site.btaChoral Performances and Bulgaria Sings Format Highlight Second Night of Kamdzhalov Festival

The second evening of the Kamdzhalov Festival, held at the Damascena Ethnographic Complex near Pavel Banya, featured performances by the Smiling Stars Children's Choir and the Choir of the Musical Laboratory for the Human, conducted by Maya Vasileva, along with the Bulgaria Sings participatory format.

For Maestro Yordan Kamdzhalov, it is "the most interdisciplinary, broad-minded and democratic format, where the entire audience is invited to become co-creator and active participant."

From the stage of the open-air theatre, Maestro Kamdzhalov introduced the performers, praising the children's choir: "The Smiling Stars sing with an energy I have never heard before. I wish for more young people with their enthusiasm, drive, harmony, musical memory and radiant smiles."

The Choir of the Musical Laboratory for the Human, one of Bulgaria's largest mixed choirs, brings together a wide cross-section of talented individuals united by a passion for performing the great masterpieces of classical music.

The evening opened with a recital of a poem dedicated to the town of Kazanlak, centre of what is known as the Rose Valley, followed by the iconic song "A Bulgarian Rose". A special guest appearance was made by bagpiper Nikola Chetrokov from the southern town of Smolyan. The Smiling Stars from the Stremezh Innovative School in Sofia continued with more choral performances.

Both choirs came together for a moving rendition of "My Country, My Bulgaria". Following the performance, Maestro Kamdzhalov returned to the stage to invite the audience to join in the concert through the Bulgaria Sings format - an annual initiative held at symbolic cultural and historic landmarks across the country. The audience stood up and started singing from the very first notes of "High Blue Mountains".

Next up was the Choir of the Musical Laboratory for the Human. The evening concluded with another round of Bulgaria Sings, filling the stage and stands with voices.

On Sunday, the festival will culminate in a workshop led by Kamdzhalov and special guests.

The Kamdzhalov Festival in the Rose Valley opened on Friday with performances by the musicians of Genesis Orchestra under Kamdzhalov's baton. The programme featured both iconic and lesser-known classical works, and the evening concluded with the debut of Simona Stanoeva, Marina Marinova and Victoria Rizov from the new folk vocal formation IDNA.

The festival is organized by the Yordan Kamdzhalov Foundation and the Damascena Ethnographic Complex, and is planned to be held annually.