Folk singer Hristina Lyutova

published on 11/25/10 10:25 AM

Folk singer Hristina Lyutova

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In today’s program, we offer you one of Bulgaria’s best folk singers, Hristina Lyutova, who celebrated her 70th anniversary in 2010. Stay with us in the next 20 minutes to hear some of her best songs and a special interview she gave for Radio Bulgaria.

“I have been singing all my life” is the favorite phrase of many folk singers. In Hristina Lyutova’s case, this is paraphrased to: “I have never imagined that I will become a folk singer. But music has always been around me”.
Born in Smolyan on May 24, 1940, she lost her mother at an early age but always had the sound support of her family. One of her grandfathers, known as Lyutata, fought in the Ilindensko-Preobrajensko Uprising, and she has inherited his family name. She learned a lot of songs from her grandparents. A special place in her repertoire is devoted to by songs telling about historical events. Of course, in her rich repertoire once can find songs on various topics. She performs some of them with Rodopea Kaba trio.

You have just heard Bulgarian folk singer Hristina Lyutova and Rodopea Trio with the song “Maiden Todora”.
Hristina Lyutova who celebrated her 70th anniversary this year has given an interview for the listeners of Radio Bulgaria:

“When I look back at my life I see so many concerts, meetings, and experiences. These were good years that I will never forget. One of the most magnificent concerts for me was with conductor Zdravko Mihailov and the Big Bulgarian Voices choir held in the Sorbonne in Paris. I had not even dreamed of being able to sing among the statues of great world thinkers such as Jean-Jacques Rousseau, Robespierre, Danton, and others. I can still see the beautiful hall, the refined audience and the choir. Perhaps the most unusual concert venue where I have performed has been in France, in the Aven Armand cave named after its discoverer. Five hundred meters underground, more than 1,200 spectators, majestic stalactites and stalagmites and the incredible Rhodopean song Rufinka – I cannot forget the passion that I put in my performance. If I go even further back in time, I must say I decided to take up folk music professionally rather late. At high school, I studied melodies that were in fashion at the time. I loved Macedonian songs a lot that my grandfather used to sing to me. I was 20 when I heard that Rhodopa ensemble was looking for singers and I decided to audition”.

Hristina Lyutova’s life is an integral part of the life of her native town, Smolyan, where she spent decades singing and whose honorary citizen she is now. She was soloist also of other groups with which she toured the whole world – France, Cuba, the Netherlands, Russia, Greece, Mexico, Korea, Germany and many other countries.
Listen next to one of her iconic songs, You Old Mountain:

At the end of October, Hristina Lyutova celebrated her anniversary among friends and fans on the stage of the Smolyan-based Nikolay Haitov Theatre. Special guests at the event were Valya Balkanska, Slavei Quartet, soloists of Philip Kutev folk ensemble as well as Rhodopa folk ensemble from Smolyan.

Hristina Lyutova sang at the concert both as soloist and as part of the unique Rodopea Kaba trio. The trio is composed of Hristina Lyutova, her daughter Mariana and Sylvia Nenkova. The three singers with powerful alto voices lend a unique sound to their rich collection of classic Bulgarian folk songs.

Here is some more from Hristina Lyutova:

“I decided to set up the trio as an experiment but everyone who listens to us is really impressed. We sing as one person. We have our individual characteristic style. I do not like folk songs that have been translated into literary Bulgarian. The dialect in the Rhodope Mountain is interesting, people there sing as they speak. This specific feature has left its imprint on everything and we are obliged to preserve it as best as we can”, Hristina Lyutova says.

You have just heard a performance of Rodopea kaba trio and Hristina Lyutova.

With this, we have almost come to the end of today’s Timeout for Music on Radio Bulgaria, dedicated to the 70th anniversary of Bulgarian folk singer Hristina Lyutova. At the end, one more song of the renowned Bulgarian singer and her trio Rodopea.

Translated by: Rossitsa Petcova

По публикацията работи: Albena Bezovska

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Folk singer Hristina Lyutova

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