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Early Parliamentary Elections 27 October 2024

Vesko Eschkenazy: Elections are very important, sometimes I just can't stand what I see in this country

Our people deserve better government, to feel better, says the world-famous musician

Photo: Facebook/Vesko Eshkenzy

"I vote whenever I can and I'm in a place where there is a way to do it," the world-famous Bulgarian violinist and concertmaster of the Royal Concertgebouw Orchestra in Amsterdam Vesko Panteleev-Eshkenazy proudly tells Radio Bulgaria. And today, without exception, he will fulfil his civic duty here, "at home" as he calls his native Sofia.


Vesko Eshkenazy is in Bulgaria on the occasion of the final two concerts of the National Tour of the project "In the World of Music", which he created in 2022 with the Pleven Philharmonic Orchestra conducted by Georgi Miltiyadov and with the participation of virtuoso accordionist Veronika Todorova. On the Day of the National Revival Period Leaders November 1, the audience in Bulgaria's coastal city Varna will be able be immersed "In the world of music" and on November 7, music lovers in Sliven will be able to do so.

Meanwhile, the new musical season was also opened by the Royal Concertgebouw Orchestra in Amsterdam, and in November Maestro Eshkenazy and his colleagues will undertake a two-week overseas tour in the states of Florida and New York, in addition to their active autumn program on the Old Continent. And despite his busy creative schedule and commitments, the world-famous Bulgarian violinist is one of those artists who does not run away from the social and political responsibility he carries as a popular person. Quite on the contrary. This year he again stood behind the National Breast Cancer Prevention Campaign and the One in Eight Foundation and continues to be committed to the work of the Our Premature Babies Foundation.

"These are internal needs of each person. Especially causes that are charitable and related to people's health are very important to me. The most important thing for us is health, and if I can help with something, I have always done it. Politically - yes, sometimes I just can't stand what I see in our country! Especially the way things are done. It hurts me to see it. And our people deserve a better government, to feel better, to have more opportunities, to have more self-confidence. And when this is not the case because of the bad governance of the country, I am very sad and very emotional about it."

And beyond the borders of the homeland, strong emotions are generated by Bulgarian culture and history. Bulgaria for others is Georgi Gospodinov, Maria Bakalova, Theodore Ushev, Raina Kabaivanska, the Mystery of the Bulgarian Voices choir... part of the Bulgarian artists who crossed the borders of the small language and country and won the elections of the human cosmopolitan soul.


When will the state give its vote for culture?

"The issue is very complicated", admits Eshkenazy. "And I don't know if we can solve it, as they say, but as far as I understand from my friends who are already in many leading positions in Bulgaria, in fact money (for culture - editor's note) but it is not always possible for musicians or artists to benefit from them. The way in which government funds are used should be improved. Also artists need to take matters into their own hands more."


Extremely dangerous - this is how Vesкo Eshkenazy defines the situation with non-stop parliamentary elections in Bulgaria for the last three years. Today he votes for the following:

"I first want to change the way this country is run and not get into this downward spiral with continuous elections. This is very dangerous for any country. I understand that we are very divided, I understand that people are very divided, but some consensus must be found. Again, for example, the Netherlands, because I have been living there for almost 30 years - they also did not have a government for about a year after their elections. They waited, talked, talked and then they formed a cabinet. There can't be elections in the country every few months. I understand that the other is also very difficult, but maybe there is a way forward."


At the same time, with the principles of music - to idealize the feelings in the workday and strive to attain something better than what we have at the moment.



Photo: Facebook / Vesko Eshkenazy, Ani Petrova


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