Rousse Philharmonic Orchestra
Native name | Русенска филхармония |
|---|---|
| Company type | Orchestra |
| Industry | Music, performing arts |
| Founded | 1948 |
| Defunct | 2010 |
| Headquarters | Rousse , Bulgaria |
Key people | Nayden Todorov (General Music Director from 2005) |
| Products | Concerts, recordings |
The Rousse Philharmonic Orchestra () was a Bulgarian ensemble active between 1948 and 2010. It collaborated with prominent Bulgarian maestros including Konstantin Iliev, Dobrin Petkov, Sasha Popov, Russlan Raychev, Ilia Temkov, Alexander Vladigerov, Tzanko Delibozov, and Georgi Dimitrov. Beginning in 2005, Maestro Nayden Todorov held the position of General Music Director.
History
In 1961, the Rousse Philharmonic became the initiator of Bulgaria’s inaugural international music festival, March Music Days, which helped establish Rousse as a key international hub for music. This yearly festival, held every March, draws top orchestras, solo performers, composers, and conductors from around the world. Five years later, in 1966, the orchestra introduced Winter Music Evenings, marking Bulgaria’s first festival of its nature.
The orchestra welcomed renowned conductors such as Kurt Mazur, Rolf Kleinert, Carol Stria, Carlo Zecchi, Helmut Koch, Valeri Gergiev, and Evgenii Svetlanov. It also featured celebrated soloists including Salvatore Accardo, Ruggiero Ricci, Daniel Stefan, Svetoslav Richter, Franco Petraci, Yuri Bashmet, and Vladimir Spivakov. Russian composer Dmitry Shostakovich notably visited twice, in 1958 and again in 1965. Between 1975 and 1992, the orchestra was involved with Italy's Accademia Chigia Sienna.
Regular collaborators comprised figures like Franco Ferrara, Carlo Maria Giulini, Genady Rozdestvensky, and Bruno Bartolletti. Their repertoire ranged from early classical pieces to modern compositions, including significant works such as Prokofiev's Ivan Grozny and Alexander Nevsky, Stravinsky's Oedipus, Petrushka, and The Rite of Spring, Strauss's Also sprach Zarathustra, as well as Orff's Carmina Burana. The orchestra undertook extensive tours across Austria, Germany, Italy, Poland, Romania, Spain, France, and Switzerland in addition to domestic performances. It also produced numerous recordings with Bulgarian National Radio and Balkanton, issuing multiple CDs.
Opera and Philharmonic Society
Formed in 1999, the Opera & Philharmonic Society Rousse combines two leading cultural institutions: the Rousse State Opera and the Rousse Philharmonic Orchestra. This organization offers a diverse program that includes opera, ballet, and symphonic concerts, earning acclaim for its accomplished soloists and conductors.
The Society manages two venues with seating capacities exceeding 600 each: a concert hall equipped with a recording studio and an Opera House. It also possesses technical resources for creating theatrical stage sets.
General Music Director
General Music Director Nayden Todorov received his musical education under Karl Osterreicher and Uros Lajovic in Vienna. He has led major orchestras throughout Europe, America, and Israel, including serving as resident conductor of the Israel Northern Symphony. In 1997, he established the "Thracia Summer" festival. Todorov is recognized as an accomplished young conductor with an extensive repertoire who has recorded over 100 CDs for labels such as Naxos and Hungaroton. Additionally, he holds the role of Principal Guest Conductor with the Sofia Philharmonic Orchestra.
Selected recordings
- Concerto for Cathy, with oboist Catherine Gerardi (Albany Records)
- Reinecke's Concerto in D major, Op. 283 alongside Ballade, Op. 288 (Music Minus One Flute)