Sofia Philharmonic Orchestra to premiere new concerto by Dobrinka Tabakova

Latvian classical accordionist Ksenija Sidorova will be guest soloist

published on 6/17/25 1:26 PM

Photo: sofiaphilharmonic.com

An important premiere and exciting debut are expected on June 19 in Sofia's Bulgaria Concert Hall. Latvian accordionist Ksenija Sidorova - one of the most attractive ladies on the contemporary classical scene, will make her debut with the National Philharmonic Orchestra. Together with Polish conductor Michał Nesterowicz, they will premiere in Bulgaria the new Concerto for Accordion and Orchestra by the successful Bulgarian-British composer Dobrinka Tabakova.

The work, dedicated to Sidorova, known for her exceptional virtuosity and style, and called by the media the "princess of the accordion" and the "glamorous accordionist", was commissioned by the Sofia Philharmonic Orchestra in collaboration with the Bodensee Festival, the Stuttgart Philharmonic, the Dzintaru Concert Hall in Jurmala, Latvia, and the Royal Liverpool Philharmonic Society. The score reflects Tabakova's characteristic style, combining classical traditions with contemporary elements, and emphasizes the rich expressive possibilities of the accordion as a solo instrument in a symphonic context.

The world premiere of the concert - again with Ksenija Sidorova and under the baton of Michał Nesterowicz, took place on May 17 in Stuttgart.

Dobrinka Tabakova is a world-renowned composer born in Bulgaria's Plovdiv. At the age of 11, she moved with her parents to the UK, where she graduated from the prestigious Guildhall School of Music and Drama and received a doctorate in music from King's College London. In 2017, Tabakova became the resident composer of the BBC Concert Orchestra. She is the recipient of many international awards, UNESCO awards, and a Grammy nomination. Her music has been performed in world-famous venues such as the Royal Albert Hall in London and Carnegie Hall in New York.

Creating an accordion concerto is a particular challenge for the author, who shares that the instrument has fascinated her for a long time:

"... on the one hand, it is a folk instrument and an integral part of the diversity of European and world folklore tradition, and on the other - a black mechanical box with a breathing center. These characteristics inspired me in my student composition "The Accordion", which I wrote for an ensemble in which the instrument did not appear at all. The working title at the time was "Machine with a Soul" and this phrase served as inspiration for the new accordion concerto in a crucial period for our humanity: a time when our society struggles with the notion of technologies dictating our cultural limitations, when algorithms and artificial intelligence try to replace true connection and curiosity, while our souls yearn for love and understanding" (Schott Music).

The concert is part of the program of the International Festival "Sofia Music Weeks".

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