From 25 March till 10 June Sofia is hosting the European Music Festival (EMF). The event is the work of the Cantus Firmus music agency. More than 300 performers from 10 countries are expected to join its 2015 edition. More details from the festival’s artistic director Daniela Handzhieva:

“Fifteen events are scheduled to take place during the EMF in the course of more than two months and these go across various music genres. The EMF mission is to present diverse and multi-genre programs. The festival opens with a concert of the Sofia Soloists chamber orchestra with soloist Mario Hossen. Under the baton of Georgi Patrikov the audience will be listening to Four Seasons of Buenos Aires by Astor Piazzolla. The second concert of the Sofia Soloists is on 20 May with the The Seasons by Tchaikovsky for piano and orchestra with soloist Georgi Cherkin, piano. The conductor will be Plamen Djouroff.”

One key highlight at the European Music Festival this year is the concert of the British chamber formation, Academy of St Martin in the Fields on 6 April at Bulgaria Hall.

“This concert is important,” Daniela Handzhieva goes on to say. “This is the second time the chamber orchestra is coming to Bulgaria after a break since 1984. Academy of St Martin in the Fields is active with concerts across the world, but only seldom tours East Europe. Its program in Sofia features Antonin Dvorak, Edward Elgar, Mozart and Benjamin Britten. The orchestra is known to have recorded music for major film productions such as Amadeus, the English Patient and Titanic.”

On 7 April, Mila Georgieva presents the Johannes Brahms violin concerto. The star will appear with the Classic FM orchestra with conductor Luciano di Martino.

On the eve of Easter the European Music Festival will present Die Matthäus-Passion by Johann Sebastian Bach. The 4-hour composition for two choirs, five soloists and orchestra will be presented on 1 April at Bulgaria Hall with support from the Bach Society in Bulgaria.

By tradition part of EMF is the Golden Quill ceremony on the occasion of 24 May, the Day of the Slavonic Script and Bulgarian Culture. Every year the distinction goes to 24 renowned Bulgarian musicians, actors, writers and artists.

English Daniela Konstantinova

Audio file contains the following pieces:

Largo, from Concerto grosso by Arcangelo Corelli in the rendition of Mario Hossen

Third Movement of Concerto grosso №1 by Domenico Scarlatti in the rendition of Academy of St Martin in the Fields

La Companella by Paganini performed by Mila Georgieva (violin)