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

Remembering Marcel Cellier, discoverer of "The Mystery of Bulgarian Voices"

Marcel and Catherine Cellier
Photo: library

Ten years ago today, Swiss ethno-musicologist and music producer Marcel Cellier (1925-2013) passed away. He left behind a bright mark in the history of Bulgarian music in this country and around the world. Marcel Cellier and his wife Catherine devoted a large part of their lives to Bulgarian folklore - love that dates back to the middle of the 20th century, when they first heard Bulgarian folk songs broadcast on BNR. It was music that captivated them and linked their lives with "the mystery of Bulgarian voices", the archives of the BNR recall. This is the person who presented to the world the performances of the Ensemble for Folk Songs of the Bulgarian Radio, which became famous around the globe under the name "The Mystery of Bulgarian Voices".

Marcel Cellier began cooperation with the Bulgarian National Radio by purchasing recordings for a radio broadcast in Switzerland dedicated to Bulgarian choral singing. The 30-minute radio shows were broadcast once a month from 1960 to 1990. "The Mystery of the Bulgarian Voices," as Catherine Cellier called the show, became a trademark. In 1975, the first album under the title "The Mystery of Bulgarian Voices" emerged. The second album under the same title was awarded a "Grammy" in the category "Best Traditional Folk Recording" for 1989.



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

Democratic Bulgaria: The nomination for prime minister should be discussed at a leaders' meeting

Democratic Bulgaria stated in a message to the media that the nominations for prime minister and the composition of the Council of Ministers should be discussed at a leaders' meeting and after reaching a final agreement on the governance pact...

published on 1/8/25 2:14 PM

According to a parliamentary source, government talks have been renewed

GERB-SDF, Democratic Bulgaria (DB), the Bulgarian Socialist Party (BSP) and There Is Such a People (ITN) are resuming intensive talks to form a government. This was decided by a parliamentary presidential council, BNT reported.  According to..

published on 1/8/25 11:01 AM
Assoc. Prof. Angel Kunchev

Flu epidemic in Bulgaria to reach peak in early February

The metapneumovirus is not new and does not lead to severe illnesses. There is already a decrease in morbidity in China and there are no deaths there, said Bulgaria's chief state sanitary inspector, Assoc. Prof. Angel Kunchev, to bTV.  "I..

published on 1/8/25 10:12 AM