The Bulgarian-Belgian Orpheus Association for promoting culture and art is organizing a concert in Brussels for St. Valentine's Day and the Day of Trifon Zarezan. The concert dedicated to love and wine will feature pianist Antoniya Kiril Evgenieva, violinist Jacqueline Preys and soprano Aneta Todorova.

Aneta Todorova began singing at the age of 7. She tells us that the Children's Choir of the Bulgarian National Radio is the reason she fell in love with music and classical singing.

"I spent 10 wonderful years in this choir. It's a wonderful school. The music we performed was mainly related to opera and classical sound and that's where my love for classical music was born."

This was followed by singing in the Vassil Arnaoudov Sofia Chamber Choir and opera singing lessons with the choir’s creator Irina Stiglich and other teachers. 15 years ago, the talented young Bulgarian went to Brussels and immediately looked for ways to continue her music career. She sang in the Choir of the Royal Conservatory in Brussels and took private lessons with American soprano Daphne Weston.

"I actually did not study opera singing but my love for this art has guided me throughout my life. I graduated from primary school pedagogy with English as a foreign language. I taught English for many years in Sofia and in Brussels respectively. I am currently in the Bulgarian school and I have been a teacher up to the fourth grade for five years. I also graduated from Japanese studies and I have taught English to Japanese people in Brussels."

For years, Aneta Todorova and her husband have been organizing concerts and musical events in the Belgian capital with their "Orpheus" Association, which was founded in 2012 in Brussels with the assistance of the Romanian Cultural Center. For February 14, the association is preparing a concert in Brussels dedicated to love and wine.

"For each concert, I invite prominent Bulgarian musicians. This time I have invited Bulgarian violinist Jacqueline Preys. She is part of the National Orchestra of Belgium. This will be the ‘icing on the cake’. Also, pianist Antoniya Kiril Evgenieva, who comes from a family of musicians. Her father, Kiril Lambov, was a very famous composer in Bulgaria. We will present songs and opera arias related to love."

When you work with the right musicians, it is not that difficult to organize a classical concert in Brussels, says the Bulgarian, who has been doing this for more than ten years. She is also pleased with the support of the Bulgarian Embassy in spreading information about the events, which are held at least twice a year, as there is a spring and an autumn concert.

"An international audience gathers. We also spread information about the events through Facebook, through various channels, so in addition to Bulgarians, Belgians and people who work for the institutions there also come. We usually hold it at Atelier Marcel Hastir – it is an old house with beautiful halls and it is close to the European Parliament."

Aneta Todorova's other passion is Bulgarian folk dances and since 2012 she has been a member of the club "Na horoto” in Brussels, which is constantly growing:

"In the beginning we were twenty or thirty people. Currently, the dancers, both beginners and advanced, are maybe 150 people. They are constantly changing, but there is a core that is a group for stage performances. We also organize ‘Golyamo horo’ twice a year and gather about 300 to 400 Bulgarians. People also come from neighbouring cities, as well as from neighbouring countries - from France, from Spain. Foreigners often dance with us, too. Currently we have a Belgian - François, who is part of the main group. He goes to so many festivals in Bulgaria that he even showed us a new horo dance. We also have another member of the association - Luc, who has studied Bulgarian and speaks very well."

Author: Daniela Goleminova

Publication in English: Al. Markov

Photos: personal archive, Embassy of Bulgaria in Brussels, Facebook /Na horoto in Brussels (Petya Petrova)