Albena is a composer, choir conductor, pianist and pedagogue – all of them professions which are, in Bulgarian, masculine nouns. She is also an artistic and charming lady with a positive outlook on life. Albena was born in Sofia, she obtained her music education in Sofia but has been living in Luxembourg for over 20 years where she has made a name for herself as a musician. Albena’s parents and grandparents are all musicians.

“My father who was a trombonist and conductor, didn’t want me to become a musician and doggedly tried to counter my designs. He said I sang off-key, he also said music was not a good career for women. Perhaps it was precisely this that prompted me to keep on trying – I was forever asking my parents to get me private tuition. They called me a “late child” – unlike most of the other children my age I only started playing the piano when I was 10. My grandfather Andrey Vratchanski composed a great deal of folk-style music, but also marches and waltzes for brass bands. My father orchestrated music and was conductor of a military band. I developed as a musician and performer in Bulgaria, whereas in Luxembourg I specialized 20th century composition techniques. I had the good fortune to have composer Plamen Jurov as my first tutor, so I was initiated into modern music at an early age. He urged me to seek new forms; the rules of classical music was something I learnt at the Bulgarian National Music Academy with Prof. Alexander Raychev.”

Albena Petrovic-Vratchanska completed her new album just a few days ago. All of the pieces in it are performed by Romain Nosbaum. The album is to be released at the beginning of 2016.

In Luxemburg Albena works as a pianist and pedagogue. She lectures at the European School; she is also founder and head of the Budding Artistes club which brings together talented children from different music schools. She organizes a composition contest also called Budding Artistes – the only contest of its kind in the whole of Western Europe. The contest has categories for children in three age groups, as well as a category for pedagogical repertoire for all instruments. This side of Albena’s work has earned her the title Cavalier of the Order of Merit of the Grand Duchy of Luxembourg - the highest distinction in Luxembourg bestowed for achievements in the sphere of culture.

“Over the period from 1991 to 1995 a great many Bulgarian musicians moved to other countries for financial reasons, there was simply no work to be had in Bulgaria. I went to Luxembourg as a pianist at a piano bar. I didn’t get adjusted right away. There are three languages that are spoken in Luxembourg and I had to learn them ASAP. From the very beginning I performed, gave piano lessons and conducted amateur choirs. Even now I conduct three choirs and I dedicate three days a week to working with them. I often include Bulgarian works in the repertoire, we have had many concerts of exclusively Bulgarian works. I am often commissioned to write music. Sometimes it takes weeks of contemplation and still I come up with nothing, other times the miracle happens and the idea comes to me in a flash. I have quite a few friends who perform my work, in recent years audiences in many different countries have been able to hear them. I don’t think there is any difference in the problems men and women encounter when composing. I even think it is easier for women. In countries like Italy, Germany, Luxembourg etc., there are associations of women composers. In Germany there is even a publishing house for women composers only. In this sense, women are actually a step ahead of men.”

“The album Crystal Dream will be released by Gega New. The idea was born after a series of interesting offers. Three years ago, Schott Music International – publishers of sheet music, books on music and journals commissioned me to compose a piece for a collection they were preparing. Then, one after another I was given other commissions. Logically, my thoughts turned to releasing a CD with a single performer – the red thread that runs through the disc. The preview of the album was in Bulgaria on 31 October.”

The concerts and the album were the reason why pianist from Luxemborug Romain Nosbaum paid a visit to Bulgaria, though his bond with the country goes back a long time.

The premiere of the album is in Luxembourg on 25 January at Philharmonic Hall.

The audio features an interview with Romain Nosbaum, as well as the following tracks:

- Crystal Dream;

- Mystery Dream;

- Burning Shadows.

English version: Milena Daynova