Podcast in English
Text size
Bulgarian National Radio © 2025 All Rights Reserved

One more musical extravaganza: Varna Summer jazz festival, opening tonight

Photo: pixabay

Established in 1992, the Varna Summer jazz festival has long ago grown to be a symbol of top-notch professionalism in terms of selection of artists for its programme. Since 2000 the festival has taken place on the outdoor stage in the English garden of the Archaeological Museum which makes the experience all the more memorable – for the participants and for the audience.

Varna Summer is the oldest jazz festival created, from the very outset, as an international event. Of course there have been other such events in the country through the years. But the only one to have survived is the jazz festival in Rousse, which started out in 1975 as a national event, though its very first editions saw the participation of artists from abroad.

The first concert at the 29th edition of the jazz forum in Varna is by Half Easytrio, and the programme is from the debut project by Martin HafiziThe album featuring this programme was released about a year ago, the music is performed by Martin Hafizi and his trio from the Netherlands where he lives and works. In this country Martin will present his music together with Antoni Donchev – piano, and Mihail Ivanov – double bass.

The concert by Miroslav Ivanov Quartet is also on 18 August, and on the following night audiences will be able to watch Tamara Lukasheva (Germany) perform.

According to the programme, she was supposed to perform with Vadim Neselovskyi, USA, but as Radio Bulgaria found out from artistic director Anatoly Vapirov, he will not be attending the festival, with fellow musician from Bulgaria Antoni Donchev standing in. Lyubomir Denev will present his “Dialogue with Milcho”, dedicated to Bulgarian jazz pianist Milcho Leviev

On the last night of the festival audiences will be looking forward to Rosen Zahariev’s project Roko & his brothers,as well as the Konstantin Kostov- Agnieszka Hekiert quartet. Konstantin is Bulgarian, he earned his education in this country and in Germany where he has been living for years. His project with the singer from Poland is among the most colourful of all programmes he has presented in recent years.

“In times like these organizing a festival is no easy thing and there will always be changes, but I hope the audience will appreciate these magnificent musicians,” Mr. Vapirov says.





Последвайте ни и в Google News Showcase, за да научите най-важното от деня!
Listen to the daily news from Bulgaria presented in "Bulgaria Today" podcast, available in Spotify.

More from category

Kristian Kostov starts a new chapter with his song "Az Sum Ti"

Although young, Kristian Kostov is already an established performer and songwriter. He made a strong impression during the fourth season of X Factor Bulgaria, reached the grand final, and won a large audience. He then represented Bulgaria at..

published on 3/26/25 6:10 AM

Matilda the Musical based on Roald Dahl's best-seller to be presented in Bulgaria for the first time

One of the undisputed Broadway hits of the last decade - "Matilda" by Tim Minchin and Dennis Kelly, based on the famous children's novel of the same name by Roald Dahl, will be staged for the first time in Bulgaria on the stage of the..

published on 3/25/25 3:39 PM

In "Pladney", JazzBoree once again drinks water from the well of Bulgarian folklore

Tradition and modernity intertwine in the songs of the musicians from the ethno jazz formation JazzBoree. This is also the case in their latest song, "Pladney", inspired by our folk stories of love. Singer Savina Plamenova authored the music and lyrics..

published on 3/22/25 9:10 AM