Tonight Bulgaria Hall is hosting the opening of the amateur piano competition Vivapiano. Its 5th edition is devoted to the 120th birth anniversary of Bulgarian classic Petko Staynov. The audience will include the members of the international jury, foreign pedagogues and fans of classical music. The concert program features movements from Thracian Dances, the emblematic symphony suite by the composer, however rearranged for various chamber groups. The Svetoslav Obretenov national philharmonic choir with conductor Slavil Dimitrov will present a few choral works by Petko Staynov.

Petko Staynov's legacy includes two suites, symphony poems, a scherzo and two symphonies. The composer though did not write piano pieces. Mrs. Daniela Dikova, pianist and artistic director of Vivapiano, has decided to make up for that and has ordered 19 new piano works. These are based on themes from Thracian Dances and have been presented to the participants in the competition as mandatory pieces. They have been written by composers of different generations - Georgi Arnaudov, Kiril Ilievski, Borislava Taneva, Konstantin Ilievski, Bozhidar Abrashev Jr., Yordan Goshev and Mario Angelov.

„We decided to commemorate great composer and public figure Petko Staynov and devoted to him not only the opening concert but the whole Vivapiano competition”, Daniela Dikova explained. „This way his name will remain in the CVs of young pianists from ten countries who are going to play pieces based on themes from his works.”

English Daniela Konstantinova

Audio file: Music by Bulgarian classic Petko Staynov (1896-1977)

1. Shto mi e milo (I Feel So Sweet) performed by Angel Manolov Academic Choir

2. Ratchenitsa. played by violinists Angel Stankov and Iosif Radionov with piano accompaniment by Zornitsa Radionova

3. Paydushko from Thracian Dances in the rendition of the Bulgarian National Radio Symphony Orchestra