The European Orchestras Forum is a network of associations of symphonic orchestras which function successfully in 16 European countries. They are also employers' organizations which deal actively with social dialogue in those countries, as well as on European level. The main topics of discussion during the forthcoming forum regard finance, the future of the forum and the audience of the symphonic orchestras. The forthcoming forum will lay the foundations of the Balkan-European cooperation in the field of orchestra music activity. Momchil Georgiev, a member of the BNR management board and one of the founders of the Bulgarian Association of Employers in Culture told Radio Bulgaria details about the event:

“The forthcoming event allows Sofia to become regional center in the field of symphonic music activities. The European Orchestras Forum was founded in 2005 as a network of the European associations of symphonic orchestras. However, a Balkan country will host such working conference for the first time. The economic, political and social realities do not favor the so-called serious music, in particular symphonic music. One of the topical problems regards the subsidies allotted to the culture field. It is bound up with the understanding of the political parties how much the state should subsidize culture and whether it should be based on market principles. The future progress or regress of the orchestras and the festivals, which require special access control in times of increased terror threat levels, are of huge importance to the modern music society. We must outline the perspectives in that field. The topics of our discussion at the forthcoming forum will regard the management and investment resource of the orchestral activity, the audience, as well as the innovations and the innovative approach in that field.”

Some of the most celebrated Bulgarian composers such as Georgi Arnaudov, Simeon Pironkov and Dragomir Yosifov will take part at the debates, Mr Georgiev went on to say. Delegates from Brussels, Vienna, Paris and Budapest, as well as from the European Festivals Association and the International Federation of Musicians will join the discussion through a video-conference link. The expansion of such forums is expected to influence positively the art field.

The European Orchestras Forum will end with a concert of the Bulgarian National Radio Folk Music Orchestra, conductor Dimitar Hristov. The organizers of the event are confident that the classical music expertswill assess highly the skills of the virtuosos from Bulgaria's most prestigious folk orchestra.   

English version: Kostadin Atanasov

Audio contains the following works:

.   Overture to Don Juan Opera to the rendition of the BNR Symphonic Orchestra, conductor Rosen Gergov.

.   Baroqus Ex Machina, concert for piano, hammerklavier, harpsicord and orchestra, conductor Georgi Arnaudov

.   Lozarevska Rachenitsa, soloist Mladen Malakov-clarinet, to the rendition of Bulgarian National Radio Folk Music Orchestra,conductor Dimitar Hristov