On 25 and 26 August the Cosmic Voices choir is looking forward to a new creative challenge. The world-acclaimed group is going to give concerts at the International Guido d'Arezzo Polyphonic Contest in Arezzo (Concorso polifonico Guido d'Arezzo), Italy. The prestigious music forum is named after the medieval composer Guido of Arezzo. He was the one to introduce notes and the prototype of the staff (originally it had only four lines, not five) replacing the older neumatic notation. Besides he gave the syllable names of notes that are used to the present day. The monk carried that major reform while he was staying in Arezzo (circa 1025). There is a foundation - Fondazione Guido d'Arezzo), whose president is Prof. Slavka Paoletti, a Bulgarian who has been living in Italy for many years and is active in the area of choral art.

Founded 22 years ago the Cosmic Voices choir has been all the time led by Vanya Moneva - a renowned choral conductor who has graduated the National Academy of Music in the class of Prof. Vassil Arnaoudov. In May the choir gave a concert to commemorate Prof. Arnaoudov. How is this connected with the appearance of the choir in Italy?

„We received the invitation after Prof. Slavka Paoletti attended our concert in May. We have been in touch for years and she has always been interested in our work", Vanya Moneva explains. "After this concert however which was remarkable, she said she wanted us to show our art to the audience, participants and the jury of the contest. „Precision of the performance, sophisticated polyphony, inspirational interpretation …“ - this was her evaluation. Well, of course, this is an honor to us. The chance of singing to such an audience at such a reputable forum is great acknowledgement. We accept it as recognition not only for us but for the Bulgarian choral art. The contest in Arezzo is part of the chain of prestigious choral competitions in Europe also including the ones in Debrecen (Hungary), Varna (Bulgaria) and Tours (France). Our first appearance is on 25 August, at the solemn opening ceremony of the contest in the big cathedral. As requested by Prof. Paoletti we are going to sing a few chants but the program mostly highlights works by Bulgarian composers based on folklore. I have selected a few slow songs, as they allow presenting more thoroughly the mastery and beauty of the human voice. The organizers were keen to demonstrate the skills of a Bulgarian choir to a large audience. Therefore our second concert will be held in the open - outside another large cathedral Scalinata del Duomo on 26 August. By tradition concerts there attract about 6000 spectators. At that concert we are going to present more brilliant works with faster rhythm. I think that the two programs will demonstrate in full the assets of the choir - its broad timbre and style range, outstanding technique and beauty of performance.”

Following the concerts in Italy, the Cosmic Voices and Vanya Moneva start work on a program that they will present jointly with the Sofia Soloists chamber orchestra at the end of September. In early October they plan to take part in the Balabanov House Days of Music in the city of Plovdiv.

English Daniela Konstantinova