On March 21, 2026, at 7:00 PM, the Theater Hall in Ruse will become the stage for a powerful dialogue between percussion instruments and orchestra, between ancient legends and contemporary vibrations.

The conductor of the evening is Maestro Nayden Todorov—a conductor known for his vivid, nuanced interpretations and his ability to unite tradition and innovation. He is a long-standing friend of the festival and part of Ruse’s musical heritage, having served as Director of the State Opera–Ruse from 2005 to 2017.

Vivi Vassileva will shine on the concert stage—the virtuoso Bulgarian percussionist who leads listeners beyond the boundaries of traditional perceptions of percussion instruments. Vivi has appeared on some of the world’s most prestigious stages, including in Spain, Ukraine, Poland, Brazil, and Germany. Described as an artist who “moves audiences by exploring and expanding the boundaries of the percussive world,” she combines technical perfection with exceptional virtuosity and fresh creativity, transforming percussion into an instrument of the 21st century.

With her artistry and experimental spirit, she will bring an exotic flavor to the stage of the International Festival “March Music Days” 2026.

The program is unusual and captivating: a performance of the Concerto for Percussion and Orchestra by contemporary composer Danny Elfman, followed by the symphonic suite Scheherazade by N. Rimsky-Korsakov.

Danny Elfman is undoubtedly one of the most popular names among film music composers. He is the creator of the scores for films such as “Edward Scissorhands”, “Batman”, “Alice in Wonderland”, “The Nightmare Before Christmas”, “The Grinch”, and many others. His Concerto for Percussion and Orchestra is a dynamic and ambitious work, superbly interpreted by the musicians of the Sofia Philharmonic.

The Concerto for Percussion and Orchestra has been described by critics as a percussive symphonic revolution and as a remarkable creative impulse by one of the most recognizable figures in film music toward pure “creation” beyond the cinematic world. The work unfolds as a philosophical dialogue between tradition and improvisation—cultures and rhythms that collide, merge, and embrace. With this piece, Elfman pays tribute to percussion—his first love since his youth, when he studied African balafons and Indonesian gamelan ensembles.

The second part of the evening is devoted to the timeless beauty of the symphonic suite “Scheherazade” by Nikolai Rimsky-Korsakov—one of the composer’s most celebrated works. This exotic suite captivates the listener with its recurring themes, most notably the solos of the violin and bassoon, representing the main characters of the story—Scheherazade herself and the Sultan. The rich orchestration carefully integrates Oriental motifs as the music wordlessly recounts the tales of “One Thousand and One Nights”.

Conductor: Nayden Todorov

Soloist: Vivi Vassileva