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

We mark 125 years since the birth of composer Pancho Vladigerov

Photo: Archive

The great Bulgarian composer, musician, conductor and teacher Pancho Vladigerov was born on 13 March 1899 in Zurich. He wrote numerous works in various genres - opera, ballet, symphonic music, piano concertos, etc. He founded the Bulgarian Composer-Pedagogical School, which educated some of the most outstanding contemporary Bulgarian composers. Among his pupils was the world-famous pianist Alexis Weissenberg (born and lived in Sofia during his childhood - ed.)

During his childhood Vladigerov lived in Shumen, where he showed great musical talent from an early age - at the age of 7 he gave his first concert, and at the age of 10 he made his first attempts at composition.

In 1912 Pancho and his twin brother Lyuben (a violinist) received a state scholarship to study in Berlin. This is where Pancho wrote his first significant works. His gift was much appreciated and in 1918 and 1920 he was twice awarded the prestigious Mendelssohn Prize of the Berlin Academy.

He worked as a pianist and composer at the Deutsches Theater of Max Reinhardt in Berlin (1920-32) and wrote music for his productions.

Vladigerov returned to Bulgaria in 1932 and for the next four decades was professor of piano, chamber music and composition at the State Academy of Music, which now bears his name. A number of his works, such as the Bulgarian Rhapsody Vardar, have become emblematic of Bulgarian music.
Pancho Vladigerov departed this world on 8 September 1978.


Photos: BNR archive, Wikipedia/Family archive of Maria Ganeva



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

National Exhibition of Crafts and Arts in Oreshak

Jazz and Art Festival in Oreshak gathers performers from several continents

The second edition of the Jazz and Art Festival in Oreshak, from July 11 to 14, brings together performers from Cuba, Argentina, China, Brazil, Serbia, France and Bulgaria, Ivanka Dzhabrailova, manager of the National Exhibition of..

published on 7/11/24 7:55 AM
Professor Krassimir Stantchev

Prof. Krassimir Stantchev: Language can be used for any purpose, from promoting peace to declaring war

"The dying fire is often rekindled thanks to a few remaining embers."  With these warm words, Slavic philology professor Krassimir Stantchev inspires hope that the fading interest in the Bulgarian alphabet, the Bulgarian language and Bulgarian culture..

published on 7/9/24 2:10 PM

“Land of roses”, a film with a message of hope that we can accept people with disabilities

2021 population census data from Bulgaria show that there are 654,547 people living in the country with an acknowledged permanently reduced capacity for work or degree of disability. Of them, 22,248 are children, and 632,299 are 16 or over. 578,517..

published on 7/9/24 8:00 AM