Photo: Archive of the Sofia Boys’ Choir
Source: Official website of the Sofia Diocese, 22 June 2018, 19:36
Author: Vesela Ignatova
On 21 June, the Sofia Boys’ Choir celebrated its 50th anniversary with a gala concert under the motto “VIVA LA MUSICA!”. For half a century, Bulgaria’s first boys’ choir has delighted audiences with performances spanning a wide range of musical styles.
The event, held at Bulgaria Hall and conducted by Prof. Dr. Adriana Blagoeva, featured a selection from the choir’s repertoire, including both new works and cherished favorites. Special emphasis was placed on Bulgarian compositions, some written specifically for the choir. The audience was further impressed by performances from former members of the ensemble, joined by instrumentalists. Throughout the concert, a video screen presented the choir’s history and artistic journey, including interviews with alumni who shared their memories and extended their best wishes to the current and future members of the boys’ choir.
The prestigious concert hall welcomed numerous representatives of state, municipal, and public institutions, including the Rector of the National Music Academy, composers, conductors, and other prominent musicians.
Representing His Holiness Patriarch Neofit of Bulgaria and Metropolitan of Sofia, the ceremony was attended by Vicar Bishop Polikarp of Belogradchik, accompanied by Ik. Kiril Popov, conductor of the Sofia Priests’ Choir, and Deacon Konstantin Trenev. From the stage, the bishop extended greetings to the choir’s artistic director and long-serving conductor, Prof. Dr. Adriana Blagoeva, as well as to the members of the Sofia Boys’ Choir, on behalf of Patriarch Neofit. He wished them health, continued creative success, and the joy of delighting audiences both in Bulgaria and internationally. Prof. Blagoeva was presented with the Patriarch’s book, Life and Hymnody, which contains his original compositions and reflects his professional musical training and international achievements.
The Sofia Boys’ Choir was founded in 1968 by conductor Lilyana Todorova, who led the ensemble until 1989. Through dedication and care, she built a distinctive choir that stood out for both its musical quality and the young age of its singers. Since 1989, the choir has been under the direction of Prof. Dr. Adriana Blagoeva, whose determination and creative vision have established the ensemble as a constant presence in the concert life of Sofia and Bulgaria. For 50 years, generations of boys have devoted themselves to choral art, driven by their love of singing and desire to share that passion with the audience. Music lives in this choir, renewed by the youth and enthusiasm of its members, and sustained by the talent and devotion of its conductors.
The anniversary concert was part of the program of the International Festival “Sofia Music Weeks”.
