Folk singer Olga Borisova is а foremost folk singer with a magnificent voice, original repertoire, intelligence and good taste for music. She was born to be on stage and her gift is not only limited to chamber and choir singing, as the singer is known for her also impressive stage presence.

Here is what Olga Borisova said on her successful career as a soloist and a vocal at the Mystery of Bulgarian Voices Choir – winner of the prestigious 1990 Grammy Award.

“In a word I can say that folk songs have given me everything and have taught me everything. They are works of genius and are eternal. Over the long years of my career I have travelled anywhere on the wings of the Bulgarian folk song and I have lived through moments of real pride – our people has remarkable talent showing in its folklore. I am so happy to have found the right path in life and I thank God for this every day.”

The path of Olga Borisova from her birthplace – the village of Zhilintsi, Kyustendil region to the global stages of Europe, America, Asia and Africa, has been quite eventful.

“During my final high school year I was into theatre and my dreams back then were to become a dramatic actress. However, upon graduation I received a letter from the Bulgarian National Radio editor-in-chief for folk music Georgi Boyadzhiev, inviting me to a contest. I was totally surprised, as I had never left Kyustendil and the capital city of Sofia looked like Paris in terms of distance and access. I don’t know how I found the guts to get on that train and go to the BNR. It was in 1960 and about 250 people had come to attend that contest. Thus I got into the Folklore Ensemble of the BNR and the radio became my second home. I had the voice, but I found out that I couldn’t sing in a choir, we were very young. Boris Petrov was the first conductor and he was very nice, like a father to us. So, step by step I entered the world of choir singing. Some say that the Bulgarian folk song is something simple, but as great Yovcho Karaivanov used to say: 'The Bulgarian folk song is not simple and not for simple people.' I have seen living proof of this maxim in my life too.”

“I will never forget what happened in Canada, Toronto. We were waiting for the plane back to Bulgaria at the airport. The tour had been a real success, but at that moment we were sitting on the ground, exhausted. Then a good-looking gentleman stood in front of us in silence. All of a sudden he bowed to the ground and said: “You can be the honour of any institution”. He presented himself as a Canadian professor who had seen us on TV the previous night and had been really impressed. We were very, very happy.”

Nowadays folklore is not what it used to be, Olga Borisova says and adds:

“Many things have changed over the past years. I don’t mind any type of music, but values somehow changed. All formations at the community centres have disappeared over one period, but recently I began to see some hope. I am invited to join the jury at different contests all the time – Bulgaria has magnificent talents, wonderful kids. This brings peace to me –Bulgarian folklore shall never die…”, famous folk singer Olga Borisova says in conclusion.

English version: Zhivko Stanchev