A Bulgarian constellation of world acclaimed pop and opera stars made the first digital recording of the country's anthem a month after the blunder at the Olympic Games in Athens.
Nikola Gyuzelev, Orlin Goranov, Bulgarian opera prima Raina Kabaivanska, pop diva Roberta, Cappella choir Svetoslav Obretenov and Sofia Philharmonic Orchestra gathered in Bulgaria Hall and recorded the anthem despite a few delays and shortage for musical scores of "Mila Rodino" ("Dear Homeland").
I am at a loss for words to describe my emotions during the recording, an experience of a lifetime, rock star Roberta shared.
It was a very exciting experience as the word "homeland" means much to me, said prima Raina Kabaivanska, who has been living in Italy for decades.
The digital anthem will be recorded in five versions.
The initiators of the project - BogArt Music and producers Hristo Bogdanov and Alexander Alexandrov - came up with the idea after the organizers of Athens Olympic Games played out of tune the Bulgaria's anthem.
The national anthem of Bulgaria is based on the music and lyrics of the song "Gorda Stara Planina" (Proud Stara Planina), written by Tzvetan Radoslavov (1863 - 1931) in the year 1885. He composed the song while he was on his way to the battlefield during the Serb-Bulgarian war. "Mila Rodino" (Dear Homeland) became the National Anthem in the year 1964. The lyrics were altered several times, the last time was in 1990.