After a ten-year hiatus, the prima of Bulgarian pop music, Lili Ivanova, will once again have a big concert in Brussels. The event is on March 6 at 8 p.m. local time in the legendary Flagey Building in the Belgian capital and is under the auspices of Bulgarian MEP and co-chairman of the "Alliance of Liberals and Democrats for Europe" in the EP, Ilhan Kyuchyuk. The proximity of the date to Bulgaria's National Holiday, March 3, is not accidental:

"I have always believed that culture connects people and we owe a lot as a society and as politicians to the Bulgarian community, which for various reasons decided to emigrate. The National Holiday and the preferences of Lili Ivanova herself made us choose the date March 6. The concert will be just a part of the entire visit of the singer to Brussels," Ilhan Kyuchyuk told BNR’s music editor Zheni Moneva.

Lili Ivanova will be welcomed in the Town Hall of Brussels where she will receive honors. The activities of the foundation bearing her name that aims at popularizing Bulgarian music and culture will also be presented in the European Parliament. The idea for the singer’s visit to Brussels emerged after the "Lili Ivanova" Foundation was founded by the singer in the summer of 2023, Ilhan Kyuchyuk recalls.

In an interview with BNT, Didrik de Schatzen, general secretary of ALDE, called Lili Ivanova "Tina Turner of Eastern Europe.” Didrik de Schatzen is also a passionate pianist and admirer of good music, so he immediately supported the idea of organizing a concert.

"Lili Ivanova's presence here, in a place where Jacques Brel and many other legends had concerts, means creating connections between countries, and this is actually the purpose of my work. Culture unites us," he said.

There is huge interest from the Bulgarian community, Kyuchyuk told BNR. He expects the concert to be attended by a large number of his European colleagues, including Bulgarian European Commissioner Iliana Ivanova, Valérie Haye - leader of the Renew Europe group in the EP, MEPs from various countries, as well as Belgian politicians who are part of the friendship group between Bulgaria and the Kingdom of Belgium. A special invitation was also extended to representatives and ambassadors from the countries of the Western Balkans, where Lili Ivanova is known as the voice and personification of Bulgaria.”

The popularization of the event in Europe has already united the Bulgarian community in Belgium including non-governmental organizations and the diplomatic corps of the country in the Netherlands, Germany, Luxembourg and Belgium, Ilhan Kyuchuk says and adds that culture is an important part of Bulgaria:

"Where Lili Ivanova is, this is Bulgaria; where Bulgaria is, this is Lili Ivanova - these things go hand in hand. And we must take great care of these giants in culture, in art, because these are the diplomats of Bulgaria,” the Bulgarian MEP adds. “Let me be even more honest - there is no Bulgarian diplomat who can do such a job as Lili Ivanova can do with her voice. We have seen this over the years and we owe great respect. I perceive Lili Ivanova's concert, and her entire visit to Brussels as a part of this national puzzle of building Bulgaria's cultural diplomacy abroad," Ilhan Kyuchyuk adds.

The Flagey building itself is an architectural and cultural landmark of Brussels. Completed in 1938 in the Art Deco style, it offers one of the best acoustics in the world, favored for classical, jazz and contemporary music. Edith Piaf, Chuck Berry and Chet Baker are some of the names who performed on its stage. The soundtrack of Martin Scorsese's movie "The Aviator" was also recorded here. On March 6, the audience will hear some of the most beloved songs from the singer’s rich repertoire, presented in new arrangements by Angel Dyulgerov. Among the hits of the Bulgarian pop music star, one can hear Shturche, Detelini, Vetrove, Camino, as well as her newest song. Lili Ivanova will perform on stage together with the musicians from Li Orchestra.

Text: Vesela Krasteva / based on interviews by Zheni Moneva, BNR-Horizont and Angelina Piskova, correspondent of the BNR in Brussels/

Publication in English: Al. Markov

Photos: lili.bg, BGNES, flagey.be