site.bta98th Edition of Varna Summer International Music Festival Opened by Varna Opera Symphony Orchestra

The 98th edition of the Varna Summer International Music Festival opened in the seaside city of Varna with a concert by the Varna Opera Symphony Orchestra on Saturday. The concert was conducted by Konstantin Ilievski, who stood for the first time on the podium with the Varna Orchestra.

"This is a century-long tradition that Varna has maintained for so long. The fact that we manage to preserve and build on this cultural heritage shows that we Varna citizens are capable of looking forward to the future", said Varna Mayor Blagomir Kotsev, adding that the Municipality will continue to support the festival in the future.

According to tradition, the programme was opened with Vardar Rhapsody by Pancho Vladigerov. The performance of pianist Sarkis Baltayan of George Gershwin's Concerto in F was wildly applauded by the audience. Baltayan has been working and performing in the US for years and has performed Gershwin to American audiences on several occasions, including at Carnegie Hall. The audience also had the opportunity to see the world premiere of Overture in the Form of Hope (Ouvertrure en forme d'Esperance) by Patrick Dheur, who also attended the concert.

In a congratulatory address to the organizers, the caretaker Culture Minister Nayden Todorov pointed out that the festival once again turns Varna into the capital of classical music. "Without losing its uniqueness over the years, Varna Summer has managed to establish itself at the national and international level. It is a stage for presenting the latest and best in Bulgarian and world music, a creative laboratory and a place for lively cultural debate and for the discovery of young talents, an institution with a focus on the children's audience", stated Todorov.

"We look proudly towards the 100th anniversary of the festival and we believe that music, art and harmony will be a unifying factor that will make us stronger", concluded Varna Summer Artistic Director Prof Mario Hosen.