He has performed on some of the world's biggest stages. He says that he is not one of the most bashful musicians, but when he stands in front of his home audience, from Varna, things are different. The whole "weight" of fame and pride of playing in front of family, relatives and friends from childhood is clearly felt. And this is exactly what Miroslav Petkov, principal trumpet player of the Royal Concertgebouw Orchestra of Amsterdam, experienced at the beginning of this week. 

The City Art Gallery of his native city Varna hosted a concert from the "New Music Stage" project, in which virtuoso musician and pianist Victoria Vassilenko presented the audience with mastery and emotion. A highlight of the program was the world premiere of the sonata for trumpet and piano Alpha and Omega, written by another Varna-born musician with international recognition - Martin Georgiev, conductor of the Royal Opera House Covent Garden ballet.

"The work has a Christian underlying motive and is based on the last book of the Bible - the Book of Revelation," Miroslav Petkov told Radio Bulgaria. A sonata in nine movements full of symbolism, played for the first time in a concert of contrasts. As if in fusion with the life story of the talented Bulgarian, who, unlike most of his colleagues, has no family heritage in music.

"My parents have quite normal professions, which I appreciate very much, because it always brings me back to the so-called real life. We artists, musicians, have the pleasure of being able to live in a closed circle of personalities and an environment, which is both good for the profession but it also distances you from ordinary life. And although they are not professional musicians, my parents definitely have a musical ear," Miroslav Petkov admits today.

His mother "heard" his talent and at the age of 11 enrolled him in the Dobri Hristov National School of Arts in Varna. But if we have to be even more specific - the true love between little Miro and the trumpet was sparked by the TV screen at home and the beloved cartoon friends of children in the 1990s.

"I watched a lot of cartoons where there was real and very masterfully played music, with a very loud brass section. Then the trumpet made the biggest impression on me as a sound and I decided that I wanted to play that instrument. I was so passionate that when I went to the music school and saw what the real trumpet looked like, I was a little disappointed, because in the movies it was just a curved tube and that's how I imagined it," the musician recalls.

Despite this tragicomic first meeting, only after a year at the music school, Miro became a successful participant in a number of national and international competitions. Today he plays different types of trumpets and says that the relationship with each of them is different. "Each instrument has a different character. It's like communicating differently with friends in certain situations," he tells us. He compares the trumpet sound with the soprano voice in the human register. He still keeps and plays one of his first trumpets from school. A very special gift is also the Piccolo trumpet, which he received from the Bulgarian pop diva Lili Ivanova. 

Although only 18 years old he went to study at the University of Music in Detmold, Germany (Hochschule für Musik in Detmold) as a student of Prof. Max Sommerhalder, Miroslav excitedly makes a clarification:

"I first went to Sofia because I was a staunch opponent of studying abroad. I said to myself - everyone is going abroad, and I will stay in Bulgaria and develop here. After six months, it became clear to me that as a young person looking for development, I had to expand my horizons. It was important for me to go see another culture, other people. And so it happened. I went to Germany.'

After graduating, Miro began to build a truly international career, winning prizes at some of the world's most prestigious brass competitions, including: Yamaha International Trumpet Contest, Germany; ARD Musikwettbewerb, Germany; Jeju International Brass Competition, South Korea, etc. From 2012 to 2016 he was the principal trumpeter of the Nationaltheater Mannheim, Germany.

“Being in close touch with great musicians there has shown me that the successful artist can be an equally insecure person full of many questions. Great artists are always looking for development. They never stop learning and are often the kindest and nicest people. Now I realize that as a Bulgarian I often felt "small" at the beginning, I come from such a small country. And in fact, our differences are much less than I thought. We definitely have a lot to show from our culture and way of life and we should not be ashamed of the path we have taken to become who we are. Every place has its own problems and I just try to take everything I like from everywhere and learn what I can from all the cultures, languages and people I meet along the way," reflects the 34-year-old Bulgarian.

The whole understanding of the importance of this cultural eclecticism today Miró translates into the language of music. In his works, he often mixes classics, jazz and folklore. He is convinced that authentic folklore, not only Bulgarian, is a bridge to understand other musical styles. Because music is connected - it comes from the people and is for the people, he says.

"Folklore is the way of life and it represents the soul of the people. It is important for me, as a Bulgarian, to show this style abroad because I see that they like it. Although they don't always get the rhythms, they feel the emotional charge of Bulgarian folklore and that's message enough," Miro believes.

Today, Petkov is on the threshold of his 8th season as principal trumpeter of one of the best orchestras in the world - the Royal Concertgebouw Orchestra in Amsterdam. He combines his work there with an international solo career and a teaching activity as trumpet professor at the Amsterdam Conservatory (Conservatorium van Amsterdam). Of course, the price of success is high, admits the Bulgarian. Often times commitments are at the expense of personal life, holidays, vacations. Your days are filled with nothing but playing. "It looks like an Olympic sport, for which one only prepares to achieve the cherished results. This life is something like that," says Miro with a smile.

"My biggest success is that I've been able to be around people who have inspired me and pushed me to be better at what I do. And at the moment, in the Royal Orchestra, I am among people who have not sat comfortably in their chairs and I can't help but develop alongside them. And that for me is the biggest success – all other awards come and go. They are great motivation for the young, but art is not a competition for first, second or third place. If one starts seriously dealing with it, it becomes a way of life. And the way of life, for me personally, is related to what kind of people you surround yourself with in order to remain a living artist and create new things."

Personal example and inspiration are his guiding philosophy of life, which he succeeds in preaching through his music. 

"Even as a child, I remember the most exciting time of the year was the summer, when the older boys and girls would come home from abroad and meet us, an exchange of ideas, energy, even the subtleties of the craft would begin. I have been drawing inspiration from this month all year. And I am trying to do the same now with the children at my school in Varna. To help them as much as I can, because I've been through it too, and I know what these meetings mean. It's like planting a seed that will help build their character, not just their musicianship, but their desire to help someone else tomorrow."

Photos: Miro Petkov/Facebook