Radio Bulgaria

A concert by students from master’s class of violinist professor Mincho Minchev has marked the beginning of the 36th edition of the international Chamber Music Days Festival, which takes place until September 18th in Gabrovo. Musicians from Germany, Greece, Switzerland and Bulgaria take part in the festival, which includes 9 concerts in its programme. There is also an exhibition of the works of artists, taking part in the September plain air session in the nearby village of Bozhentsi.
Music director of the festival is conductor Ivan Stoyanov. He told us more about the programme of the festival.

“The festival aims at a broader audience this year and that is why we have included various art genres. There are two jazz concerts included in the programme as well as more popular classical works, in order to attract younger guests. Still, there are some truly avant-garde concerts, presenting pieces by 20th-century composers. Traditionally, our audience takes part in a poll that helps us choose our concerts. Thanks to this poll, frequent guests to our festival are Professor Mincho Minchev and the Sofia Soloists chamber ensemble. Swiss violinist Alexander Dubach is in Bulgaria for the third time. He is a fantastic musician and in Gabrovo this year he performed Paganini’s “24 Caprices for Solo Violin.” This has not happen in Bulgaria for the past 40 years. Violinist Dora Encheva Heinen and pianist Rada Chomakova also take part in the festival. Dora Encheva Heinen is married to composer Jeannot Heinen. Many of his works have been inspired by Bulgarian folklore.”

During the chamber music festival in Gabrovo the Quattro Elementi string quartet from Greece also had a concert. The trio Filomusica showed to Bulgarian audience what a chamber music concert two centuries ago looked like. Musicians in Filomusica are Krasimir Taskov – piano; Lora Marinov – violoncello and Devorina Gamalova – violin. 

The last concert of the programme of the festival in Gabrovo is actually the beginning of a new project. Hear more about it from conductor Ivan Stoyanov:
“I had the idea to present Bach’s works for piano in a single concert. Now we have decided to present Mozart’s concertos for one two and three pianos. A number of people think that Salieri poisoned Mozart but this is not true. It is true that Mozart had a fierce rival in Vienna, though and this was Czech composer Leopold Kozeluh. That is why I have decided to present Mozart’s concertos together with a work by his rival – a concert for piano and orchestra. I think this will be a good final to our festival.”

English version: Alexander Markov