site.btaBulgarian National Radio Symphony Orchestra Opens New Season with Symbolic Protest

Opening its season with a concert at Sofia's Bulgaria Hall on Wednesday evening, the musicians of the Bulgarian National Radio Symphony Orchestra performed in bright yellow vests over their traditional black concert attire in sign of protest against poor conditions and pay.

Addressing the audience, the musicians said that their demands for decent pay have been ignored for two years. They noted that they would play the full programme so as not to disappoint the attendees.

The orchestra's conductor, Konstantin Ilievski, also joined the protest, wearing a yellow vest on stage.

An open letter was read from the stage by Gergana Miltenova of the BNR choir, who said that their work was being greatly downplayed and devalued.

"We remind those in power that we also have children and families to feed. We also feed the souls of the audience, and in order to continue doing so, those in power must take care of us," she said.

Miltenova described the situation of the BNR musical ensembles as "disgraceful on a global scale."

The concert went ahead with Krassimir Taskov’s Festival, Guillaume Connesson’s concerto for folk instruments and orchestra, and Gustav Mahler’s Symphony No. 1.