“One of the challenges we faced was the selection of the appropriate repertoire that would suit the voices themselves,” Sashka Chenkova says. “Kalina Cholakova, Sofia Genova and Stefka Tomova have graduated music, whereas Hristina Yordanova, the lowest voice is a philologist with an intelligent grasp of music. The Abagar singers are very good and the rehearsals were few and far between but what I was very insistent about was friendship within the quartet, discipline and a strong bond with authentic folk songs. I have studied conducting with Stefan Moutafchiev at the Music Academy in Plovdiv and I have always liked his style. So, we turned to his music and in it the girls discovered their true style. Our first album called Going Well, released by Radio Shoumen to mark the 75^th anniversary of the Bulgarian National Radio included arrangements of works by Moutafchiev, Kyurkchiiski, Koutev and other renowned masters of authentic folk songs and church music.”

In these eight years the Abagar quartet has achieved a great deal in the artistic transformation of Bulgarian folklore. Their performances are imbued with youthful enthusiasm, originality, precision and elegance. The quartet won two gold medals at the Folklore without Borders international youth festival in 2008 and came third at the same prestigious forum in 2009. But Abagar have also been successful abroad – here is more from Sashka Chenkova:

“The first Abagar formation participated in the youth festival in Montchanin, France in 2007. The following year we took part in the folklore festival in Pori, Finland. There we met maestro Ognyan Vassilev, conductor of the local philharmonic. At his request we presented a short programme to the music community at the conservatory there. In 2010 we had a concert in the cathedral in Palau, Sardinia as part of the Isole che Parlano international art festival. We had some incredible meetings – with the participants from Cuba and the male quartet from Sardinia, we even took part in RAI 3 radio’s Christmas show. And evidently we were not forgotten as a year later we were invited to take part in the second international festival of ethno, modern music and jazz CHAMOIsic, 2011 in northern Italy. And the organizers included one of our songs in a CD compilation of the best of 2010-2012. Next, we traveled to the Festival of Science in Bydgoszcz, Poland in May 2012, where we took part in music therapy programmes. 2013 is a year we, the members of Abagar will remember – with its new formation the quartet had a concert tour at the invitation of the European Association of Folklore Festivals – we performed at three festivals in three different French towns. Next, we took part in the 47^th Montseveroux Nights: World of Music, Arts and Dance. The concerts were in an ancient castle – a cultural landmark adapted for concerts in summer. It is so wonderful to perform on stage with partners from all over the world.”

The very first tracks from the Going Well CD demonstrate the enormous potential Abagar quartet has and the response was not late in coming: “The best female vocal quartet I have ever heard and the prettiest girls! I wish them professional successes and many awards!” – Sasho Mitev from the St. Cyril and Methodius University in Skopje. “You are wonderful, Abagar! Your lovely voices, your exceptional synchronicity and your love of folk music warm my heart!” – Vanya Moneva, conductor of the Cosmic Voices choir.

English version: Milena Daynova