Podcast in English
Text size
Bulgarian National Radio © 2025 All Rights Reserved

Bulgaria's cosmic voices

Photo: Photo: topartists.bg
"Because of such voices it is worth writing music,” once a Japanese composer said after listening to the Cosmic Voices Choir of Bulgaria. Let’s listen to one of the choir’s performances.

The choir will remember the past year with several new projects. Among them was a program on the occasion of the 70th anniversary of the birth of composer Stefan Mutafchiev, new recordings and concerts in Europe.

Days ago the Cosmic Voices Choir returned from a successful tour to Germany and Austria. The project they took part in was dedicated to Pina Bausch. Dancer, choreographer, director, she is the author of memorable performances worldwide. In the city of Wuppertal, a city associated with her ​​biography, a theater bears her name. Japanese composer Jun Miyake wrote a piece dedicated to the famous actress. Musicians from nine countries took part in the project. Among them were performers from France, Venezuela, Brazil, Britain, Germany, and Bulgaria. The first performance of the work was in Tokyo. There the Bulgarian choir participated in full strength. In performances in Germany and Austria three of the choir members performed. As Mrs. Moneva said the work is a combination of ethnic music, French chanson, Brazilian rhythms and much more musical references to the work of Pina Bausch. Renowned musicians including Ze Luis Nascimento from Brazil, Manuel Marches from France, Felix Lajko from Hungary also participated. More from choir leader Vania Moneva in an interview with Albena Bezovska.

“Composer Jun Miyake created a piece dedicated to Pina Bausch. He worked with her and we had the honor to be included in the project together with a number of world-class musicians. Tickets for the concert were sold out months ago. Soloist Lisa Papineau from the U.S. played the uniting role between all the musicians on the stage. The concert took place in the beautiful hall of the Austrian Radio and Television. The feeling being on stage with so many great musicians was amazing. I wrote lyrics in Bulgarian. ‘Because of such voices it is worth writing music,’ Jun Miyake said after the show.”

In Vienna the Cosmic Voices performed encore traditional Bulgarian songs. A few days before Christmas the whole choir took part in a colorful concert under the auspices of Sofia Mayor Yordanka Fandakova together with the Sofia Brass Band and famous names from the Bulgarian music scene - Vasil Petrov, Maria Ilieva, Lubo Kirov and others. 

English version: Alexander Markov
По публикацията работи: Albena Bezovska


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

Bulgaria’s National Theatre wins Skopje festival top prize with "Medea"

The Ivan Vazov National Theatre's production of Medea won the Grand Prix at the 19th Skupi festival in North Macedonia , the company announced. The production was specially created for the theatre by the acclaimed duo Declan Donnellan and Nick..

published on 10/6/25 1:31 PM

Sofia Art Fair 2025 – IMAGINE with large-scale works and new ideas from 13 countries

From October 2 to 5, Sofia Tech Park is hosting the only international contemporary art exhibition in BulgariaSofia Art Fair 2025 – IMAGINE . The event brings together participants from 13 countries and leading figures from the world art scene,..

published on 10/4/25 8:05 AM
Photo: OKO International Ethnographic Film Festival

Masquerade games in Bulgaria and in Ukraine – a highlight of the sixth edition of the OKO Film Festival

Sofia is the third city to host the sixth edition of the OKO International Ethnographic Film Festival , after the Ukrainian capital Kyiv and the city of Bolgrad were its hosts from September 5 to 14.  The OKO film festival has a mission - to..

published on 10/2/25 2:30 PM