Rumen Bayrakov was a longtime conductor of the Plovdiv and Rousse philharmonics. Reviews for his talent were more than commendable: "A phenomenon, personality and interpreter who creates his own style in Bulgaria’s contemporary music culture." The recordings of Symphony № 4 by Gustav Mahler and Symphony № 7 by Sergei Prokofiev, performed by the Rouse Philharmonic under his baton, received the highest evaluation of music critics.

Rumen Bayrakov wasbornin 1939. He graduated the Pancho Vladigerov National Music Academy with MAs in conducting with Prof. Konstantin Iliev and in piano with Prof. Panka Pelishek. Here is what the maestro said about Prof. Pelishek in an interview kept at the Bulgarian National Radio Golden Archives:

"It seems that she passed down on me the method that she was practicing with her students. Nowadays the term ‘academic’ is used in the negative, conservative sense. I think her work displayed the cream of academism seen on its bright side. She left students to think for themselves, to get into the deep details of a piece of music. She gave me the basics of both piano playing and musical thinking. "

After graduation, Rumen Bayrakov spent two years specializing at the Santa Cecilia conservatory in Rome where he studied with professors Franco Ferrara /conducting / and Guido Agosti /piano/.

At an age of 29, Rumen Bayrakov became conductor of the Plovdiv Philharmonic. In an interview kept at the Bulgarian National Radio Golden Archives he talks about his feelings after his first appearance with the orchestra:

„What has remained after the concert is the satisfaction with the rewarding communication I have had with the orchestra. I want to express my regard for its staff, who welcomed me so warmly. These musicians have a strong sense of responsibility to the highest goals and tasks that symphony music sets to us. In the Plovdiv Philharmonic there are no leading groups, in fact the orchestra is a well-bonded unit. I want to express my gratitude to the orchestra that has contributed into my growth as a conductor."

Rumen Bayrakov passed away more than a decade ago. In 2001 he was posthumously awarded with the Golden Lyre Prize for lifetime achievement by the Union of Bulgarian Musicians and Dancers.

English version: Daniela Konstantinova

The audio to this file features the following recordings:

1- A fragment from the fourth movement of Symphony № 4 by Gustav Mahler performed by the Rousse Philharmonic conducted by Rumen Bayrakov; soloist Valentina Aleksandrova.