The Wolf and the Seven Young Kids: one concert of the Bulgarian National Radio Symphony Orchestra 

Last year marked the 80th birth anniversary of composer Alexander Vladigerov, the author of chamber, symphony and vocal works of music and of two musicals that remind us of his great love for kids. The composer fathered three sons and a daughter who all opted for careers in music. As conductor Alexander Vladigerov worked with many Bulgarian orchestras, but his affair with the Bulgarian National Radio Symphony Orchestra was the longest. He led the prestigious orchestra for 20 years. On the eve of the Christmas holidays, the Radio Symphony Orchestra and its conductor Emil Tabakov presented a two-part dedicated program for Vladigerov’s anniversary. His sons Alexander and Konsatntin Vladigerov appeared in the first part, while the second part featured a concert presentation of his musical The Wolf and the Seven Young Goats, on lyrics by Dimitar Dimitrov. Next, a live recording of Arioso, the story of the Mother Goat, soloist Antoaneta Dobreva – Netty.

The musical composed in 1973 has been staged in 15 theaters across the country, as well as in Russia, Greece, Germany and the former Yugoslavia. Soloists in the concert of the Bulgarian National Radio Symphony Orchestra were Kamen Vodenicharov, Tontcho Tokmakchiev, Stoyan Alexiev, Lidia Kulekova and Konsatntin Ikonomov. The popular actors were cast as the Brothers Grimm characters in the music version of Alexander Vladigerov.

As we already told you, the first to appear on stage Bulgaria Hall were Alexander and Konstantin Vladigerov (trumpet and piano). Famous jazz musicians, the two have been living and working in Vienna for many years. During communism when their father would discover this freedom-loving music, the regime looked upon it as a decadent genre.
“Jazz has been central to our life in music”, Alexander says. “Our father had a passion for Gershwin and jazz, and we are grateful that he gave us this direction. While I listened to The Wolf and the Seven Young Goats, I thought how up-to-date this music sounds. How did people accept it back in 1970s? I really do not know. With his work our father has done a lot for Bulgaria’s culture and has suggested plenty of ideas to many composers”.

“We have come across surprises every day. The latest piece that we played is a boogie-woogie written in 1953, An Unfortunate Dance. It is very different from everything created back in our father’s day. The great Pancho Vladigerov, our grandfather, was very positive about the work of his son. Apart from jazz harmonies there is also a bunch of amusing beats that bring together various intonations. His sense of humor showed in many of his works. Our sister Ekaterina has collected and recorded his music jokes but the CD is still to be released.”
What has been Alexander Vladigerov’s legacy to his own family?

“He has given us careers, and the genes of talent”, Alexander says. “Now we have to maintain this tradition in the family. Unfortunately, we were teenagers when he passed away. However, whenever music is concerned, he is with us. That is vital: to keep this spirit.”

Konstantin quotes word for word Ekaterina who has written the following in a book dedicated to their father:
“When you passed away, we were not aware that we had been blessed by you for music for life. Being a musician is a road and it is a gift too. Today we are aware of this and we are following into the path along which you used to fly.”

English Daniela Konstantinova

The audio to this file contains the following recordings of music by Alexander Vladigerov:
1- Arioso, the story of the Mother Goat, soloist Antoaneta Dobreva – Netty, from the musical The Wolf and the Seven Young Goats, live
2- the Song of the Old Night-Owl in the rendition of Tontcho Tokmakchiev, from the musical The Wolf and the Seven Young Goats, live
3- The Final Song with a chorus of all soloists from the musical The Wolf and the Seven Young Goats
4- An Unfortunate Dance, boogie-woogie
5- The Story of the Briggand from the musical The Merry Town Musicians in the rendition of Alexander and Konstantin Vladigerov, trumpet and piano, live