Symphony and choir concerts, piano recitals, ballet performances, concerts for children... The thirty-third edition of the New Year's Music Festival starts on December 14 and the first concert is that of the Vanya Moneva Choir. The occasion – the 25th anniversary of the founding of the world-famous choir. The concert of the Chamber Orchestra of La Scala – Milan under the title "Italy – Music is Love" with works byOttorino Respighi, Gioachino Rossini, Marco Enrico Bossi is scheduled for December 15. A piece by Emanuele Pedrani, a double bass player in the orchestra, will also be heard.

A curious fact is that Mr. Pedrani is married to a Bulgarian – also a professional musician. This largely determines the special attitude of the composer towards this country. On December 16, 21 and 22, fans of the great Bulgarian bass Nikolay Gyaurov can hear and see videos of his concert performances at the Lumiere Lidl cinema. Among the highlights of the program is the December 16 concert featuring works by Frederic Chopin performed by Bulgaria’s renowned pianist Antonina Boneva. She will also present to the audience one of her talented students. The event is part of this year's program line of the festival in support of young Bulgarian musicians.

“The idea came from Mrs. Yuliana Karaatanasova (producer of the festival) and I thank her, because this is a very nice undertaking – presenting young pianists, along with their teachers,” Antonina Boneva has told Radio Bulgaria. “I will present my successful student Teodor Pazov, winner of national and international competitions. I love Chopin's music and in 2019 and 2020 we celebrate 170 years since the composer left this world and 210 years since his birth. I will perform his four piano ballads, which are a challenge for any pianist.

Teodor will perform Polonaise op. 53, called ‘Heroic.’ We are also to recall of the spiritual support in the struggles for national independence that Chopin provided to the Polish people throughout his life. He wrote such beautiful, inspired, exquisite music. It is poetic and dramatic at the same time. Robert Schumann says of Chopin's music that it is like cannons covered with flowers. I haven't come up with a more accurate definition than that. A few days ago, I returned from Italy, where I had two recitals. There I also performed Chopin's four ballads, as well as his mazurkas, nocturnes and waltzes. The second concert with Chopin's ballads and Mickiewicz's poems was somewhat of a repetition of the program I presented at Apolonia 2019.”

On December 21 in Hall 1 of the National Palace of Culture, the BNR Symphony Orchestra will present a concert version of "Eugene Onegin" – one of Tchaikovsky's most famous operas. Tatiana's part will be performed by brilliant Krasimira Stoyanova and conductor is Pavel Balev.

The topic of the New Year's festive concert, which is traditionally held on the first day of the New Year, is "Inspired by Winter". This year we will hear works that are not performed very often – The Winter Girl by Edward Grieg, The Skaters by Émile Waldteufel, Snowflakes by Jacques Offenbach and Romance from Sviridov’s Snow Storm. Soloists will be young performers who have already conquered world stages – violinist Lea Petrova, who will perform "Gypsy Tunes" by Sarasate and cellist Mihail Petrov, who will perform "Hungarian Rhapsody" by Popper.

Of course, it is impossible to present the entire program, which contains 23 events... In fact there are 23 reasons to celebrate with music.

English: Alexander Markov