One of the most interesting concerts from the Salon of Arts programme is forthcoming in Hall № 6 of the National Palace of Culture. Three world-famous Bulgarian ladies who have dedicated their lives to music are meeting for the second time within a project called “New York-Stockholm-Sofia”. The premiere was in Stockholm in 2014. The title of the project indicates the cities in which the performers live and at the same time hints at the diversity of styles and ages presented by Elmira Darvarova - violin (New York), Antonina Boneva - piano (Sofia) and soprano Vyara Trendafilova (aka Vyara Trenda, Stockholm).

Days before their concert in Sofia, Ms. Darvarova received "The Golden Plume" - a prestigious Bulgarian award in the field of culture. This is just one of the reasons why we invited her to tell us more about her current and future plans:

"Since the beginning of the year it has been a veritable whirlwind of events in which "I lost myself " , says Elmira Darvarova. “So much so that when I wake up in the morning I do not even know which city I am in. In January I released a CD recorded with Japanese pianist Shoko Inue in Canada where she lives. Along with Sonata for Violin and Piano by César Franck and Spring Sonata by Beethoven, we also included romances of Clara Schumann. I have a soft spot for female composers. So I'm happy to have been able to "resurrect" a work by Amanda Meyer, a Swedish composer who worked with Brahms. The sonata that I will perform together with Antonina Boneva was first presented to the public in Stockholm. It had not been performed in over 100 years. I am truly happy to be presenting it in Sofia.

Earlier this year I participated in a project in New York called "Scheherazade". Musicians of the most elite orchestras in the US were invited and I was concertmaster. The idea underlying this project is that just as Scheherazade herself was able to delay and ultimately prevent violence, in the same way this can be achieved nowadays through dialogue and diplomacy. The concert took place in Carnegie Hall and I was the "leading lady" performing solos from the work by Rimsky-Korsakov of the same name and other works. I also have a CD and a concert program together with Aman and Ayan Ali Khan - two brothers who are "superstars". They are seventh generation classical musicians from India who play the sarod - a 19-stringed instrument. Together, we weave elements of the various traditions we were born into. They believe that the music of the East and of the West share the same DNA that has not been obliterated over the ages by the strict rules of Western baroque, classicism, etc. They also say that representatives of different traditions, nationality, sex, religion, are able to work together to demonstrate the beauty of music and the fact that art can resolve all differences. We recorded this project in India in March as the CD will accompany us on a world tour, which includes concerts over the next three years in the biggest musical centers."

Elmira Darvarova is proud to be among the artists who breathe new life into works by talented composers which have, for one reason or another, sunk into oblivion. The latest issue of the British magazine Gramophone which is just out, frontpages an article about the CD that she recorded with the Vienna Radio Orchestra - Violin Concerto by Vernon Duke also known as Vladimir Dukelsky.

“Once again this is "resurrected music”, Elmira Darvarova says. “Dukelsky who is Russian changed his name at the suggestion of George Gershwin. He is famous for his musicals written for Broadway and Hollywood. But he also has instrumental works, among them his Violin Concerto written 75 years ago for Jascha Heifetz. But the great violinist refused to pay the commission. So, the concerto was not recorded then and has remained in the archives for decades. I made the first recording of this work. The music is wonderful, very reminiscent of the style of Prokofiev who was Dukelsky's close friend. Actually, this concert has changed my life. I gave up my career as concertmaster after Vernon Duke's widow suggested that I record the work. She had kept the musical score for years in search of a soloist who would be able to convey her own idea of the work. Then I decided to devote myself entirely to concert and recording activity. That was about six years ago. Since then I have recorded six CDs, including this one. It was released at the end of 2014, and now critics are beginning to take notice of it. I am currently negotiating its presentation and there are plans to perform it with some of the greatest orchestras in the world.”

The audio file contains performances of Elmira Darvarova of the following works:

Spring in Buenos Aires by Astor Piazzola, piano Octavio Brunetti 

Romance 3 by Clara Schumann, piano Shoko Inue