Scientists, actors, musicians and poets can be found among the friends of the Grace & Gravity Circle. Their meetings resemble a rare space phenomenon that is remembered for good. The circle has once again gathered this year in Sofia, under the roof of the house and museum of renowned early 20 c. composer Pancho Vladigerov. The occasion – the traditional fests of culture, organized in May by the Sofia University St. Kliment Ohridski.

The idea for the series of meetings under that name was an old one. Associate Prof. Petko Nedyalkov, head of the Astronomy Department with Sofia University expands the circle of Grace & Gravity with new participants each year, mainly with artists from the fields of poetry and music. Film director Ilian Metev is among the youngest ones, known for The Last Ambulance of Sofia documentary, which has received international recognition. Ilian brought his violin at the meeting of the circle and surprised everyone with an emotional performance of Beethoven’s Spring Sonata No 5. Noble art caused a discussion among the astronomy professors in the hall. Ilian shared with them intimate impressions, born by the works of Beethoven:

“Beethoven exposes the perfect balance between intellect and feelings, for instance – via the usage of dynamics and rhythm. It seems like he tells the performer at certain spots:  don’t say it all about the feeling here. Thus fine nuances occur, charged with artistry and inspiration. When I play the violin – this is my way to communicate with the audience. Music is the finest among arts that brings us closer to the stars. My movies are doubtlessly my greatest success, but I miss the direct emotional contact with the audience there. When I perform I feel the dialogue, I even feel the people influencing the intonation and changing my rendition.”

After a short discussion about the perfection of music, the Grace & Gravity meeting moves onto the field of poetry. Raicho Russev aka Rysen from the town of Haskovo finds his place there. He is modest enough to say that he wouldn’t like to be referred to as a poet, but everyone listened to him with interest, when he recited his verses. Words are like stars – it takes a lot of labor and persistence to decode them and arrange them in the complicated system of poetry, Rysen says. He is a cryptographer, who has written secret codes for protection of institutional information. He is interested in astronomy and the communication with the scope people brings him joy and inspiration. Rysen has recently received his first recognition for his works at the Poetry Close to Stars contest at Rozhen Peak in the Rhodope Mountain.

“My friendship with scientists began with poetry. I am really grateful for meeting those people, they are great erudite with warm hearts at the same time. There are certain astronomy facts, whose answers I seek as well. The endless universe, the fact that mankind sees through its scopes only 4 percent of the presumable world… We are too small, but there is this other mind there, which only prompts about its existence. Inspiration doesn’t come just like that, it is the result of hard work and will. They say that our time lacks spirituality, but it’s not like that. There are good and wise people, but unfortunately we allow the other kind to occupy public life. I was strongly impressed by an inscription on an old fountain in the Rhodope Mountain. It read: The Devil Sits on Money. I ask myself who did we choose to rule our world, it looks like we opted for the money – which means the devil, right? It’s worth thinking over, isn’t it?”

English version: Zhivko Stanchev