Sofia Philharmonic Orchestra
One of Bulgaria's top orchestral ensembles, the Sofia Philharmonic has extended its reach under music director Nayden Todorov, making well-received international tours and recording for labels beyond Bulgaria. The orchestra has also become known for its collaborations with popular musicians.
Bulgaria's first professional symphony orchestra, the Sofia Philharmonic was founded in 1928 as the Academic Symphony Orchestra; its organizer and first conductor was violinist and educator Sasha Popov. It was renamed the Tsar's Military Symphony Orchestra (Bulgaria had a Tsar until 1946), the National Philharmonic Orchestra, and finally, in 1949, the Sofia Philharmonic Orchestra. That name refers both to an orchestra, also still known as the National Philharmonic Orchestra, and to a group of associated ensembles, including the National Philharmonic Choir, the Sofia and Quarto Quartets, and the Bella Voce and Impresia small vocal ensembles. All these groups perform at Sofia's Bulgaria Concert Complex, which includes concert halls of various sizes as well as an art gallery. Recent conductors of the Sofia Philharmonic have included Yulian Kovachev, Martin Panteleev (beginning in 2011), and Nayden Todorov (beginning in 2017). Guest collaborators with the orchestra have been of international caliber, including violinists Joshua Bell and Shlomo Mintz, and a range of vocal soloists that includes Plácido Domingo. Especially under Todorov the orchestra has toured widely, including a stop at the prestigious Musikverein in Vienna as well as tours all over Europe and the U.S. A notable feature of the orchestra's activities has been its work with pop artists; it has accompanied, among others, Sting and Robin Gibb, as well as "Star Wars: A New Hope," a concert tour of China organized by Disney Studios.
The Sofia Philharmonic has recorded for various Bulgarian labels and also for the Austrian label, Capriccio. In the 2010s, it recorded for Red Bus Classical and Timpani, moving to Naxos in 2020 for a recording of the Johann Strauss II operetta Blindekuh. The group has received numerous awards, including the Honorary Sign of the President of Bulgaria.
© James Manheim /TiVo
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Turandot & Madamn Butterfly - Opera Highlights
Opera - Released by Westopera on 7 feb. 2018
16-Bit CD Quality 44.1 kHz - Stereo -
Handel: Highlights from Messiah
Sofia Philharmonic Orchestra, Bulgarian Chapel Choir, Hristina Angelacova
Klassiek - Released by Blaricum CD Company (B.C.D.) B.V. on 11 feb. 2014
16-Bit CD Quality 44.1 kHz - Stereo -
Gustav Mahler: Symphony No 9 in D-Major
Klassiek - Released by Balkanton on 8 aug. 2011
16-Bit CD Quality 44.1 kHz - Stereo -
Gustav Mahler: Symphony No 7 in E moll, "Lied der Nacht"
Emil Tabakov, Sofia Philharmonic Orchestra
Klassiek - Released by Balkanton on 8 aug. 2011
16-Bit CD Quality 44.1 kHz - Stereo -
Puccini: Tosca
Sofia Philharmonic Orchestra, Bulgarian National Choir, Gabriele Bellini
Opera - Released by Arts Productions Ltd on 7 nov. 2006
16-Bit CD Quality 44.1 kHz - Stereo -
Stravinsky: Pulcinella Suite - Jeu de Cartes - Symphony for Wind Instruments
Sofia Philharmonic Orchestra, Sofia Symphony Orchestra, Ivan Marinov
Klassiek - Released by Int - Bertus on 30 sep. 2016
16-Bit CD Quality 44.1 kHz - Stereo -
Gustav Mahler: Symphony No 3 in D-moll
Klassiek - Released by Balkanton on 6 aug. 2011
16-Bit CD Quality 44.1 kHz - Stereo -
Brahms: Symphony No. 3 - Haydn Variations
Sofia Philharmonic Orchestra, Emil Tabakov
Klassiek - Released by Int - Bertus on 3 okt. 2016
16-Bit CD Quality 44.1 kHz - Stereo -
Mahler, G.: Symphony No. 3
Brigitte Pretschner, Svetoslav Obretenov National Philharmonic Choir , Bodra Smyana Children's Choir, Sofia Philharmonic Orchestra, Emil Tabakov
Klassiek - Released by CapriccioNR on 1 jan. 1996
16-Bit CD Quality 44.1 kHz - Stereo -
Carmina Burana, Carl Orff
Roumyana Bareva, Avram Kamenov, Sofia Philharmonic Orchestra, Bulgarian Choir Cappella Svetoslav Obretenov, Peter Yanukov
Opera - Released by Balkanton on 1 jan. 2003
16-Bit CD Quality 44.1 kHz - Stereo -
Mahler, G.: Symphony No. 9 / Symphony No. 10: Adagio
Sofia Philharmonic Orchestra, Emil Tabakov
Klassiek - Released by CapriccioNR on 1 jan. 1996
16-Bit CD Quality 44.1 kHz - Stereo -
Mahler, G.: Symphony No. 7
Sofia Philharmonic Orchestra, Emil Tabakov
Klassiek - Released by CapriccioNR on 1 jan. 1996
16-Bit CD Quality 44.1 kHz - Stereo -
Puccini: Madama Butterfly - Highlights
"Svetoslav Obretenov" Bulgarian National Choir, Sofia Philharmonic Orchestra, Gabriele Bellini
Opera - Released by Arts Productions Ltd on 7 nov. 2006
16-Bit CD Quality 44.1 kHz - Stereo -
Puccini: Tosca - Highlights
"Svetoslav Obretenov" Bulgarian National Choir, Sofia Philharmonic Orchestra, Gabriele Bellini
Opera - Released by Arts Productions Ltd on 7 nov. 2006
16-Bit CD Quality 44.1 kHz - Stereo -
Virtuosity
Mikhail Zhivkov, Kremera Acheva, Fernando Serrano Montoya, Sofia Philharmonic Orchestra, Anthony Armore
Klassiek - Released by Navona on 12 apr. 2019
16-Bit CD Quality 44.1 kHz - Stereo -
Brahms: Academic Festival Overture, Symphony No .4 in E Minor, Alto Rhapsody
Sofia Philharmonic Orchestra, Radio Sofia Symphony Orchestra, Ivanka Tubenova Nivova
Klassiek - Released by Blaricum CD Company (B.C.D.) B.V. on 17 mrt. 2014
16-Bit CD Quality 44.1 kHz - Stereo -
Music for an Imaginary
Sofia Philharmonic Orchestra, Christina Panteliduo, Miltos Logiadis
Klassiek - Released by Naxos on 24 jun. 2008
16-Bit CD Quality 44.1 kHz - Stereo -
Dvoràk: Symphony No. 8 in G Major, Op. 88 - Smetana: Mà Vlast (My Country)
Klassiek - Released by KVZ Music Ltd. on 12 okt. 2002
16-Bit CD Quality 44.1 kHz - Stereo -
Teresa Procaccini: Musica per orchestra IV
Klassiek - Released by Edi-Pan Srl on 2 okt. 2017
16-Bit CD Quality 44.1 kHz - Stereo -
Marin Goleminov - Classics of Bulgarian Music
Sofia Philharmonic Orchestra, Dimov Quartet, Sofia Soloists Chamber Ensemble
Klassiek - Released by Balkanton on 10 feb. 1999
16-Bit CD Quality 44.1 kHz - Stereo -
An Alpine Symphony, Op. 64
Klassiek - Released by Balkanton on 8 aug. 1992
16-Bit CD Quality 44.1 kHz - Stereo