Maestro Grigor Palikarov was just awarded the "Crystal Lyre" in the Conductor category. He was recognized with this award among many of his accomplished peers. This is the most prestigious award given out by the Union of Bulgarian Musicians and Dancers (UBMD). The UBMD was founded in 1901 and is one of the first professional unions in the country. More at:  www.ubmd.org 

Grigor Palikarov was born in 1971, in Plovdiv, Bulgaria. He made his debut at the age of 22 as an opera conductor in April of 1994, with Verdi's "Rigoletto" at two major opera houses in Bulgaria.

Since January 2001, Mr. Palikarov works as a full-time conductor at the National Opera and Ballet-Sofia, conducting a rich variety of repertoire which includes more than fifty opera and ballet titles from classical and contemporary composers.

Since the beginning of the 2005/06 season, Mr. Palikarov has also taken the position of General Artistic Manager and Conductor of the Symphony Orchestra-Pazardzhik. In September 2008, he became the Principal Conductor of "Classic FM" Symphony Orchestra-Sofia.

In the following years, he has been performing alongside many famous soloists, including members of the Vienna Philharmonic: Albena Danailova (Concertmaster), Wolfgang Schulz, Franz Bartolomey, Dieter Flury, Robert Nagy, Svetlin Roussev (Concertmaster of the French National Radio Orchestra), Glenn Dicterow (Concertmaster of the New York Philharmonic), and others.

Mr. Palikarov is often invited as a guest conductor of many orchestras, opera theatres, and national and international music festivals in Germany, Austria, Belgium, France, Italy, Luxemburg, Macedonia, Slovenia, Switzerland, Taiwan, USA, Japan, etc. His debut in the USA has been described by the American critics as "one of the most important musical events for year 2009." Grigor Palikarov also makes regular recordings of orchestral pieces, opera arias, and ensembles as a guest conductor of the Symphony Orchestra of the Bulgarian National Radio. Some of his recordings can be found on CDs and DVDs produced by different companies. More at:

 www.bvartistsinternational.com/Grigor_Palikarov.html 

Maestro Palikarov with the "Crystal Lyre"

November 16, 2012

November 21, 2012

November 23, 2012

Opera & Philharmonic Society, Rousse, Bulgaria

November 25, 2012

 www.eventsinbulgaria.com/opera/opera-and-ballet-festival-in-stara-zagora/ 

December 07, 2012

December 12, 2012

December 14, 2012 

www.operavarna.bg 

The members of Stankov Ensemble have been busy organizing their 2nd London Festival of Bulgarian Culture. Over twenty concerts and events were presented in 30 days in major halls in central London, featuring eleven symphony and chamber music concerts, with over 300 performers participating such as Varna Bulgarian Symphony Orchestra, Chilingirian Quartet, and the Big Band of the Bulgarian National Radio. The festival has drawn an audience of over seven thousand, and has been featured in all major television channels in Bulgaria, as well as in several well-established Bulgarian and UK newspapers and music magazines.

RECENT REVIEW:

Duma Newspaper, Sofia, BULGARIA
October 25, 2012

"Stankov Ensemble from Great Britain offered Bulgarian music lovers an exceptional musical journey."

"Every new edition of the Festival for American and Bulgarian music continues to convince us how important it is to get to know each other by "listening" to each other."

"... Another exceptional musical journey was offered by Stankov Ensemble from Great Britain."

"... In fact this ensemble of Bulgarian musicians - Ivo Stankov - violin, Vanya Stankova - soprano, and Lachezar Stankov - piano, who live and work in London, is an established team, which in the last few years has introduced us not only to unusually intriguing programmes, but also to the quality of the Bulgarian musicians, who have been competing successfully on the difficult competitive market in the world in the last few years."

"... The ensemble has proven their skills in building up the dramaturgy in their programme, which captures the attention and holds it all the way to the end, suggesting the ideas as if in one breath. Succinctly, with no excess. And so on. From the Bulgarian song-writer, the jubilee, through another jubilee - John Adams, the Armenian - Alan Hovhaness, John Williams and Martin Georgiev. A journey through different ages, different styles, different signatures, felt and interpreted by Vanya Stankova, Ivo Stankov and Lachezar Stankov. A musical family, which not only works as an ensemble, but every one of whom has reached the high interpretative state, and level. I call it a state, because in chamber music the pulse of every participant must be the pulse of a whole body. And this happens somewhat naturally in this family ensemble."       

"Ivo Stankov is not only a virtuoso violinist, as he is defined by critique, but also a musician with a heart. He has the skill to weave the thread of emotion in every work, so that he may reach the hearts of the audience. A thing so important in our time of technical virtuosity. Vanya, his wife, strengthens the impression, as in previous concerts, of a sensitive musician with a beautiful, warm and inspired voice combined with the ability to interpret contrasting styles. Lachezar Stankov, the pianist, is also an organic breath in the ensemble, and exhibits the same characteristics."

"... Stankov is clearly able to get under the skin of such different composers and give their works a real life."

Original text of the review in Bulgarian:   

Selected Events November/December, 2012

November 3, 2012
2nd London Festival of Bulgarian Culture
Cadogan Hall, London
Varna Bulgarian Symphony Orchestra
Vania Vatralova-Stankov, soprano    

November 6, 2012   

2nd London Festival of Bulgarian Culture
King's Place, London
Chilingirian Quartet  

with Ivo Stankov, violin and Lachezar Stankov, piano

www.lfbc.eu

November 25, 2012
2nd London Festival of Bulgarian Culture
St John's Smith Square, London
Arcadia Mundi Symphony Orchestra

Ivo Stankov, violin
www.lfbc.eu

Please visit www.StankovEnsemble.com  

for more information.