18 february 2023 Maestro Yordan Dafov - 83 Years Old!

Today maestro Yordan DAFOV, chief artistic director of the State Opera - Burgas, celebrates his 83rd birthday!
We wish him to be healthy, still vital, maintain his high class, and continue to be a benchmark for perfectionism in cultural circles!
Every musical event under his baton becomes an unforgettable source of aesthetic charge.
Maestro Yordan Dafov is one of the most emblematic representatives of the modern Bulgarian conducting school, known as a conductor with high musical culture and respected for his unique conducting technique.
He graduated from the Bulgarian State Conservatory in Sofia in the class of Prof. Konstantin Iliev. From 1970 to 1971, as a young conductor, he took a master's class in analysis, composition, and aesthetics with Prof. Olivier Messiaen at the Paris National Conservatoire. In 1966, he began as conductor of the Varna Philharmonic. In 1977, he was the artistic director and chief conductor of the Burgas Philharmonic. At the beginning of 1981, he became the conductor of the Sofia Philharmonic Orchestra, and at the same time, he was the chief conductor of the Tolbukhin Chamber Orchestra, which under his skillful baton managed to win the name of one of the best chamber ensembles in Bulgaria. From 1997 to 1999, he was the artistic director and chief conductor of the Varna Philharmonic. Meanwhile, Maestro Dafov leads a master class together with H. Faberman (USA). From November 2000 to May 2002, he was the director and conductor of the Sofia Philharmonic. Known as a conductor in France, Italy, Russia, Switzerland, Romania, Spain, Poland, and Hungary. He makes recordings for BNT and BNR, as well as for French and Swedish radio and Spanish television. He is the author of three symphonies, "Morning music and serenades" (for string orchestra), "In profile and full face" (for large symphony orchestra), vocal music for instrumental chamber ensembles, and theater music. Maestro Dafov is the recipient of the "Golden Century" award of the Ministry of Culture. The talented and respected conductor is among the distinguished figures honored for their contribution to the development of culture and the affirmation of national identity.