The 17th edition of the European Music Festival 2017 is unveiling officially on March 29 and will continue until June 6. It is organized by the team of Cantus Firmus agency. Bulgaria's Ministry of Culture is co-organizer of the event. The European Music Festival was established in 2001. Its goal is to present to Sofia concert-goers prominent Bulgarian and international classical music stars. In combining different approaches to classical music, the festival aims to expand its audiences' knowledge and experience. Some world acclaimed artists such as Mischa Maisky, Nigel Kennedi, Gidon Kremer, Pinchas Zukerman, the Kremerata Baltica Chamber Orchestra, the Concertgebouw Chamber Orchestra, the Lithuanian Chamber Orchestra, the Moscow Virtuosi Chamber Orchestra and the Moscow City Symphony Russian Philharmonic conducted by Dmitri Jurowski attended that music festival. Many renowned Bulgarian musicians of different generations such as Svetlin Roussev, Ludmil Angelov, Alexandrina Pendatchanska, Plamena Mangova also took part at the European Music Festival.

The European Music Festival supports the young generation Bulgarian musicians. This is proved by the first concert of the event. Georgii Cherkin, Viktoria Vasilenko and Grigor Palikarov, are to perform the Concerto for Three Pianos by Mozart. We should note that Grigor Palikarov will be also conducting the whole programme. We are also to listen to a Concerto for Two Pianos in C Minor by Johann Sebastian Bah to the rendition of Viktoria Vasilenko and Georgii Cherkin. Their young colleague Emanuil Ivanov who is a laureate of the Cantus Firmus award from the Young Virtuosi competition will be a soloist in a Concert for Piano in D Major by Joseph Haydn.

Over 250 musicians are to take part at this year's edition of the European Music Festival. Many guest musicians from the USA, Germany, Italy and Macedonia are to perform at the festival, too. A mixed choir from Bucknell University (USA) conducted by Beth Willer and David Orlovski Trio from Germany are among the foreign guests as well.

Camelia Todorova and JP3 (Zhivko Petrov Trio) are to perform unforgettable jazz pieces in A Song For You project which includes songs from the music repertoire of Billie Holiday and Ella Fitzgerald.

Peter and the Wolf project (music by Sergei Prokofiev), presented by WindArt Ensemble and artists and ballet dancers from the State Music Theatre is directed towards the child audience. The master class headed by Vesko Panteleev Eschkenazy has already ended. The concertmaster of the Royal Concertgebouw Orchestra who is among the traditional guests of the European Music Festival is to participate at the 4+4 - The Four Seasons by Vivaldi and Piazzolla. Violinist Mila Georgieva has prepared a chamber programme together with pianist Petar Petrov. On May 24 renowned Bulgarian cultural activists and artists are to receive the Golden Plume award. It is bestowed at the initiative of Classic FM radio and Makta Gallery.

English version: Kostadin Atanasov

Audio features the following works:

1: Sonata for Piano in F Major by Mozart to the rendition of Viktoria Vasilenko

2: The Turkish March (Rondo alla Turca) in the arrangement of Georgii Cherkin

3: Piano Concerto № 17 Part 1 in G Major by Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart to the rendition of Georgii Cherkin and the Classic FM Orchestra, conducted by Grigor Palikarov

4 Rhapsody by Bela Bartok to the rendition of Mila Georgieva and Plamena Mangova

5 La Campanella by Niccolo Paganini to the rendition of Mila Georgieva and Sofia Soloists Chamber Orchestra