Animal protection and protection of vulnerable children, promoting various cultural initiatives are fundamental to improving the living environment in this country. This idea is what brought together talented pianist Nadejda Tzanova and Princess Theodora von Auersperg who set up a branch of the Vienna-based foundation named after the princess in Bulgaria. Emblematic rhythmic gymnastics coach Neshka Robeva and choir conductor and member of the Bulgarian National Radio’s Public Council Vanya Moneva are among the foundation’s goodwill ambassadors.

“For the children who have grown up as orphans, or without enough love in their families, communicating with animals is vital because they give love, learn to concentrate, to be responsible. If a child grew up with a pet, they will grow to be a responsible adult who loves animals, and to some extent people as well. If someone treats an animal badly, they are likely to treat humans badly too,” says the foundation’s artistic director Nadejda Tzanova in an interview with Radio Bulgaria.

The way she actually met the princess, who was born and lived in Bulgaria until the age of 8, is an interesting story:

“To begin with, our communication was online, because she lived in the US. Later, she moved to Vienna because her mother had health issues and that is how we were able to meet in person,” Nadejda Tzanova remembers. “We met at the Musikverein, at a concert where Giuseppe Verdi’s Requiem was being played with the participation of soprano Krassimira Stoyanova and conductor Riccardo Muti. After the concert, together with tenor Kamen Chanev we asked to meet them. Altogether, it was a memorable night from which many good things came to pass.”

Their wish to help stray animals and interest in homeless animals is no random choice. In 2023, Princess Theodora von Auersperg was patron of a concert with the participation of many popular Bulgarian classical musicians, among them Nadejda, entitled “Listen to music, save a paw”.

“We organized a charity concert, and we divided the money we raised among three animal shelters in the respective towns. The concerts were in Sofia, Pazardzhik and in Vidin, there was a great deal of interest, the concert halls were packed.”

Some of Bulgaria’s top musicians took part in them, among them Borislava Taneva and Margarita Ilieva - piano, Yavor Zhelev- flute, Peter Makedonski – trumpet, Rossen Idealov – clarinet, Ana-Maria Kraycheva – flute etc.

When she was 18, Princess Theodora found out that she was adopted and that her father was Prince Anton Franz von Auersperg. He decided to acknowledge her as his daughter and to give her her due title.

“Since then she has been determined to use this title to do something worthwhile. She is herself very modest, and what is really close to her heart is the aim of the foundation – helping. She believes we should leave the world a little bit better than we found it,” Nadejda Tzanova says.

2025 will be a dynamic year for the foundation, with lots of different events:

“In 2025 we shall organize a concert from the “Listen to music, save a paw” series, we are also planning concerts and galas in Austria and Germany. In a more distant perspective we plan to extend the activities of the foundation to Spain and the US.”

Translated and posted by Milena Daynova
Photos courtesy of Nadejda Tzanova, princesstheodora.net