This year marks the 100th anniversary of the creation of the Vardar Rhapsody - one of the most popular Bulgarian classical music works, known in various transcriptions. Music written on a grand scale, glamorous, festive, colourful - what Pancho Wladigeroff’s musical legacy is all about. And it is certainly the most famous work of the celebrated Bulgarian composer, pianist and conductor.
A hundred years ago, the then 23-year-old Wladigeroff was living in Berlin. Having started his musical education in Bulgaria, in 1914, together with his twin brother - violinist Lyuben Wladigeroff, they went to the German capital, where they studied with famous teachers. The composer twice won the prestigious Mendelssohn Prize of the University of Berlin – first in 1918 - for his First Piano Concerto, opus 6, and in 1920 - for "Three Impressions".
No less remarkable is the fact that the great conductor Herbert von Karajan even as a student performed works by Pancho Wladigeroff, and in 1926 he graduated with his Piano Concerto No. 1.
As is known, the composer worked for the Deutsches Theater (from 1920 to 1932), at the invitation of Max Reinhardt himself. In this period (in 1922) the composer signed a contract with the famous Viennese publishing house Universal Edition.
In the same year, he wrote the Rhapsody "Vardar", which in its first version was for violin and piano. The story of creation is told by Wladigeroff himself in an interview with BNR.
Later they learned that the theme on which the composer built the final parts of the work was actually Dobri Hristov's patriotic song "Edinichuk chui se vik", included in the collection "Balkan songs". In the following year, 1923, the work was published by Universal Edition under the name Bulgarian Rhapsody "Vardar". Later (1928) Wladigeroff orchestrated it for a large symphony orchestra, made several more transcriptions, and in 1971 Lyuben Wladigeroff reworked "Vardar" for two solo violins. This, in short, is the story of this work, which is being truly performed all over the world and became emblematic not only for its author, but also for Bulgarian musical culture.
Now we will hear it performed by the SO of the BNR, the conductor is the son of the composer - Alexander Wladigeroff.
Two singers — Boyana Karpatova and Boris Hristov — have come together for a duet song titled "Dokato Te Ima" (As Long As You Exist). Boyana wrote the music and the lyrics of the piece. The arrangement is by Artur Nadosyan. Here’s what the performers..
To celebrate his 70th birthday, world-famous Bulgarian tenor Boyko Zvetanov will perform in a special concert on 18 October at the Central Military Club in Sofia. Joining him on this milestone occasion will be the Prima Visione Mandolin Orchestra,..
Lubo Kirov will conclude his national tour "25 Years on Stage" with two concerts at Hall No 1 of the National Palace of Culture in Sofia — on October 16 and 17. During the concerts, the singer’s music hits will be performed with the accompaniment of..
In its successful project "The Laureates", Cantus Firmus Orchestra once again presents to the Bulgarian audience young classical music..
We first noticed Momchil Kossev when we were introduced to the band SoulBmoll, where he is the guitarist, vocalist and main songwriter. The musicians..
Overcast, rain
Rain