 24, is a landmark event.

“I believe this is a highly significant and prestigious festival that enhances Bulgaria’s international standing,” the minister concluded. 

Irina Dakova, the Deputy Mayor for Culture and Tourism, noted that formats like this festival "are the foundation for generations of stars who have emerged from this concert hall". "We will open many conversations about the music scene, about music itself, about what is happening in Sofia, and about the cultural space in Sofia,” Dakova added.

The focus countries in this year’s edition of the festival are Armenia and Greece.

"I believe these cultural bridges are an important dialogue for our international relations," Dakova said.

Maestro Nayden Todorov explained that it is a tradition for the festival’s program to include performances by prestigious international musicians.

"This year, phenomenal performers from all over the world will once again be visiting," he said. One of the festival’s distinguished guests will be Kirill Petrenko, conductor of the Berlin Philharmonic.

"This is a concert we have been waiting 10 years to happen," Maestro Todorov said. Among the other international musicians included in the program are trumpeter Tine Thing Helseth, pianist Ivo Pogorelic, and conductors Michel Tabachnik and Christoph Eschenbach. The National Opera of China will perform Turandot at the National Palace of Culture on the occasion of the 100th anniversary of the premiere of Giacomo Puccini’s opera.

"These are some of the most impressive concerts the Sofia Philharmonic has ever had over the years," Maestro Todorov said.

The festival program includes "any kind of music you could wish for, including Bulgarian symphonic music, which has become less common lately," he added.

"We have tradition, and we also have a future, because once again we are a stage for young musicians - more than 15 laureates of Bulgarian and international competitions," said Prof. Momchil Georgiev of the festival team.

He highlighted the anniversaries of musicians and composers that will be celebrated at the festival, beginning with the 250th anniversary of the birth of E.T.A. Hoffmann, whose works will be performed on a Bulgarian stage for the first time.

"We are musical archaeologists; together with our colleagues, we uncover works that have never been performed before," Prof. Georgiev said.

Prof. Georgiev explained that there will be a premiere of a work by Krasimir Kyurkchiyski 15 years after his passing. In addition to Bulgarian premieres, there will also be world premieres of musical works.

"Bulgarian composers are in focus this year: Velislav Zaimov, Angel Kotev, and Lyubomir Denev are turning 75, while Tsvetan Dobrev and Emil Handjiev are turning 80," Prof. Georgiev listed some of the Bulgarian creators whose works will be performed. On June 6, a concert celebrating the 60th anniversary of the Vasil Arnaudov Chamber Choir will take place, conducted by Prof. Teodora Pavlovich.

The three featured artists in the Made in Bulgaria 2 series are Atanas Krastev (cello), Nadezhda Tsanova (piano), and Rosen Idealov (clarinet). They will participate in more than three concerts, Prof. Georgiev noted.

"Our featured artists are very important pioneers and advocates of contemporary music," he said.