site.btaUPDATED March Music Days Festival Ends with Verdi's Requiem

The 64th March Music Days International Festival ended on Sunday with Verdi's Requiem performed by the Festival Orchestra and Choir of Ruse under the batons of Maestro Emil Tabakov and Choirmaster Steliyana Dimitrova – Hernani, said the festival's Director, Iva Chavdarova.

The soloists were soprano Krassimira Stoyanova, mezzo-soprano Violetta Radomirska, tenor Mauro Secci and bass baritone Pete Thanapat.

Maria Dukanova, Principal of the National School of Arts of Ruse, said the festival orchestra, made up mostly of graduates of the school, is celebrating the 65th anniversary of the school and 15 years since the orchestra was founded. This was its tenth participation in March Music Days. Around 80 musicians from 19 countries in four continents took the stage.

Krassimira Stoyanova said she feels very connected to the festival. "I love the audience in Ruse, and I know how much they love March Music Days. It is wonderful to be among like-minded people," she said. Requiem beautifully connects the emotions and preparations for Easter, it is one of the most moving musical works, the opera prima commented.

Violetta Radomirska said this is one of the most challenging pieces to perform, while Pete Thanapat said he was very happy to be singing in this concert.

Maestro Emil Tabakov finds the atmosphere wonderful: "It is admirable that these musicians, who come from different countries, manage to blend as an orchestra in just two days. Working with this orchestra is a great pleasure, it is very easy and enjoyable."

Deputy Mayor Encho Enchev presented an honorary plaque of the Ruse Municipality to flautist Prof. Georgi Spassov for his many years of creative and teaching activity in favour of Bulgarian culture.

"For sixty creative years as an artist and professor at the National Music Academy, he never stopped caring for his young pupils from Ruse and the country. The school which Prof. Georgi Spassov created in Bulgaria is not only unsurpassed, but also extremely important for the development of Bulgarian music culture," Enchev said.

March Music Days is one of the oldest and most prestigious festivals in Bulgaria, with an up-to-date programming strategy. Founded in 1961, the festival turns Ruse every year into a meeting place for elite musicians from Europe and the world.

The Bulgarian News Agency (BTA) is one of the principal media partners of the event.