A diverse program with Bulgaria premieres, as well as popular works; Bulgarian and foreign soloists and guest-conductors; a crossover event involving cinema – this is the promise for the new concert season of the Bulgarian National Radio Symphony Orchestra (BNRSO).

“Dimitar Nenov is the author of this exceptional Bulgarian concerto which has been only rarely performed though. The reason is that the work requires high professionalism from both the soloist and the orchestra. As far as I know, the concert has been played by only two Bulgarian pianists so far. I should like to note that our soloist Ivo Varbanov has subsidized the processing of the score. We have a score from 70 years ago that is no longer usable.” 

The Radio Orchestra has prepared twelve concerts grouped into two cycles. One of the highlights will be the concert performance of Giuseppe Verdi’s Othello starring world-acclaimed singers including Krassimira Stoyanova.

“Othello’s concert performance features internationally acclaimed Bulgarian opera singer Krassimira Stoyanova and Romanian tenor Marius Vlad who has sung in Bulgaria on several occasions. I have had the chance of working with him. So, there are worthy accents in the repertoire policy.”

One of them is Johannes-Passion by Johann Sebastian Bach. The large work will be presented during Maundy Week featuring conductor Dragomir Yosifov, soloists and the BNR Mixed Choir. The orchestra has also prepared several premieres. One of them is the cantata Dona Nobis Pacem by British composer Ralph Vaughan Williams that will close the concert season. The symphony orchestra will team up with two US choirs and with US conductor Bruce Chamberlain. Emil Tabakov says more about the other Bulgaria premieres this season.

“We present very interesting works, new to Bulgaria. One of them is the ballet La Boutique fantastique by Ottorino Respighi on themes by Rossini. Another premiere is Variaziones Concertantes by Alberto Ginastera, a work for many solo performing instruments in the orchestra.”

During this concert season the Radio Orchestra will present Symphony No. 12 by Shostakovich. This closes the cycle of symphonies by the Russian composer who has invariably been part of the BNRSO repertoire in the recent years. Conductor Emil Tabakov tells us this will be a center piece in the season’s program. Who will be the soloists and conductors?

“Ivo Varbanov will perform at the season’s opening. After that young pianist Margarita Ilieva will play a concerto by Alfred Schnittke. From the Bulgarian conductors we have invited Georgi Dimitrov with two concerts – Othello and a concert with world-famous pianist Plamena Mangova who is going to present Concerto No. 1 by Brahms. The foreign conductors are Vladimir Verbitsky from Russia, Enrique Diemecke from Mexico and Bruce Chamberlain from the United States. We cannot invite many soloists and conductors, because after all fees we pay are a matter of state subsidy.”

The playbill features harpist Suzanna Klincharova, trumpeter Peter Makedonski, cellist Alexander Somov, singers Rusi Nikov, Valerij Georgiev, Gergana Rusekova and Andreana Nikolova.

Similar to the previous season, the BNRSO will venture outside serious music and will play film music. Audiences are invited to listen to a symbiosis of a screening and live orchestra performance in The Lord of the Rings, and will enjoy music tracks from The Godfather and from Bulgarian movies.

English version: Daniela Konstantinova