“Raicho Angelov is the first head of the choir. Filip Avramov’s talent has been feeding the choir for years. He was the choir’s artistic leader for around four decades until 1997. After long discussions Filip Avramov and his wife chose the name Mountaineering Song (“Planinarska pessen” in Bulgarian) . The formation is a mixed choir singing four voices. The choir was established soon after its founder wrote several songs. Their number was gradually growing over the years. Most of the beautiful mountain songs which sound across all parts of Bulgaria were also written by Filip Avramov."

After 1959 the Mountaineering Song Choir went into partnership with the Kurt Schlosser Dresden Male Choir. Thus, the Bulgarian choir borrowed motifs from the Alpine songs performed by his German friends. We also perform classical choir songs, orthodox music, Bulgarian songs and pieces of other European nations.”

Traditionally, since 1960 the Mountaineering Song Choir holds a big concert at the Bulgaria hall in Sofia in December. The choir made many tours and concerts in Europe during its long life. It received prestigious awards and orders, including the Cyril and Methodius order (honored in the field of science, culture and painting). Currently nearly eighty soloists sing in the choir. Kalin Balkanski tells us more about the choir’s activities.

“”Since the foundation of the choir until now, we have been making two rehearsals a week. Mr Ivan Hristov is the Head Artistic Leader of Mountaineering Song Choir. It is interesting to note that the choir often sings under accordion accompaniment. Our activities are held in concert halls and in open air areas. The repertoire of the choir is selected the way it can include accordion music as well.

Mountaineering Song hut opened doors in the summer of 1970. It was built in Vitosha Mountain by the Bulgarian Medical Association and the Mountaineering Song Choir. A small summer theatre was launched in front of the hut where the choir holds its concerts. The schedule of Mountaineering Song Choir becomes very busy when the weather warms up. On April 12 the choir marked its 55^th anniversary with a special concert in Bulgaria hall in Sofia. Later Mountaineering Song Choir is to participate at the International Festival of Tourist Songs in Gorna Oryahovitsa (Central North Bulgaria). The choir is to join in the beginning of June the 26^th edition of The Songs of Bulgaria national feast organized by the Bulgarian Tourist Union. In the last day of August Cherni Vrah mount will host the celebrations dedicated to 119 years since the start of the official tourism in Bulgaria.

English version: Kostadin Atanasov