The first edition of the international chamber song competition, organized by the Pancho Vladigerov foundation, took place in Shoumen, May 17 - 22. For quite some time, its sponsors have been discussing the idea of extending the range of the competition named after the renowned Bulgarian composer. The beginning was laid in 1986, when it was a  piano contest and on the eve of the new millennium violin was added. From then on, the musical range has been extended, and with good reason, knowing the scope of Vladigerov’s works – he is the author of eleven song opuses.

“Our aim is to help this beautiful music reach a broader audience,” says the foundation’s director Diana Decheva and adds:

“We were so excited at the thought of how the competition would go. This was a first edition for us, organizers. Twenty two musicians applied and fifteen actually took part. There were two categories – for men and for women. In the ladies’ category first prize went to Natalia Boeva from Russia, second to Ralitsa Ralinova from Bulgaria and third to Evgenya Siderova also from Bulgaria. In the men’s category the prizes all went to participants from Bulgaria – Alex Avedisyan, first prize, Petar Dimov, second prize and Valentin Vatev – third prize. Special awards for best performance of a work by Pancho Vladigerov went to Ralitsa Ralinova and Alex Avedisyan. Another special prize was awarded by Cultural Perspectives, the foundation of soprano Ina Kuncheva. It was awarded for interpretation of a song by Richard Strauss on the occasion of his 150^th birth anniversary and it again went to Ralitsa Ralinova. The prize for best accompanying pianist was awarded to young Petar Karagenov.”

English: Milena Daynova