In Radio Bulgaria’s Timeout for Music we will mark the 100th birth anniversary of conductor Vassil Stefanov.

The Shumen-born musician took over his path in music as a violinist. His father gave him the first and most precious lessons, as he used to be a cellist and a high school music teacher. Vassil Stefanov graduated the Music Academy and in the meantime he became a bandmaster assistant with the Academy Symphonic Orchestra and later on with the Tsar’s one. Here is what composer Alexander Raichev said on him: “I know Vassil from the period, when he played with the Tsar’s Symphonic Orchestra. We have many talented musicians nowadays, but Vassil Stefanov is for sure the concert master of Bulgarian performing art. After 1944 he became a skillful leader at the newly established Radio Orchestra.” Being a violinist, Vassil used to play as a soloist and performed chamber music, together with the most renowned Bulgarian instrumentalists. Listen now to one of his marvelous recordings from the Gold Archive of the BNR. He is the violinist, while famous instrumentalist and professor with the Music Academy Konstantin Popov plays the cello. Great pianist Lyuba Encheva also takes part in this fragment of Beethoven’s piano trio – Allegro con brio.

We heard a recording of Beethoven’s piano trio, made back in the 1950s. Over the next years Vassil Stefanov gained more and more confidence as a conductor. He received his chance and unexpected support with the possibility to specialize abroad with famous Czech conductor Vaclav Talich /1947/. Upon his return to Bulgaria he became second conductor of the Sofia Philharmonic Orchestra. For a while he took over the State Radio Orchestra, which became his orchestra as of 1954 up to the end of his life. Great opera singer Raina Kabaivanska wrote word of admiration in the orchestra’s honorary book in 1969, followed by composer Marin Goleminov. Listen next to Presto from Alexander Raichev’s Symphony No 2 in the rendition of the Sofia Philharmonic Orchestra, Vassil Stefanov is the conductor. Back in those years it brought a Dimitrovska award to its conductor.

The 1960s, -70s and -80s will always remain in the history of the Radio Orchestra as the Stefanov Epoque – the brightest period, marked by a high level of professionalism, marvelous achievements and many awards. That was how Stefanov worked with the famous Gusla male choir too that had its rise under his leadership. All members of the choir loved him and the audience applauded their renditions.

One of the main advantages of Mr. Stefanov’s approach to his orchestra was the skilful combination of respect and trust that he created as an atmosphere. One can add here his magnificent ability to read the scores in a quickest manner, getting the ideas implemented as a flash. Bulgarian composers from that time did rely on his help in support.

The Radio Orchestra was the first to play at the prestigious Pleyel Hall in Paris in 1965, which was broadcast directly on the French Radio. The BNR archive has preserved another memorable recording – from the hall of the French radio with Tchaikovsky’s 5th Symphony. One of the highest achievements is the Big Award of the Charles Cros French Academy in 1972 for the recording of Violin Concerto No 1 and 2 by Prokofiev, Stoika Milanova is the soloist. 

English version: Zhivko Stanchev