PLEVEN PHILHARMONIC
The numerous attempts of the citizens of Pleven in the orchestral case are crowned with success in 1953, when the distinguished Bulgarian conductor Sasha Popov creates the State symphony orchestra in Pleven. The first concert is in 6th of September with the solo performer Pancho Vladigerov. The staff quickly managed to establish itself as a leading musical institute in the city under the leadership of Nicola Kazasov, Stefan Vachev, Dragomir Nenov, Aleksander Vladigerov, Ivan Bakalov, Emil Yanev, Vladi Atanassov, Dimitar Karagyozov, Kamen Goleminov, Dimitar Manolov, Georgi Notev, Yordan Daffov, Tzanko Delibozov and others. The development professionally, and the expansion of the repertoire is especially tangibly in the period of 1973-1990, when Principal Conductor of the philharmonic is Georgi Notev. Pleven becomes an attractive center for many Bulgarian compositors as Pancho Vladigerov, Marin Goleminov, Vesselin Stoyanov, Aleksander Raichev, who participate in author concerts or being guests of the performance of their music. The high professional level of the Pleven philharmonic under the baton of Maestro Notev, leads to many invitations for participation in tours in Italy, France, Spain, Portugal, Germany, Switzerland, Norway, Finland, Romania, Greece, Czechoslovakia. The Pleven philharmonic also implements on many recordings for the National Bulgarian radio and TV, and many International record companies.
In the period of 1970-1994 Pleven philharmonic has participation as orchestra in National opera Pleven “Hristo Brumbarov”. On 8th of October 1970 is the first premiere of the opera “Funny Gidiya “from the composer Parashkev Hadzhiev. Until the closing of the opera the orchestra takes a place in over 50 titles: opera, operetta and ballet.
Soloists of the orchestra were performers with International popularity, among which Nedyalka Simeonova, Boyan Lechev, Georgi Badev, Mincho Minchev, Bozhidar Noev, Emil Kamilarov, Nikolay Evrov, Ghena Dimitrova, Victor Chuchkov, Petko Radev, Zheni Zaharieva, Anton Dikov, Vladimir Spivakov, Tabea Zimmermann, T. Khrennikov, Igor Oistrakh, Peter Zazofsky, Kaludi Kaludov, Oleg Krysa, Yuliana Avdeeva, Plamena Mangova and many others. On Pleven stage, guests of the orchestra were prominent conductors from Europe, Asia and America, as Vladimir Kozhuhar, Konstantin Oberlyan, Olivie Olt, Ekhart Proyt, Yury Yanko and others.
The repertoire of Philharmonic Pleven includes works of all styles and epochs, as well as many premieres performances of symphonic works and scenic implementations of operas.
The Pleven philharmonic has demonstrated their performing mastery in many stages in the country and abroad. The orchestra participates in many festivals “New Bulgarian music”, “Varna summer”, “Sofia music weeks”, “Apolonia” and other prestige forums. The orchestra participates also actively in the International music festival “Katya Popova” and in 2006 organizes the first national competition for young opera singers “Gena Dimitrova”.