Podcast in English
Text size
Bulgarian National Radio © 2024 All Rights Reserved

Sofia Philharmonic receives standing ovation at the Musikverein

Photo: facebook/sofiaphilharmonic

The Sofia Philharmonic's concert in the ˮGolden Hallˮ of the Musikverein last night was completely sold-out. It was a huge success, the organizers of the event have announced. The two Bulgarian compositions in the programme have aroused particular interest.

Grotesque Symphony Suite “Bai Ganyu” by renouned XX century Bulgarian composer Veselin Stoyanov, was a true surprise for the Vienna audience.

It should be noted that the choice of “Bai Ganyu” was very apt. In 1941, Vesselin Stoyanov created his suite based on Aleko Konstantinov's work, selecting episodes related to the protagonist's trip to Vienna, to the place where the ill-mannered but cunning and combinative Bai Ganyu had set out to do business. The character's uncouth, at times rude and even arrogant behaviour finds its antithesis in the slow movement ˮIn the Villageˮ, which is a celebration of the positive, healthy side of the Bulgarians' value system.

Whether it was the plot or (more likely) Veselin Stoyanov's cheerful, vibrant music that impressed the sophisticated audience, again according to the organizers of the event, the concert by the Bulgarian Philharmonic and Maestro Naiden Todorov won them powerful applause, and after the concert, representatives of one of the leading record companies expressed a desire to record this work with the same orchestra and conductor.

In the audience were directors of several of the world's elite music agencies, as well as the former ambassadors of Italy and Austria to Sofia, the Director General of the Bulgarian Telegraph Agency Mr. Kiril Valchev, Austrian and Bulgarian music critics.
The concert ended with an encore, which the Philharmonic Orchestra performed after a long standing ovation - the brilliant ˮRachenitsaˮ from Petko Stainov's symphonic suite "Thrace", one of the brightest works in Bulgaria’s national musical treasury.

Editing: Albena Bezovska, Elena Karkalanova
English version: Elizabeth Radkova



Последвайте ни и в Google News Showcase, за да научите най-важното от деня!
Listen to the daily news from Bulgaria presented in "Bulgaria Today" podcast, available in Spotify.

More from category

Graduates of the theatre studio "Igra" achieve success in Bulgaria and around the world

On 7, 8 and 9 June, in the concert hall of the Sredets House of Culture in Sofia, the young actors from the theatre studio "Igra" will present the premiere of the performance When the Roses Dance by Valery Petrov. In the second half of the month,..

published on 6/5/24 4:24 PM

Vidin hosts the Summer Vibes Festival

The town of Vidin (Northwestern Bulgaria) hosts the Summer Vibes Festival for the fifth consecutive year. On June 1 and 2, near the Baba Vida Fortress, children will discover a healthier and no less interesting way to have fun outdoors in the real..

published on 6/1/24 10:50 AM

The Golden Linden Film Festival in Stara Zagora presents 50 films from 18 countries 

The 11th edition of the International Film Festival of New European Cinema "The Golden Linden" will be held in Stara Zagora from 1 to 5 June. 50 films from 18 countries will be screened, including films by directors Nuri Bilge Ceylan, Roman Polanski and..

published on 6/1/24 7:30 AM