22 may 2025 Yordan Dafov Will Conduct The Gala Concert

On the eve of the brightest Bulgarian holiday – May 24 – Day of the Holy Brothers Cyril and Methodius, of the Bulgarian alphabet, education and culture, and of Slavic literature, the Burgas Opera has prepared a symphonic concert with works by Bulgarian composers. The program has been specially selected by maestro Yordan Dafov and deserves the attention of symphonic music fans. Under the baton of the distinguished conductor, a diverse concert program will be presented, selected with flair and taste. The doyen maestro Dafov is the winner of the "Golden Age" prize – a necklace from the Ministry of Culture. The talented and respected Bulgarian conductor, who turned 85 this year, is among the prominent figures honored for his contribution to the development of culture and the affirmation of national identity. Yordan Dafov is charged with inexhaustible creative energy and continues to be a benchmark for the class. Every musical event under his baton becomes an unforgettable aesthetic experience. The Easter concert under his direction – in April of this year, in which over 100 performers took part on stage – soloists, orchestra, choir, filled the Opera Hall with an emotional audience and received a wide public response. Yordan Dafov manages to give every event an aura of dedication to the mystery of high art and the spiritual dimensions of the path to Perfection. He also conducted the Christmas Concert of the Burgas Cultural Institute at the end of December 2024 to a full house, which was also a great success. The concertmaster of the Gala Concert on May 23 will be Vanya Zlateva.

The program of the Gala Concert on Friday will include: "Classical and Romantic" op. 24 for chamber orchestra by the great Bulgarian composer, considered a modern classic – Prof. Pancho Vladigerov. Four of the seven movements of the work will be performed: "Rigodon", "Saarabande", "Minuet", and "March". "Always inspired, always sure of what he writes, firmly planted on the ground that he loves and most enthusiastically sings, Vladigerov turns everything he touches into music," says the poet Nikolay Liliev about the great musician, composer,r and teacher. The second work to be performed at the concert on May 23 is "Festive Music" /"Psalms and Rituals"/ for chamber orchestra by Vasil Kazandjiev. The program will follow "Adagio" for string orchestra by Krasimir Kyurkchiyski. The concert will end with "Bucolics" /Thracian Pastoral Scenes/ by Konstantin Iliev, with movements: "Plains", "Wedding", "The Confusion", "Evening in the Field", and "Holiday".

Maestro Dafov shares an intriguing detail about the score of "Bucolics" - it is in the original - a manuscript of the composer himself, and is the property of the Pazardzhik Symphony Orchestra, and was kindly provided for the concert by the renowned conductor.