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sofia music weeks 2018

Sofia Music Weeks 2018 presents an outstanding selection of international artists, groups, and activities from around the world, brought together specifically for this international festival. It also offers people to experience new music and the opportunity to learn new instruments, including percussion instruments like the drums and the congas! The concert program for the 49th annual festival contains over 40 events with more than 500 performers from 18 countries taking the stage to entertain audiences in venues around the city. This truly shows how music has a massive impact on society, it is a language all can understand and appreciate. Blogs such as HooliganRocknRoll go more in-depth about music and the different genres that are out there for all to love if people want to up their music knowledge before attending these events.

The concerts are scheduled from 23 May to 6 July, with program highlights listed below. A parallel program featuring recitals, master classes, book signings, and other presentations and events accompanies the concert schedule to enrich the experience for all festival participants.

Each year the festival chooses emphases by group, genre, country and instrument. For Sofia Music Weeks 2018, the focus ensemble is the string quartet and the genre is choral music. Austria is the focus country and the focus instrument is the harp.

The program has been lengthened this year to encompass the last month of the Bulgarian Presidency of the Council of the European Union. Serendipity strikes in the selection of Austria as the focus country for the festival, since it will take over the presidency from Bulgaria on 1 July. Austria’s musical legacy is popular in Bulgaria and has been a source of enjoyment throughout the history of the Sofia Music Weeks.

Highlights Sofia Music Weeks 2018

The festival program includes World Premieres of works by Ivars Kaleis, Albena Petrovic-Vratchanska, Vassil Kazandjiev, Georgi Andreev, Gheorghi Arnaoudov, ?em Esen, Dora Draganova, Eremira Citaku, Yovcho Krushev, Yordan Dafov, Yordan Goshev, Stefan Dragostinov, Stoyan Babekov, Filip Pavlov, and Yuli Damyanov.

In addition, there will be Bulgarian Premieres of works by Debussy, in honor of his anniversary, and many others.

Book releases, new recordings, contests and seminars pepper the schedule of events.

Anniversaries Marked during Sofia Music Weeks 2018

Finally, each year a number of milestones from world musical history are remembered at the festival through concert performances and other activities. Some of the anniversaries to be marked at Sofia Music Weeks 2018 include:

  • 175 years since the birth of Edward Grieg
  • 125 years since the death of Peter Ilich Tchaikovsky
  • 100 years since the death of Claude Debussy
  • 110 years since the birth of Marin Goleminov
  • 90 years since the birth of Alexander Tanev

Sofia Music Weeks 2018 Programme

Date 23 May 2018 | Time 19:00 | Venue Bulgaria Hall

Festival Opening

Sofia Philharmonic Orchestra

Soloists:
Mintcho Mintchev – violin
Liliana Kehayova – violoncello

Conductor:
Mark Kadin

Program:
Rimsky-Korsakov, Marin Goleminov, Dvorzak, Tchaikovsky, Sergey Taneyev, Panayot Pipkov


Date 25 May 2018 | Time 19:00 | Venue Bulgaria Chamber Hall

Northern Lights

Nikolay Nikolov – viola
Daniela Dikova – piano

Program:
Toivo K?rki, J?nis Medi??,Ivars Kaleis, Tchaikovsky, Glinka, Glazunov, Shchedrin


Date 26 May 2018 | Time 19:00 | Venue Bulgaria Chamber Hall

Hommage a Debussy

Jenny Zaharieva – piano

Program:
24 preludes by Debussy


Date 27 May 2018 | Time 19:00 | Venue Bulgaria Chamber Hall

Sergei Redkin – piano (Russia)
Victoria Vassilenko – piano
Rossitsa Pavlova-Indzheva – mezzo soprano

Program:
Brahms, Rachmaninov, Prokofiev-Pletnev


Date 28 May 2018 | Time 19:00 | Venue Bulgaria Hall

The Pulse of Europe

Arena di Verona Quartet

Camerata Orphica NBU

Rafael Jenner – percussion (Austria)
Michael Publig – piano (Austria)
Mila Tsankova – flute
Margarita Kalcheva – double bass

Conductor:
Vladimir Kiradjiev

Program:
Verdi, Elgar, Respighi, Stefan Dragostinov, Michael Publig


Date 29 May 2018 | Time 19:00 | Venue Concert Hall of the National Academy of Music “Prof. Pancho Vladigerov”

Sofia Sinfonietta Orchestra

Soloists:
Nathan Groot – viola
Nikolai Jelazkov – piano
Georgi Georgiev – clarinet

Conductor:
Ricardo Averbach (Brazil)

Program:
Villa Lobos, Weber, Chopin, Yovcho Krushev, Yuli Damyanov


Date 30 May 2018 | Time 19:00 | Venue Bulgaria Chamber Hall

Sound Spaces

Rossen Idealov – clarinet
Georgita Boyadjieva – violoncello
Alexander Vassilenko – piano

Program:
Nino Rota, Vasil Kazandjiev, Yordan Dafov, Pierre Boulez, Alexander Zemlinski


Date 31 May 2018 | Time 19:00 | Venue Bulgaria Hall

Sofia Philharmonic Orchestra

Soloist:
Liya Petrova – violin

Conductor:
Horia Andreescu (Romania)

Program:
Brahms, Beethoven


Date 31 May 2018 | Time 19:00 | Venue Bulgaria Chamber Hall

30 Strings

Seasons Mandolin Quartet

Program:
Goleminov, Dobri Hristov, Parashkev Hadjiev, Tsenko Minkin, Slavcho Nikolov, Dora Draganova, Yasuo Kuwahara, Longin Yakubovski, Mario Machoki, Carlos Gardel


Date 1 June 2018 | Time 19:00 | Venue Bulgaria Chamber Hall

Mirror of the Imagination

Atanas Kourtev – piano

Program:
Works by Schumann


Date 2 June 2018 | Time 19:00 | Venue Concert Hall of the National Academy of Music “Prof. Pancho Vladigerov”

Spirit and Words

Celebrating 90 years since the birth of Alexander Tanev

Exhibition and presentation of CD album

Vassil Arnaoudov Sofia Chamber Choir

Pilekadone Woodwind Quintet

Solists:
Ines Simeonova – piano
Kiril Mihailov – trombone

Conductor:
Teodora Pavlovich


Date 3 June 2018 | Time 19:00 | Venue Bulgaria Hall

The Tenors of Raina Kabaivanska

Sofia Philharmonic Orchestra

Conductor:
Nayden Todorov

Svetoslav Obretenov National Philharmonic Choir

Conductor:
Slavil Dimitrov

Soloists:
Andrea Care (Italy)
Davide Ryu (South Korea)
Reynaldo Droz (Venezuela)

Program:
Opera Arias and Ensembles


Date 5 June 2018 | Time 19:00 | Venue Bulgaria Chamber Hall

Debussy

Kremena Acheva – flute
Angela Madjarova – harp
Valentin Gerov – viola

Program:
Works by Debussy


Date 6 June 2018 | Time 19:00 | Venue Bulgaria Chamber Hall

In a Classical Mood

Sofia Quartet

Program:
Mozart, Beethoven


Date 6 June 2018 | Time CANCELLED | Venue CANCELLED

Weep and Laugh Theater Stage
Love and Jealousy
Opera by Albena Petrovic-Vratchanska

Conductor:
Alex Sanso (Spain)

Director:
Elena Stoyanova

Staging:
State Opera Stara Zagora


Date 7 June 2018 | Time 19:00 | Venue Bulgaria Hall

Sofia Philharmonic Orchestra

Conductor:
Nayden Todorov

Svetoslav Obretenov National Philharmonic Choir

Conductor:
Slavil Dimitrov

Soloists:
Mila Georgieva – violin
Maria Tsvetkova-Madjarova – soprano
Olga Mihailova-Dinova – mezzo soprano
Ivailo Mihaylov – tenor
Plamen Kumpikov – bass

Program:
Mendelssohn, Karl Jenkins


Date 10 June 2018 | Time 11:00 | Venue concert Hall of the National Academy of Music “Prof. Pancho Vladigerov”

Unexpected Close-ups

Yaske Hosaka – piano (Japan)

Program:
Works by Pancho Vladigerov


Date 10 June 2018 | Time 19:00 | Venue Concert Hall of the National Academy of Music “Prof. Pancho Vladigerov”

Zefira Valova – violin
Vasilii Ilisavski – hammerklavier

Program:
Beethoven, Mendelssohn, Schubert, Weber


Date 11 June 2018 | Time 19:00 | Venue Polish Institute Hall

With kind assistance from the Polish Institute

?em Esen – piano (Turkey)

Program:
?em Esen, Liszt, Scriabin, Chopin


Date 12 June 2018 | Time 19:00 | Venue Bulgaria Chamber Hall

Choice of the Frosch String Quartet

Program:
Vassil Kazandjiev, Stravinsky, Dragomir Yossifov, Ligeti


Date 14 June 2018 | Time 19:00 | Venue Bulgaria Chamber Hall

Vienna Across Three Centuries

Iva Holzl-Nikolova – violin
Florian Krump?ck – piano (Austria)

Program:
Beethoven, Brahms, Karl Schiske, Erich Urbanner


Date 16 June 2018 | Time 19:00 | Venue Bulgaria Hall

Crossing Points

Chamber Orchestra Sofia Soloists

Soloists:
Krasimir Shterev – accordion
Georgi Vasilev – guitar
Atanas Krastev – violoncello

Conductor:
Plamen Djouroff

Program:
Boccherini, Grieg, Astor Piazzolla, Dobrinka Tabakova


Date 18 June 2018 | Time 19:00 | Venue Bulgaria Hall

Pleven Philharmonic Orchestra

Solists:
Bulent Evcil – flute (Turkey)
George Dimitrov – guitar

Conductor:
Yordan Kamdjalov

Program:
Briccialdi, Morlacchi, Carulli, Tchaikovsky


Date 10 June 2018 | Time 19:00 | Venue Concert Hall of the National Academy of Music “Prof. Pancho Vladigerov”

Eastern Dialogues

With kind assistance from the Zhejiang Conservatory of Music
(Hangzhou, China)

Faculty Wind Quintet from the Zhejiang Conservatory of Music


Date 19 June 2018 | Time 19:00 | Venue Concert Hall of the National Academy of Music “Prof. Pancho Vladigerov”

The Known, Unknown Composers

Sara Panosyan – violin
Maria Vasileva – violoncello
Dariya Yovcheva – piano
Martin Saveliev – clarinet

Program:
Lubomir Pipkov, Ivan Spassov, Lazar Nikolov, Johannes Maria Staud


Date 20 June 2018 | Time 19:00 | Venue Bulgaria Hall

Stars of Tomorrow

Soloists:
Students from the Prof. Pancho Vladigerov National Music Academy

Academic Symphony Orchestra

Conductors:
Viktor Krumov and Svetlin Hristov


Date 21 June 2018 | Time 19:00 | Venue Bulgaria Hall

Viva la Musica

50th Anniversary
Sofia Boys’ Choir

Conductor:
Adriana Blagoeva

Program:
Petko Staynov, Tekeliev, Filip Pavlov, Milko Kolarov, Liondev, Svetozar Rusinov,
Yacob Arcadelt, Saint-Saens, Andrew Lloyd Webber, Manuel Moreno Penella, David Eddleman

Presentation of a CD Album


Date 21 June 2018 | Time 19:00 | Venue Bulgaria Chamber Hall

“La Belle Epoque de la harpe III”

Suzanna Klintcharova – harp

with Georgi Valchev – violin

Program:
Marcel Turnie, Saint-Sa?ns, Alphonse Hasselmans, Philippe Hersant


Date 22 June 2018 | Time 19:00 | Venue Bulgaria Chamber Hall

With the kind assistance of the Embassy of Israel in Sofia

My Soul Adores Your Song

Shiri Hershkoviz – soprano (Israel)
Tomina Parvanova – harp
Atanas Krastev – violoncello
Mila Pavlova – flute

Program:
Purcell, Debussy, Delib, Ravel, William Meyer, Lubomir Pipkov


Date 22 June 2018 | Time 19:00 | Venue Central Army Club Hall

Celebrating 110 years since the birth of Marin Goleminov

Goleminov String Quartet


Date 23 June 2018 | Time 19:00 | Venue Bulgaria Chamber Hall

50th Anniversary
Polyphonia Chamber Choir

Conductor:
Ludmila Gerova

Program:
Marco Ingegneri, Yacobus Gallus, Orlando di Lasso, Salomone Rosi, Monteverdi, Handel, Schumann, Tchaikovsky, Debussy, Reimon Late, Tormis, Todor Popov, Ivelin Dimitrov


Date 24 June 2018 | Time 19:00 | Venue Concert Hall of the National Academy of Music “Prof. Pancho Vladigerov”

Muse and Fashion

Agnes Dankova – piano

Program:
Works by Nikolai Medtner


Date 25 June 2018 | Time 19:30 | Venue Bulgaria Hall

New Symphony Orchestra
Sofia Philharmonic Orchestra

Soloist: Georgi Valchev – violin

Conductor:
Petko Dimitrov

Program:
Sibelius, Rachmaninov


Date 26 June 2018 | Time 19:00 | Venue St. Alexander Nevsky Crypt Museum

To Thee We Sing

Philip Koutev National Ensemble
of Folk Songs and Dances Choir

Conductor:
Georgi Genov

Program:
Songs by Dobri Hristov, Petar Dinev, Kyurkchiysky, Tapkov, Yordan Goshev, Philip Koutev, Georgi Genov, Ivan Spassov


Date 26 June 2018 | Time 19:00 | Venue Bulgaria Chamber Hall

Keep the Flash

Jeta Citaku – soprano (Kosova)
Melos Buza – piano (Kosova)

Program:
Bellini, Bizet, Brahms, Verdi, Gounod, Catalani, Mozart, Schubert


Date 27 June 2018 | Time 19:00 | Venue Bulgaria Chamber Hall

Palette for Two

Piano duo:
Antonia Yordanova & Ivan Kyurkchiev

Program:
Mozart, Max Reger, Debussy, Stravinsky


Date 23 June 2018 | Time 19:00 | Venue National Palace of Culture, Hall 1

Sofia Philharmonic Orchestra
BNR Symphony Orchestra
Svetoslav Obretenov National Philharmonic Choir
BNR Mixed Choir, Children’s Philharmonic Choir
BNR Children’s Choir

Conductor:
Emil Tabakov

Program:
Gustav Mahler – Symphony No. 8


Parallel Program of Sofia Music Weeks 2018

Date 2 March 2018 | Time 19:00 | Venue Bulgaria Chamber Hall

Eremira Citaku – flute (Kosova)
Tatyana Bojko – piano

Program:
Carl Reinecke, Cesar Franck, Debussy, Poulenc


Date 2 April 2018 | Time 19:00 | Venue Hall of the Bulgarian Academy of Sciences

The Harp as Source of Inspiration

Concert of students from the master class of Prof. Suzanna Klintcharova

Program:
Harp Masterpieces of European Composers of the 16th-21st Centuries


Date 20 April 2018 | Time 19:00 | Venue Concert Hall of National Academy of Music “Prof. Pancho Vladigerov”

Trombonanza

Trombone Ensemble of the Guildhall School of Music
with participation by Bulgarian trombonists

Conductor:
Simon Wills


Date 10-12 May 2018 | Time Various | Venue Sofia Tech Park

“Music in Physics, Physics in Music”

Joint project of the European Organization for Nuclear Research CERN – Switzerland,
St. Kliment Ohridski Sofia University, the National Academy of Music “Prof. Pancho Vladigerov”, and the Sofia Science Festival


Date 10 May 2018 | Time 19:00 | Venue Sofia National Opera and Ballet

Giacomo Puccini – Turandot

Conductor:
Marco Zambelli

Staging:
State Opera – Rousse


Date 11 May 2018 | Time 19:00 | Venue Sofia National Opera and Ballet

Parashkev Hadjiev – A Madcap

Conductor:
Dimitar Kosev

Staging:
State Opera – Rousse


Date 15 May 2018 | Time 19:00 | Venue Aula of St. Kliment Ohridski Sofia University

85th Anniversary
Angel Manolov Academic choir

Conductor:
Darena Popova


Date 21 May 2018 | Time 19:30 | Venue Bulgaria Hall

Travelling Heroes

Pioneer Youth Philharmonic Orchestra

Conductor:
Lubomir Denev jr.

Program:
Vladigerov, Vesselin Stoyanov, Kyurkchiysky, Rossini, Lubomir Denev, Roumen Boyadjieff Jr., Bela Bartok


Date 28 May 2018 | Time 10:00-13:00 | Venue Lubomir Pipkov National Music School Hall

Alfred Binner First National Music Competition 2018

Awards:
two master violins made by the luthier Alfred Binner


Date 28 May 2018 | Time 17:30 | Venue Bulgaria Chamber Hall

Presentation of the book
The Composer Simo Lazarov’s World of Electronic Music
by Dr. Rossitza Becheva


Date 29 May 2018 | Time 20:30 | Venue National Academy of Music “Prof. Pancho Vladigerov”

Presentation of a CD album of recordings by the Seattle Symphony Orchestra,
conducted by Ricardo Averbach


Date 1 June 2018 | Time 13:00-19:00 | Venue National Academy of Music “Prof. Pancho Vladigerov”

International Conference
Music Education Management and Innovation


Date 8 June 2018 | Time 18:00 | Venue Bulgarian National Radio, Studio 2

Commemorating 25 years since the death of Elena Nicolai

Golden archive recordings:
Elena Nicolai sings Bulgarian folk songs


Date 16-17 June 2018 | Time 18:00 | Venue New Bulgarian University

Young Scientists’ Forum for Music and Dance
13th Scientific Conference of PhD and Postdoctoral candidates


Date 23 June 2018 | Time 20:30 | Venue Bulgaria Chamber Hall

Book Presentation
Ivelin Dimitrov and Polyphonia Chamber Choir


Date 6 July 2018 | Time 19:00 | Venue Hall 6, National Palace of Culture

Valentin Peytchinov – bass
Krasimir Taskov and Ganka Nedelcheva – piano

Dmitri Schostakovich – Symphony No. 13,
arranged by Viktor Derevyanko

Participating Artists at Sofia Music Weeks 2018

Sofia Music Weeks 2018 welcomes participants from Bulgaria and 18 other countries, including Austria, Brazil, China, Israel, Italy, Japan, Kosovo, Luxembourg, Netherlands, Romania, Russia, South Korea, Spain, Switzerland, Turkey, United Kingdom, United States, and Venezuela.

Operas and Orchestras:

State Opera – Rousse
State Opera – Stara Zagora
Pioneer Youth Philharmonic Orchestra
Sofia Sinfonietta Orchestra
New Symphony Orchestra
Pleven Philharmonic
Symphony Orchestra of the Bulgarian National Radio
Sofia Philharmonic Orchestra

Ensembles:

Pilekadone Woodwind Quintet
Chamber Orchestra Sofia Soloists
Piano duo Antonia Yordanova & Ivan Kyurkchiev
Seasons Mandolin Quartet
Arena di Verona Quartet
Goleminov String Quartet
Sofia Quartet
Frosch String Quartet
Guildhall School of Music (London) Trombone Ensemble

Choirs:

Angel Manolov Academic Choir
BNR Children’s Choir
Children’s Philharmonic Choir
Polyphonia Chamber Choir
Svetoslav Obretenov National Philharmonic Choir
Mixed Choir of the Bulgarian National Radio
Vassil Arnaoudov Sofia Chamber Choir
Sofia Boys Choir
Philip Koutev National Ensemble of Folk Songs and Dances Choir

Singers:

Andrea Care – tenor
Davide Ryu – tenor
Valentin Peytchinov – bass
Ivaylo Mihaylov – tenor
Jeta Citaku – soprano
Maria Tsvetkova-Madjarova – soprano
Olga Mihailova-Dinova – mezzo soprano
Plamen Kumpikov – bass
Reynaldo Droz – tenor
Shiri Hershkoviz – soprano

Conductors:

Adriana Blagoeva
Alex Sanso
Vladimir Kiradjiev
Georgi Genov
Darna Popova
Dimitar Kossev
Emil Tabakov
Yordan Kamdjalov
Lubomir Denev, junior
Ludmila Gerova
Mark Kadin
Marco Zambelli
Nayden Todorov
Petko Dimitrov
Plamen Djouroff
Ricardo Averbah
Simon Wills
Slavil Dimitrov
Teodora Pavlovich

Soloists:

Agnes Dankova – piano
Alexander Vassilenko – piano
Angela Madjarova – harp
Atanas Krastev – violoncello
Atanas Kourtev – piano
Bulent Evcil – flute
Valentin Gerov – viola
Vasilii Ilisavski – piano
Victoria Vassilenko – piano
Ganka Nedelcheva – piano
Georgiya Boyadzhieva – cello
Georgi Vassilev – guitar
Georgi Valchev – violin
Georgi Georgiev – clarinet
Georgi Dimitrov – guitar
Daniela Dikova – piano
Daria Yovcheva – piano
Eremira Citaku – flute
Jenny Zaharieva – piano
Joan Marti Frascier – saxophone
Zefira Valova – violin
Iva Nikolova – violin
Ines Simeonova – piano
Kiril Mihaylov – trombone
Krassimir Taskov – piano
Krassimir Shterev – Accordion
Kremena Acheva – flute
Liliana Kehayova – cello
Margarita Kalcheva – double bass
Maria Vassileva – cello
Martin Saveliev – clarinet
Melos Buza – piano
Mila Georgieva – violin
Mila Pavlova – flute
Mila Tsankova – flute
Mintcho Mintchev – violin
Michael Publig – piano
Nathan Groot – viola
Nikolay Zhelyazkov – piano
Nikolay Nikolov – viola
Rafael Jenner – percussion instruments
Rossen Idealov – Clarinet
Sara Panosyan – violin
Sergey Redkin – piano
Suzanna Klintcharova – harp
Tatyana Bojko – piano
Tomina Parvanova – harp
Florian Krumpock – piano
Yaske Hosaka – piano

Sofia Music Weeks 2018 Information