Sofia to Hail Czech EU Presidency with Fabulous Classical Concert

Politics » BULGARIA IN EU | February 6, 2009, Friday // 00:00
Sofia to Hail Czech EU Presidency by Fabulous Classical Concert: Sofia to Hail Czech EU Presidency with Fabulous Classical Concert Famous Czech conductor Martin Turnovsky File Photo

The Czech Presidency of the European Union is going to be celebrated on February 9 in Sofia by a mega concert, performed by two prominent symphonic orchestras, the Bulgarian New Symphonic Orchestra and the Prague Philharmonia.

The concert is organized under the patronage of the Czech Culture Minister Vaclav Jehlicka and the Check Ambassador to Bulgaria Martin Klepetko. The Ambassador himself is a distinguished musician and recently conducted a concert in the "Bulgaria" concert hall in Sofia.

The gala concert is also held in the "Bulgaria" hall, but this time the Ambassador is going to be among the audience, while famous Czech conductor Martin Turnovsky will take the stand.

The two orchestras will perform pieces from composers such as Bedrich Smetana, Carl Maria von Weber, and Antonin Dvorak.

The Czech conductor, Martin Turnovsky, is born on September 29, 1928 in Prague. He studied conducting at the Prague Academy of Music where he was a pupil of Karel Ancerl (former Music Director of the Czech Philharmonic Orchestra).

By the end of the 1960, following a period of work and guest performances with a number of Czech orchestras, Martin Turnovsky already ranked among Czechoslovakia's most prominent conductors.

After the Soviet invasion in August 1968, Turnovsky decided to emigrate to Austria and began an impressive international career. He served for two seasons as General Music Director of the Dresden State Opera and of the Dresden Staatskapelle (1966 -1968).

In 1975 Turnovsky was appointed Director of the Norwegian State Opera in Oslo, and between 1979 and 1982 he held the same post in the Bonn Opera.

Turnovsky was also involved in opera productions in the Deutsche Opera in Berlin, the Staatsoper Stuttgart, the Royal Opera in Stockholm, the Theatre du Capital Toulouse, the Welsh National Opera, and a number of other opera houses.

Martin Turnovsky has conducted many of the world's most renown symphony orchestras, including the New York Philharmonic Orchestra, the Cleveland Orchestra, the Detroit Symphony Orchestra, the London Symphony Orchestra, the Bavarian Radio Symphony Orchestra, L'Orchestre de la Suisse Romande, the Vienna Symphony Orchestra, the Bamberg Symphony Orchestra, the Toronto Symphony Orchestra, the City of Birmingham Symphony Orchestra, the Royal Liverpool Philharmonic Orchestra, the Tokyo Metropolitan Orchestra, and many more.

In 1992 Martin Turnovsky became the Chief Conductor of the Prague Symphony Orchestra.

The Prague Philharmonia is one of the top Czech orchestras. It organizes concerts of classical music in Prague, performs at music festivals in the Czech Republic and regularly appears abroad.

The orchestra was founded in 1994 by the world renowned conductor JiЕ™Г­В BД›lohlГЎvek and under his leadership quickly became one of the best Czech orchestras with an international reputation.

This has been confirmed by the orchestra's long-term success with the audiences and critics alike, regular invitations for tours abroad and recording contracts with major international labels. The Prague Philharmonia's current chief conductor is Jakub HrЕЇЕЎa.
The average age of the musicians is currently 34 years.

The Bulgarian New Symphonic Orchestra was created 18 years ago to become the first and the longest-lasting private Bulgarian performance organization. The Orchestra sets the standard for musical and artistic vision in Bulgaria, boost a modern management with a Board of Directors and independent financing. Over 1,000 Bulgarian musicians have performed with the New Symphonic Orchestra, which provides outstanding artists to the Sofia Philharmonic, the National Opera, the Musical theater, the Bulgarian National Radio Orchestra as well as to many international ensembles.

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