One of the emblems of the Bulgarian folklore music Yanka Rupkina marks two significant anniversaries this year-her 80^th birth anniversary and sixty years on stage. The legendary singer was born in Strandja region. Her fellow countrymen from the village of Bogdanovo (Burgas district) are proud with Yanka and even named a village club after her. Yanka Rupkina is popular worldwide as one of the soloists of the Mystery of Bulgarian Voices choir and part of Bulgarka trio. She enthralled the audience in many prestigious music halls on several continents. Her unique soprano voice turns her stage performance into a celebration and cure for the human soul. She received a series of recognitions over the years: first prizes at international folklore festivals in Novi Sad (1961), Tunisia (1967) and Bratislava (1973). In 2007 she was awarded the Fire Dancer statuette of the International Folklore Festival Burgas for special contribution to the Bulgarian folklore music. Her music repertoire of solo songs and songs from the Strandja region is quite impressive. She made over 250 recordings for the Bulgarian National Radio archives.

I can proudly say that I am a very happy singer, Yanka Rupkina says. I am happy with the contacts with my audience and the meetings with my wonderful colleagues in Bulgaria and abroad. I made my first recordings in London with Kate Bush and Bulgarka Trio where I sang together with my colleagues Eva Georgieva and Stoyanka Boneva. I worked for over 20 years abroad at the invitation of Joe Boyd. We made our small country popular abroad. I also worked with the American singer Linda Ronstadt. I released the album Keranka with the help of the Dutch composer Robert Elmar. The celebrated musician George Harrison travelled from California to London to enjoy the performance of Trio Bulgarka. He invited us to his estate and later we had a great concert there. We performed together with his guitarists. I also worked with ethnomusicologist Martha Forsyth from Boston and many other internationally-acclaimed musicians. I am proud that I sang recently with my colleagues n Burgas, Varna, Sandanski and Bansko. On October 5 I will travel to Cyprus. Years ago I sang for the President of that country Makarios. I am happy that people still remember me in that country and invited me to celebrate my anniversary there. We are planning a big concert in Sofia on October 22. I am happy that I continue singing and enjoying the love of people in Bulgaria and abroad.

Yanka Rupkina continues to promote the Strandja songs worldwide and participate at various international music projects. In 2018 Joint concerts are organized in honor of Yanka Rupkina. The emblematic Strandja song “Kalimanku, Denku” sounds on all concerts. Yanka Rupkina performs this song solo and together with the other musicians from the Mystery of the Bulgarian Voices Choir, in Krasimir Kyurkchiyski’s choral adaptation. Few people dared to sing Kalimanku, but even the ones who did it admit that they could not beat the interpretation of the renowned Bulgarian singer.

English version: Kostadin Atanasov