After Bulgaria has made for the focus of Europe's cultural agenda for four months, the Europalia-Bulgaria 2002 festival in Belgium will be closed with a final gala on Friday.
Bulgaria's Culture Minister Bozhidar Abrashev arrived in Brussels to attend the final event. He will present thank-you letters to the Europalia International Foundation, which was the key partner in displaying the magic of Bulgarian art at the festival.
Famous Bulgarian opera singers Ana Tomova-Sintow, Nikola Gyuzelev, Kaloudi Kaloudov will take part in the gala concert together with the world-celebrated choir of the Bulgarian National Radio and the Flemish Royal Symphony Orchestra. Prominent Belgian artists, politicians, economists will flock to the closing event that is expected to attract Bulgarian Diaspora living in Belgium as well.
Belgium's King Albert II and Queen Paola were joined by Bulgaria's President Georgi Parvanov and first lady Zorka Parvanova in the inaugurate of Europalia - Bulgaria 2002 in October. The highlight of the prestigious festival's Bulgarian edition was the exhibition of Thracian gold discovered at Bulgarian archaeological sites.
Created in 1969 in Brussels, Europalia was established to highlight the culture of a chosen country - member-states of the European Community first and subsequently more distant countries.