GR 10 NICOLÒ ISOUARD (1773-1818). Liturgical Works for Saint John’s

Soloists, Mirabitur Choir, Malta Philharmonic Orchestra
Richard Divall- conductor

GD 262 IRINA GEORGIEVA plays RACHMANINOFF

Irina Georgieva started her musical career at the age of six in Sofia, Bulgaria, receiving the first prize in a regional music competition. She gave her first solo concert at the age of eight. Prizes follow from prestigious international competitions. While still a student at the National Academy of Music in Sofia she performed with the philharmonic orchestras of Sofia, Varna, Pleven, Shumen, and in 2001 she won a scholarship from the “Gerber ten Bosch” Foundation and continued her studies in Switzerland.

GD 360 NJAGUL TUMANGELOV - violin

Njagul Tumangelov received his musical education at the Music School for Gifted Children in Sofia and then went on to study at the National Academy of Music in Sofia, in the class of the renowned violin pedagogue Professor Boyan Lechev. He began his career as the principal concertmaster of Sofia Philharmonic Orchestra. In 1969 he received the position of principal concertmaster of the Austrian Radio and Television, and after that – of the Bavarian Radio and Television.
The new programme of the performer was recorded again in cooperation with Bojidar Noev and the Munich Rundfunkorchestra conducted by Heinz Wallberg.

GD 358 EMIL TABAKOV
Concerto for Violoncello and Orchestra, “Ad Infinitum”

Emil Tabakov presents two of his works recorded with the Bilkent Symphony Orchestra of Turkey. The works were written in different periods: the Concerto for Violoncello in 2006 and the orchestra piece “Ad Infinitum” (“To Eternity”) – in 1989. They belong to the rich and diverse work output of the composer. His first more significant piece is the ballet “Sashka” written in 1967 when he was a student at the “Pancho Vladigerov” National Academy of Music, Sofia; currently his works include: another ballet, 8 symphonies, 9 concertos for various instruments, 5 pieces for symphony orchestra, chamber and extensive vocal and instrumental works.

GD 355 SCHUBERT & MENDELSSOHN BARTHOLDY
Bulgarian National Radio Symphony Orchestra, Vladimir Ghiaurov, conductor

Conductor Vladimir Ghiaurov presents two very popular composers. Both symphonies – the Tragic by Schubert and the Italian by Mendelssohn have been performed and recorded by major conductors and orchestras. This is a serious test for every conductor, but Vladimir Ghiaurov has repeatedly demonstrated his ability to cope with challenges. He grew up in a family of musicians (his mother was a pianist and his father is world-renowned bass Nicolai Ghiaurov) and graduated in piano at the “Giuseppe Verdi” conservatory in Milan, and after that in conducting and composition at the Music Academy in Vienna.

GD 352 BULGARIAN FOLK HERITAGE, STEFAN KANEV

When referring to classical arrangement of Bulgarian folk music, the name of Stefan Kanev (1930-1991) is associated with some of the most exquisite songs and instrumental masterpieces. He received an academic education in music (opera singing, composition, theory of music and pedagogy) and entered the world of folk art by chance, but his creative biography was connected to folklore up to the end of his life.