Ending with "Trumpet Extravaganza - A Journey into the Italian Baroque" Varna certainly blew it's own trumpet this year and well did it have cause. The finale of "Varna Summer", the 90th anniversary of the first Bulgarian Music Festival took pace in the modern theatre attached to the historic University of Economics, its self celebrating 100 years of academic achievement. "Varna Summer" commenced in June with international competition for young musicians, taking the public through opera, musicals, classical, cross-over, folk, rock, blues and jazz to end on the theme of the 'Baroque' this weekend. Venues have included the City Art Gallery, the Archaeological Museum, the Sea Garden and the Summer Theatre. Varna Day itself included an open air concert by the Band of the Bulgarian Navy. You cannot get more diverse than this.
For those of you who have seen photos uploaded onto Facebook from my mobile phone (there was a day when the correct usage was 'phone short for telephone but that convention seems to have fallen into disuse, as has the implement itself) will know that my absence of recent posts has not been absence of activity. My original thought for the summer months of July and August were to explore inland until I realised that the world would come to me. For reference full programmes of events are contained in the respective 'What's on' pages of my blog. It all kicked off with my post about the "Festival of the Grill" and I shall post more about the different events when time permits.
As I was wandering around during the summer I noticed a series of posters down on the sea front. A great deal of restoration work has taken place down there and Varna is rightly proud of its facilities and attractions. A closer look at the posters got me thinking. What happened in Varna 90 years ago which gave rise to the opening of the Spa Baths and the first Bulgarian International Music Festival? The year is 1926, was this the dawning of a more affluent age for the peoples of Bulgaria? Was it the coming of the railway? The line had been in place since 1866 but the grand railway station was constructed between 1908 and 1925 when it was opened by Tsar Boris III. His summer palace is just up the road. I have been told that a millionaire discovered the attractive climate, beaches and mineral waters of the area. Familiar with, possibly with investments in, resorts in France and Italy, Bulgaria offered a cheaper destination for the aspiring population and European traveller. Did he drive the investment? Was it the interest in Spa treatments across Europe which encouraged development?
Obviously people with vision chanced to meet around the same time to create such a unique experience. Quoted from the official website (
Link to the Music Festival website) "The great Bulgarian composer, scientist, public figure – and Varna citizen! – outlined right at the beginning the clearly definite purpose of this initiative. “I do hope – he said – the Varna music celebrations will evolve into a nice tradition in the cultural life of Bulgaria”. The prediction came true. The Varna Summer, the successor of the Music Celebrations from 1926 has already turned into tradition in the life of Bulgaria. The oldest in Bulgaria and amongst the oldest ones in Europe, today the Varna Summer Festival reveals itself as a universe of artistic acts, of human experience and destinies" - unfortunately it does not give his name. The idea originated from Varna culture promoters Ghertcho Ghertchev, Ivan Kamburov, Vassil Stavrev, Naiden Naidenov, Yordan Todorov, warmly supported by the composers Dobri Hristov, Pantcho Vladigerov and Maestro Georgi Atanasov. As the photograph shows the spirit of the festival remains true today.
The Varna Summer booklet encompassing the whole of the festival is divided modules. The "core" programme, classical in nature, included fourteen events commencing with a performance by the Varna Philharmonic Orchestra. The "Academy" section comprises master classes and international competition. The "Music Lab" presents a diversity of music performed by local talent whilst the "Crossover" combines classical with other genres such as jazz, pop and techno. "Open Air" combines opera and ballet offering classical and contemporary performances at the Summer Theatre. From the "Count of Monte Cristo" to "Norma" complemented by "Joseph and his Technicolour Dreamcoat" there is something for all tastes. Ending in Baroque the formal program is augmented throughout the summer by such landmarks as Varna Day", the "Folk Festival" and numerous casual events in the park and town centre.
A link to the Varna Summer 2016 album will be added later when I get it sorted. It is not so simples now that Picasa Web is dead ho-hum.
My next post will be something completely different on my return in a weeks time.
(I have adopted a new approach with captions on the photographs so if anyone wants an unblemished copy an email request through my profile should do it. Good idea or not let me know.)
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