Tantum Ergo in E-Flat Major, D. 962Antoaneta Besparova, Yulia Barumova, Bozhidar Mitroushev, Dimitur Yanakiev, Bulgarian National Choir, Sofia Philharmonic Orchestra & Georgi Robev
ALBUMTchaikovsky: Complete Works for Violin and OrchestraSvetlin Roussev & Sofia Philharmonic Orchestra
ALBUMJ. Strauss II: Waldmeister (Excerpts)Martina Bortolotti von Haderburg, Daniel Schliewa, Noah Schaul, Robert Davidson, Sofia Philharmonic Orchestra & Dario Salvi
ALBUMVirtuositySofia Philharmonic Orchestra & Anthony Armoré
ALBUMVerdi: La traviataMarta Torbidoni, Michail Michailov, Anton Keremidtchiev, Sofia Philharmonic Orchestra & Ljubka Biagioni
ALBUMTeresa Procaccini: Musica per orchestra IVSofia Philharmonic Orchestra
ALBUMErnst Toch: Zweites Klavierkonzert, Op. 61 & Musik für Orchester und eine BaritonstimmePierre-Yves Pruvot, Amaury du Closel & Sofia Philharmonic Orchestra
ALBUMBrahms: Academic Festival Overture, Symphony No .4 in E Minor, Alto RhapsodySofia Philharmonic Orchestra, Radio Sofia Symphony Orchestra, Emil Tabakov, Ivan Marinov & Ivanka Tubenova Nivova
ALBUMMozart and F. Strauss: Horn WorksO-Jin Kim, Youngchil Lee, Sofia Philharmonic Orchestra & Snejana Abrasheva
Artist Biography
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