January 7th marks the 155th birth anniversary of the founder of the Bulgarian professional art of composition Emanuil Manolov. Beyond doubt the most valuable work in his legacy is the opera Siromahkinia (The Poor Woman) which he left unfinished. Based on a poem by classic Ivan Vazov it reconciles the traditions of urban romance and the classical Italian opera. In an interview from the Bulgarian National  Radio Golden Archives, film director Georgi Dyulgerov says more about the ground-breaking opera:

"Emanuil Manolov wrote The Poor Woman in times when there was neither financing nor traditions in the art of opera. Across Europe opera prospered with composers of genius such as Verdi, Wagner, Mascagni and others. While studying Manolov's opera, I became aware that despite claims that The Poor Woman's libretto is too naïve, the work was actually inspired by the composer's personal experience. The prototype of the opera's protagonist is Emanuil Manolov's mother. The story is about a poor woman who is looking for money for her kids. A similar episode can be found in the composer's biography: his mother left without any cash to provide education to her sons pawned all her kitchenware in the monastery near his native town of Gabrovo. The cash she got was enough to reach Kiev where she went to famous church activist Yosif Sokolski to ask him to give grants to her sons. When the ambitious mother realized that her plea would not be answered she made a very risky move. Her act might look like a mystery to any parent but it was also the result of deep anguish - she decided to abandon her sons. At the sight of the four poor boys, compassionate Bulgarian immigrants took them to the Bulgarian trusteeship in Odessa. There from their lives took different directions - Emanuil Manolov was a gifted singer and enrolled in the Moscow a capella choir. His talent stood out and he went on with his studies in the conservatory but failed to graduate from it because of the Serbo-Bulgarian War in 1885 when he was back to Bulgaria.”

When he was back to Bulgaria Emanuil Manolov joined the brass orchestra of the First Sofia Regiment. The southern town of Kazanluk was important for the biography of the composer. It was there that he spent the last and most creative years of his life. In another audio from the Golden Archives, here is the story of composer and conductor Yosko Yosifov about the great contribution of Emanuil Manolov:

"In times when people were eager for culture and music Manolov faced the dilemma what way to take, because foreign influence was very strong. Being a real patriot Emanuil Manolov made the right choice by choosing folklore for the basis of the local music tradition. The composer worked in a crucial moment when the future of the Bulgarian serious music had to be determined. In the meantime, he was also supportive of the community in Kazanluk: he organized a mixed choir and an orchestra at Iskra Community Club. In fact, he was the first professional Bulgarian composer and founder of opera in Bulgaria. In Kazanluk he worked as teacher in the 1890s and was later back to the town where he lived until his death in 1902. In the last three years of his life he wrote The Poor Woman. In an age of conservatism when female parts in opera were performed by men, Manolov outstripped his time with decades.”

As bandmaster of the 23rd Shipka Regiment Emanuil Manolov widely used the brass band for the performance of music by famous European composers and of his own works. The choral song was at the heart of his creative career. Folklorist Elena Stoin argues that he played an important role in looking for and recording folk songs in times when there was no recording equipment available. Emanuil Manolov wrote marches and children's songs including Lovely You Are, Fatherland sung by generations of Bulgarian pupils.

English Daniela Konstantinova

Audio: works by composer Emanuil Manolov (1860-1902)

1/ A fragment from The Poor Woman in the rendition of Sonia Marinova and the Bulgarian National Radio Symphony Orchestra, on score restored by Velislav Zaimov

2/ What a Lovely Girl I Saw, Mother, a folk song arrangement, Bulgarian National Radio mixed choir

3/ Lovely You Are, Fatherland, Bulgarian National Radio mixed choir

4/ Violet, new arrangement by Krassimir Georgiev, Radio Children Choir