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"Conductor
Emil Tabakov and the Sofia Philharmonic have been together for more than
ten years, and that's fairly rare... His flexible gestures drew a matching
response from an orchestra which sounds disciplined without being drilled,
subtle without being mannered. Last night's programme gave Tabakov's players
enormous scope for expression. Delicate orchestral colours were painted
in the first of Grieg's Peer Gynt suites, before the temperature
soared in the Hall of the Mountain King..."
Peter Palmer, Nottingham Evening Post
" It [the Katchaturian Gayane Suite] was played gloriously loud and
furiously-just as it should be."
Tony Belshaw, Evening Star (Sheffield)
"The orchestra was handled in a firm and friendly manner, and enjoyed
evident rapport with the soloist. Never did I see so many heads nodding,
albeit discreetly, as during Morning Anitra's Dance had the appreciative
audience foot-tapping, quietly, but on a grand scale."
Paul Cormacain, News Letter (Belfast)
"...after the third encore, there was little doubt this high-adrenaline
concert was a hit. The Bulgarian musicians packed a punch with a marathon
programme. ..Everyone jealously eyed the kettledrum player as she battered
the instruments in the Sabre Dance. It was almost impossible to
keep your feet still and the Gopack Dance was the musical equivalent
of driving at 90 miles per hour around a mountain pass.The Sofia Philharmonic
performed as though Leeds was their sole engagement, and the audience
loved it."
Karen Joyner, Yorkshire Evening Post (Leeds)
"The Sofia Philharmonic Orchestra played perfectly-as the big European
orchestras..."
Kultura Newspaper, Bulgaria
The effect of the
guest performance of the Sofia Philharmonic Orchestra at the festival
Varna Summer was such that one journalist exclaimed: 'After hearing
this orchestra, one wonders why other orchestras exist at all'."
Democratia Newspaper, Bulgaria
"The symphony was interpreted theatrically with clearly outlined
patterns and thematic material, all the while being very musical... with
complete emotional impact and colour, with resourceful use of the musical
vocabulary: brilliant brass instruments, clear and beautiful woodwinds,
disciplined and lyrical strings...gorgeous, artful percussion. Emil Tabalov
knew how to light and enflame the spark of enthusiasm [of the members
of the Sofia Philharmonic Orchestra]..."
Kultura Newspaper, Bulgaria
"... the Festival Sofia Music Weeks began with the world premier
of Emil Tabakov's Requiem, commissioned for the 25th anniversary of the
festival. For the first time... a Requiem was composed using the traditional
Latin text of the catholic requiems...This rich, difficult and complex
work was performed brilliantly, showing a deep internal commitment of
the musicians of the Sofia Philharmonic Orchestra and the Bulgarian A
Capella Choir Svetoslav Obretenov, as well as the soloists and
children's choir, all under the baton of the composer.
21st Century Newspaper
"..the remarkable Requiem [composed by Emil Takaov] was a
monumental event in Bulgarian musical history and moreover in the personal
creative work of Emil Tabakov. The performance of the [Requiem] was very
strong because there was a universal inspiration and unanimity between
the large number of musicians and the conductor Emil Tabakov. ...the effect
was a culmination of emotion and exultation that will resound in the soul
for a long time."
Democratia, Bulgaria
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