Podcast in English
Text size
Bulgarian National Radio © 2025 All Rights Reserved

Remembering Marcel Cellier, discoverer of "The Mystery of Bulgarian Voices"

Marcel and Catherine Cellier
Photo: library

Ten years ago today, Swiss ethno-musicologist and music producer Marcel Cellier (1925-2013) passed away. He left behind a bright mark in the history of Bulgarian music in this country and around the world. Marcel Cellier and his wife Catherine devoted a large part of their lives to Bulgarian folklore - love that dates back to the middle of the 20th century, when they first heard Bulgarian folk songs broadcast on BNR. It was music that captivated them and linked their lives with "the mystery of Bulgarian voices", the archives of the BNR recall. This is the person who presented to the world the performances of the Ensemble for Folk Songs of the Bulgarian Radio, which became famous around the globe under the name "The Mystery of Bulgarian Voices".

Marcel Cellier began cooperation with the Bulgarian National Radio by purchasing recordings for a radio broadcast in Switzerland dedicated to Bulgarian choral singing. The 30-minute radio shows were broadcast once a month from 1960 to 1990. "The Mystery of the Bulgarian Voices," as Catherine Cellier called the show, became a trademark. In 1975, the first album under the title "The Mystery of Bulgarian Voices" emerged. The second album under the same title was awarded a "Grammy" in the category "Best Traditional Folk Recording" for 1989.



Последвайте ни и в Google News Showcase, за да научите най-важното от деня!
Listen to the daily news from Bulgaria presented in "Bulgaria Today" podcast, available in Spotify.

More from category

After a brief warming temperatures drop

In the next 24 hours, over most of the country cloud cover will remain significant with temporary breaks. In the morning, visibility will be reduced in some places. On Friday , the wind will be weak, mainly from the east. In the..

published on 2/13/25 6:55 PM

There is a chance that Bulgaria will adopt the euro on 1 January 2026, sources from Brussels said

If Bulgaria meets the eurozone criteria, there is nothing to stop it adopting the euro on 1 January 2026. This is what Brussels sources told BNR correspondent Angelina Piskova. They said that the decision should be taken by the EU Council. This is..

published on 2/13/25 6:02 PM

Some shoppers walk out of hypermarkets on boycott day

In line with the example set by Croatia, followed by Greece, Romania, Slovenia, North Macedonia, Montenegro, and Bosnia and Herzegovina , four organizations in Bulgaria declared January 13 a day for boycotting the large retail chains in protest of high..

published on 2/13/25 5:18 PM