The Balchik Classic Days music festival continues today (July 30) with the only jazz concert in the program. The musicians of the "Funkallero" with leader pianist Vasil Spasov will perform on the stage in the Black Sea town of Balchik.

People call Balchik "The White Town" - because of the limestone rocks around. Here, in 1909, the largest mill in the Balkans was built and today it serves as a colorful information center, in front of which the open air festival stage is situated. This is the eleventh edition of the festival and audience and performers will surely remember it as one of the few music forums that have not been canceled in a situation of emergency measures aimed to limit Covid-19 spread.

"I want to thank Academia Clasica Foundation and the municipality of Balchik. Times are difficult, but they managed to realize this wonderful festival here on the beach", misoc editor Irina Gadeleva from BNR's Horizont Channel explains. " The festival is complete and its seven evenings are very diverse. Everything has been organized perfectly once again. At the opening (July 25), percussionist Vivi Vasileva visited Balchik for the first time. We know her primarily from the joint concerts with her brother - famous violinist Vasko Vassilev. She has a successful independent career, receiving more and more invitations, especially in Germany, where she lives and works. Recently we have had chances to hear her more frequently in Bulgaria, which is great. She is very artistic and you can see the happiness she feels and transmits on stage. There was a large audience at the new stage near the Mill and she played together with Lucas Campara Diniz (Brazil), with whom they often perform.

The program had enormous success. The Bucharest Wind Ensemble were also our guests. We also heard the Quarto Quartet and soloists of the Sofia Philharmonic, as well as guitarist Sanel Redzic (Bosnia and Herzegovina) and Guitar Ensemble Academica. A very colorful program was presented by soloists and the Orchestra of the State Opera - Burgas. They are among the regular participants, as well as their colleagues from the State Opera in Varna. They will present the long-awaited opera gala on August 1, which will put the end to Balchik Classic Days 2020.”

The festival in the beautiful Black Sea town has had hundreds of fans for years. What is the audience during this edition?

"Often there are people who choose the last week of July to combine their sea vacation with the pleasant festival program. Of course, this year there are significantly fewer foreign tourists but the town does not seem to be empty. Residents of Balchik are also part of the audience as the Classic Days are a real holiday for them.”

English: Alexander Markov