A great many of the artistes from Trakia are students at the Academy for Music, Dance and Fine Arts in Plovdiv. That is how it has always been, ever since the ensemble was created in 1975, the same year when the Academy Faculty of Musical Folklore and Choreography was founded. The idea is for young performers to acquire theoretical knowledge which they can then apply in practice at the ensemble. The biggest contribution to the repertoire and artistic character of Trakia belongs to Prof. Kiril Jenev, one of Bulgaria’s foremost choreographers, scholars and pedagogues. Kiril Jenev has some 100 dance shows to his name, played to this day. The songs the choir performs are original arrangements by renowned composers – Stefan Mutafchiev, Krassimir Kyurchiiski, Nikolay Kaufman, Ivan Spassov.

Though it bears the name Trakia, the ensemble presents music and dance from all folklore regions of Bulgaria. It has guest performed in more than 50 countries of the world – France, Belgium, Germany, India, Mexico… Prof. Daniela Jeneva, daughter of the ensemble’s founder and dancer and choreographer since 1978, has been Trakia’s chief artistic director since 1997.

Here is Prof. Jeneva about the forthcoming concert:

“We decided to celebrate sometime around September 5, the date of the first premiere in the history of the ensemble forty years ago – in 1974. We are hoping it really will be an event when generations meet. Many of our colleagues have scattered on all continents. They come back in summer and I have wanted to have an event like this for a long time. The date selected precedes the National Folklore Festival in Koprivshtitsa which many of us want to attend. I shall be glad to see us all together – present day and former ensemble members and we shall pay tribute to the people who have helped build the ensemble’s prestige. And last but not least – the concert will be a fitting gift to us all and to all people who are fond of folklore.”

The “When Generations Meet” concert starts at 8.30 PM, admission is free.

English version: Milena Daynova