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

Border Police Director Anton Zlatanov

The drone that flew over Sofia Airport is of a military type and is used for espionage and surveillance

The mysterious drone that made random maneuvers at Sofia Airport on February 7 and delayed six flights was hacked, manipulated, and was definitely not random. Large drones like the one used are military-type and are used for espionage and..

published on 2/12/25 9:32 AM

94% of workers in Bulgaria are dissatisfied with their salary: survey

94% of workers in Bulgaria are dissatisfied with their salary, shows a survey conducted by Podkrepa Confederation of Labor. 91% of the respondents in the representative survey said that they receive a net income of less than 2,500 BGN (1,250 EUR) and..

published on 2/12/25 8:31 AM
Технически университет

Sofia Technical University offers education in 4 languages

The Technical University of Sofia is probably the only institution in Bulgaria to offer bachelor's and master's programmes in three additional languages - English, German and French, reports 24 Chasa Daily. Global giants such as IBM, NIDEC, Shwarz and..

published on 2/12/25 7:25 AM