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28-29
JUNE
The Sofia
Philharmonic Orchestra is our first
professional symphony orchestra, bearing from 1928 the
inspiration of its founder Sasha Popov, and keeping
throughout the years the highest professional standards
thanks to the exceptional musicians – instrumentalists,
soloists, conductors, guest-artists. Among the numerous
guest-conductors and guest-soloists noteworthy are the
appearances of H. Abendrott, G. Rozhdestvensky, Y.
Temirkanov, K. Masur, and the soloists D. Oystrach, Sv.
Richter, R. Ricci, Y. Istomin, A. Navara, M.
Rostropovich, H. Schering and many others.
The model of spirit establishment, management, musician
culture and artistry was set by Konastantin Iliev and
Dobrin Petkov in the so called golden years of the
Philharmonic Orchestra between 1956 and 1982. Remarkable
are the achievements of the orchestra under their baton:
first performances in Bulgaria of symphonies by Mahler,
Shostakovich, Hindemith, Prokofiev, Honegger, emblematic
works by Bartok, Sravinsky, Schoenberg, Berg, Webern,
Messian…The principal conductors of the orchestra
Dimitar Manolov (1972 – 1978) and Emil Tabakov (1987 –
2000) carried on the tradition of great performances and
numerous recordings. Yordan Dafov (1981 – 2002) was for
more than 20 years a conductor of the Orchestra in
difficult moments and programmes. For a short period
conductor was Yulian Kovachev (2002 – 2004). In 1981 the
formation was enlarged by the Svetoslav Obretenov
National Philharminic Choir with Lyuba Pesheva as a
present conductor. In 1983 by government decree the
Philharmonic Orchestra received the statute of national
institution. Today the Sofia Quartet, directed by Prof.
Angel Stankov is also part of the institution. Since
2002 Director has been Yavor Dimitrov - pianist and
composer. Conductor of the orchestra since 2004 has been
Dian Chobanov, principal guest-conductor since 2005 –
Nayden Todorov. The orchestra has had successful tours
in Europe, Asia, America. They have realized a lot of
records of CDs for Balkanton, Gega-New, Mega-Music,
Supraphon, Elan, Freqvenz, Koch, Capriccio/Delta and
others.
Dian Chobanov (b. 1971) is among
the generation of young musicians, cultivated their
talent at the national and European institutes and
having successful appearances on the European concert
stages. After graduating at the State Music Academy,
Sofia (1995), he continued his studies at the University
for Music and Interpretative Art, Vienna (graduated in
2001 with an honours diploma). He attended First
International Conductors Course in Dresden with Sir
Colin Davis (2000). A year later he was awarded with the
Janaczek-Found Scholarship.
He was the first prize winner at the V. Stefanov Piano
Competition (1994); first prize winner at the National
Competition for Interpretation and Creative Art –
Plovdiv (1994); the winner of the special prize at the
4th International Austro-Hungarian Competition for
Conductors (1998); 2nd prize and Special Medal at the
Lovro Matachich International Competition for Young
Conductors in Zagreb (2003); being a semi-finalist at
the Prague Spring International Competition for
Conductors (2000).
He was engaged by Concert direction Landgraf (1997),
Austrian National Radio (2000), Opera studio Wiener
Oktogon (1998-2000). In 1998 he won the entrance
examination for student-assistant of Maestro Ivan
Fischer and till 2004 he was regular guest conductor of
Dohnany Orchestra. Since 2003 he has been principal
conductor of the Schönbrunner Palace Orchestra. From the
beginning of 2007 he has been principal conductor of the
Stara Zagora Opera.
Tamás Varga (b. in 1969, Budapest).
Countless solo and chamber music performances have lead
him all over Europe, as well as to Japan, Canada and
South Africa. Graduate of Fr. Liszt Academy of Music in
Budapest and Rubin Academy in Tel Aviv. Among his prizes
is the First prize at the International Forum for young
performers, organized by UNESCO ant the European Radios
Union.
Since 1998 he has been a Principal Cellist of the Vienna
Philharmonic Orchestra, as well as the Vienna State
Opera. Especially noteworthy here are the performances
of the Triple Concerto by Beethoven (1999/2000 season)
under the baton of Giuseppe Sinopoli; Concerto for two
cellos and orchestra by Vivaldi, conducted by Bobby
McFerrin who was also the vocalist of the second part
(2003); the Schumann Cello Concerto with Christoph
Eschenbach (2006). Varga is an enthusiastic chamber
musician and he has worked with such artists and
ensembles as Zoltán Kocsis, Yuri Bashmet, Oleg
Maisenberg, the Bartók Quartet, Vienna Philharmonia
Trio, the Wiener Kammerensemble. In 2004 he presented
and recorded the complete Solo Suites for Violoncello by
Bach, the sixth of which he performed on a five-string
baroque instrument.
After his debut with the Sofia Philharmonic Orchestra in
2004,
Borjan Canev
(b. 1973, Skopje) has been its regular guest conductor
during the last season. In 1997 he graduated at the UKIM
Faculty of Music in Skopje; in 1998 – M.A. at the State
Music Academy in Sofia with Vassil Kazandjiev. In 1999
he became conductor of the Macedonian Philharmonic
Orchestra. In 2001 he received his Post Graduate Diploma
at the Royal College of Music-London. He was assistant
conductor with Sir Colin Davis on Mozart's opera Don
Giovanni. He conducted London Symphony Orchestra in a
LSO Discovery Conducting Master classes with Sir Colin
Davis. He was awarded the August Manns Prize for
Conducting at the Royal College of Music-London, for the
best conductor at the College (2001). Since 2002 he has
been assistant professor at UKIM Faculty of Music in
Skopje and since 2003 Principal conductor of the Skopje
Soloists Chamber Orchestra. He also works with Jeunesses
Musicales Macedonia Chamber Orchestra, ALEA Contemporary
Music Ensemble, Stanislav Binichki Symphony
Orchestra-Belgrade, etc.
Angelina Abadzhieva (b. 1965,
Shumen) has a varied performing practice, ranging a rich
repertoire of different styles – both as soloist and
member of chamber and symphony orchestras. She has
played with most of our leading orchestras and has
toured Italy, Russia, Great Britain, Germany, Japan,
Spain, etc.
She graduated from the Music Academy in Sofia in the
class of Prof. Boyan Lechev who had a great impact on
her development and artistic establishment. At the early
age of 9 she won the first prize at the Svetoslav
Obretenov National Competition (1974), followed by the
special prize at the Kocian International Competition,
The Czech Republic (1976), the highest distinction at
the 7th National Contest for singers and
instrumentalists (1984); fourth prize at the Nicolo
Paganini International Competition in Genoa (1985) and
first prize at the Walter Geiseking Competition in
Germany (1992). |
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