Naiden Todorov conducts "Turandot" on 12 April
News публикувана на: 11.04.2018
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NAYDEN TODOROV conducts the fabulous "Turandot" on 12 April
NAYDEN TODOROV is among the most talented Bulgarian musicians, with vivid interpretations of both symphonic and operatic works. On April 12, the Maestro will visit Stara Zagora and will stand at the podium to conduct the second premiere performance of the unique production of Puccini's opera Turandot, a joint production of the State Opera-Stara Zagora and the State Puppet Theatre-Stara Zagora. The premiere of the opera-puppet performance of the operatic tale, which has never been presented on the Bulgarian stage before, caused a real furore among the music lovers. The powerful visual impact of the spectacular scenography featuring huge puppets, the beautiful costumes, the attractively unfolded musical drama and the exceptional selection of brilliant soloists /in both premiere performances/ exceeded the expectations of even the greatest connoisseurs and avid fans of the operatic classic. We would like to remind you that the extraordinary production was carried out by an impressive international team: two directors - opera and puppet: Ognyan Draganov and Darin Petkov, set and costume design by the world-famous Romanian artist Catalin Ionesu-Arbore, authors of the designs and realization of the puppets - the famous in the genre artists Silva Bachvarova and Vasil Rocomanov. The conductor of the choir is Mladen Stanev, the sculpture in the performance - by the ballet dancer of the State Opera-Stara Zagora Ballet Hze Fu-Chen from Taiwan. The technical services and studios of the Stara Zagora Opera and Puppet Theatre, as well as studios in different cities of Bulgaria, took part in the preparation of the performance.
On 12 April at 19.00 on the stage of the State Opera Stara Zagora the audience will again enjoy the performance of the last opera of the genius Giacomo Puccini "Turandot", in which this time they will have the opportunity to applaud "their" Turandot - in the face of the talented Stara Zagora woman Tanya Ivanova. The world-renowned Bulgarian tenor Kamen Chanev will be Prince Calaf. The roles of Liu and Timur will be performed by the magnificent soloists of the State Opera-Stara Zagora Rusalina Mochukova and Plamen Kumpikov, and the roles of Ping, Pang and Pong - by Theodore Petkov, Georgi Dinev and Ivaylo Yovchev. Also taking part are the soloists Ivan Kabamitov and Simeon Simeonov, the orchestra, the choir of the State Opera-Stara Zagora, the actors from the State Puppet Theatre-Stara Zagora Biljana Raynova, Denitsa Yanakieva, Dilyana Spasova, Elitsa Stoyanova, Latina Berovska, Tanya Georgieva, Gagyana Ansreeva, Kaloyan Georgiev, Kiril Antonov, Lyuben Chanev, Stanislav Matev, Tsveti Peyashki, Yancho Ivanov, children from the Children and Youth Opera and Ballet Studio "Margaritki", representatives of the Pre-Bulgarian Survival School "Baga-Tur".
The musical score is in the hands of NAYDEN TODOROV - current director of the Sofia Philharmonic. The Maestro's upward professional path is very closely connected with opera and ballet. Puccini is one of Naiden Todorov's favourite composers and he always gladly accepts the challenge to immerse himself in his brilliant operatic work. Each time there is more for him to discover and new inspiration to ignite the musicians and bring an exciting musical interpretation to the audience.
Naiden Todorov made his conducting debut at the age of 16 as a student at the Dobrin Petkov Music School in Plovdiv, where he founded the Plovdiv Youth Orchestra. Since 1993 he has been a student of prof. Karl Josterreicher and prof. He was a scholarship holder of the Rotary Club of Vienna. In 1996-1997 he was invited by the Leonard Bernstein Foundation, Jerusalem, to Israel for a specialization and worked there with Mandy Rodan, conductor of the Israel Philharmonic. In addition to his training as a conductor, in 2013 he graduated as a cultural manager from New Bulgarian University.
Since the 2004-2005 season, Naiden Todorov has been a regular guest conductor of the Sofia Philharmonic Orchestra, with which he made his debut in 2001, and from 2005-2017 he was director of the State Opera - Ruse. He works with various orchestras in Bulgaria and abroad. He has also participated in dozens of international festivals in Europe, Asia, Africa and North America.
He has received numerous awards from the Slovak Music Fund, Rotary Club-Vienna, Borghese Foundation, Sofia Award for the production of the opera Faust with the National Opera and Ballet, Golden Petolinie for his contribution to the development of Bulgarian music, Golden Book with the State Opera - Ruse for his contribution to the development of Bulgarian culture, George Wächter Foundation Award - Switzerland, etc. In 1998-1999 Naiden Todorov was selected among more than 150 candidates for the permanent conductor of the North Israel Symphony Orchestra in Haifa. In the same year he was invited to be Artistic Advisor to the Los Angeles International Chamber Music Festival.
In 2005, Naiden Todorov received the Crystal Lyre as conductor for his performance of Gustav Mahler's Second Symphony with the Sofia Philharmonic, and in 2016 he received the same award for his work with the State Opera - Ruse. He has made numerous recordings for various radio and television stations in Bulgaria and abroad - he has participated in more than 130 CDs released in Austria, Germany, Great Britain, Denmark, Israel, USA and Hungary. He has worked with the record companies Naxos, MMO, R-Music, Hungaroton, Danacord, Balkanton and the impresarios Melos, M-Art and Columbia Artists Management.
In March 2013, Naiden Todorov was voted "Musician of the Year" by the listeners of Bulgarian National Radio. In 2014, he received the Emil Chakarov Award, and in 2016 he was awarded the title of "Honorary Citizen" of the city of Ruse.
Since the beginning of 2017 Naiden Todorov has been the director of the Sofia Philharmonic.