SECULAR AND CHURCH MUSIC BY GOOD CHRISTOV

1 December,
19.00 ч.
Opera Stage
State Opera - Stara Zagora

SECULAR AND SACRED MUSIC BY GOOD CHRISTOV

Conductor Miroslav Popsavov
Soloists,
With the participation of the Stara Zagora State Opera Choir with choirmasters Mladen Stanev and Stefania Ruseva

The choir of the State Opera - Stara Zagora will celebrate on 1 December the 150th anniversary of the birth of Dobri Hristov. The concert will be conducted by Miroslav Popsavov, professor of choral conducting in the discipline of "Church Music". The soloists of the Stara Zagora Opera Ivaylo Djurov, Emilia Terzieva and Stoyan Buyukliev will also participate. The songs of the founder of the national musical culture Dobri Hristov are bright, melodious, full of lyricism, primal energy and brilliance. Before the concert, a collection of songs by the Bulgarian classic, edited by prof. Milko Kolarov.

"There is a lot to say about Dobri Hristov. We, the musicians, call him the Partriarch of Bulgarian music. He was the teacher of many other prominent composers. Without him, perhaps the process of development of Bulgarian musical culture would have slowed down. It was quite difficult for me to select his works for the concert out of many. The concerto is a mixture of secular and church music. Dobri Hristov had an affinity for church music from childhood. His first performance was in his hometown of Varna, at St. Mary's Cathedral. After that he went to study in Sofia and wrote "Liturgy", published only in 1925 with the blessing of the Holy Synod.

I have had the good fortune, the pleasure of conducting at two of his pulpits - one of them is in the Church of the Holy Seventy in Sofia. The other is at St. Alexander Nevsky Cathedral - again in the capital.

Dobri Hristov's style is unique for its time - says Bulgarian musicology."

Prof. Miroslav Popsavov - conductor

"It is precious and exhilarating to preserve and honour the art bequeathed to us, so it is with joy and excitement that the Stara Zagora State Opera Chorus is preparing this concert as part of FOBI. The concert will introduce the audience to one of the fundamental figures of Bulgarian musical culture - that of the composer Dobri Hristov. We will hear treasured Church Slavonic chants and some of the most performed and loved secular choral songs by Dobri Hristov, which will bring the audience delight and joy!"

Stefania Ruseva - choirmaster

CONCERT PROGRAMME:

Bless my soul

Blessed husband (solo Stoyan Buyukliev)

Light Silent

Nina's release

Praise the name of the Lord (solo Ivaylo Jurov)

Great praise

In Thy Kingdom (solo by Emilia Terzieva)

Cherubic Song No. 1

To Thee We Sing

"Villa se yi gora" and "Ganina's Mother" - m. choir (solo Stoyan Buyukliev)

"Frost has fallen, Gane" - g. choir

"Dafino vino" - m. choir

"Desolate Maidens of Zheravny" - s.choir (solo Stoyan Buyukliev)

"Native Song"