More about Sofia Music Weeks, from Maestro Plamen Djouroff, Chairman of the forum and Honorary Citizen of Sofia:

„It sometimes feels like a small miracle that for 47 years in a row this festival has shown that it is alive and what is more, it has been expanding its circle of fans. I do not mean here administrative staff or organizers but musicians for whom the festival has become a necessity in both creative and existential terms. I have a few simple explanations: this forum is not making much advertising noise like similar events in Bulgaria. It is not keen on strongly advertised, highly paid soloists and orchestras. The old tradition continues of displaying the diversity of the art of music from various eras and geographic points. This is also a great chance for young Bulgarians living here or in other parts of the world to show what is new in terms of repertoire and style of performance. And this, I guess, is a potential and a guarantee for the future. Thanks to the Bulgarian National Radio and in part to the Bulgarian National Television, the festival’s message reaches a circle of listeners and viewers that we do not even know. Even this is enough to motivate the investment of energy and funds in this old Sofia forum. I see as highlights of the festival some works that are largely unfamiliar for us. These include the premieres of John Taverner, who lived in London but specialized in the Orthodox Christian structure of music. A celebrity quartet is expected to arrive too with an international project together with Alexander Somov (Klaidi Sahatci – violin, Alexander Zemtsov – viola, Vlorant Chifaj and Somov – cello). Another highlight is the premiere of Philip Glass that will be presented by Sofia Soloists with soloist Dimitar Bourov and Polyphonia Choir. I think that the guest appearance of the Siberian Youth Symphony Orchestra will be a small sensation. Finally, it is important that we have achieved the cooperation that I have dreamt of – to work jointly with the National Palace of Culture, the Pancho Vladigerov National Academy of Music, New Bulgarian University and the Bulgarian National Radio.”

Sofia Philharmonic Director Victor Stoyanov shares his view about Sofia Music Weeks Festival.

„This is an event that has its roots. All lovers of classical music know it, they trust it but there is a difference this year: we decided to give a signal to the whole music community that we can do much more together. The Sofia Philharmonic, Sofia Municipality, the Academy of Music and Sofia Music Weeks should join forces so as to facilitate the choices classical music lovers make. I hope that this will continue in the coming years because the music community needs unity not disunity!”

Dr. Momchil Georgiev, Program Coordinator of Sofia Music Weeks, says more about the festival’s multi-genre selection:

„Twenty-seven concerts and 12 accompanying events including two other concerts in the official program: this is an effort that is impossible to carry out without partners. Thanks to the Hungarian Cultural Institute, the Ekaterinburg Orchestra and New Bulgarian University we enrich the program every year with wonderful soloists and master class professors. Our program is a bridge between Bulgarian and foreign performers. I would single out two chamber concerts: of Stoika Milanova (violin) and Ludmil Angelov (piano); and of Angel Stankov (violin) and Russia’s Vasily Lobanov (piano). Lobanov is a student of Alfred Schnittke and we will have the chance to enjoy his art thanks to Prof. Stankov.” 

One of the keynote anniversaries that are marked at Sofia Music Weeks Festival is the 110^th birth anniversary of Dmitri Shostakovich.