The Symphony Orchestra of the Varna State Opera will perform at the 65th edition of the March Music Days International Festival under the baton of Maestro Pavel Balev.

Pavel Balev is the Principal Conductor of the Limoges Opera (France), General Music Director of the Nordhausen Theater (Germany), and Guest Conductor of the Baden-Baden Philharmonic. The Maestro is also a long-time partner and guest conductor of the Varna State Opera.

Soloists for the concert are violinists Marian Kraev and Krasimir Shterev.

Marian Kraev is the Concertmaster of the Munich Symphony Orchestra and one of the most distinguished Bulgarian violinists on the European stage. He will be joined by Krasimir Shterev, another concertmaster with a remarkable career, a leading figure in the Varna State Opera and the Camerata Orphica Ensemble at New Bulgarian University.

The program features works by C. Debussy, B. Martinů, and L. Pipkov – a fascinating selection enriched by the artistry of the two soloists.

Composed shortly after Debussy completed his formal musical training, “Petite Suite” impresses with its charming melodies, which stand in contrast to most of his later works exploring modern harmonies and tonal colors. The suite consists of four short, charming pieces, the first two inspired by poems from Paul Verlaine’s Fêtes galantes (1869).

Written in 1950, during Martinů’s time in New York, the Concerto for Two Violins and Orchestra was composed for a large symphonic ensemble in the spirit of the Romantic concerto tradition. Though initially slow to gain recognition, today it is admired for its complexity, carefully integrated dissonances, and intricate rhythmic design, making it a true challenge for the soloists.

The final work in the program is Symphony No. 1 by the beloved Bulgarian composer Lyubomir Pipkov. The symphony draws on motifs from Bulgarian folk music without directly copying it. Pipkov builds the work around several main themes, developing them across four movements that complement rather than contrast each other. The overall tone of the symphony is lyrical, yet it surprises with moments of drama and heroism.