The 9th of May not only signifies the day of victory in the Balkan states but also – in the 2021 – the 25th anniversary of the “Austrian Music Weeks” in Bulgaria. David Holzinger was invited by the festival, the Autrian embassy and the Elias Canetti Society, to perform Beethovens 9th symphony with the chorus and orchestra of the State Opera Ruse for this occasion.

25 years ago, the pianist Maria Tschervenlieva initiated concerts with Austrian repertoire in the Plovdiv. In the following year 1997 further concerts in the Bulgarias capital Sofia followed. Due to the growing interest of the public, more concerts with renowned Austrian artists collaborating with Bulgarian orchestras and ensembles were organized. Since the year 2006 the festival is known as the “Austrian Music Weeks” in Bulgaria and is at the same time the largest cultural project funded by the Austrian foreign ministry.

9th of May 2021 at the Concert Hall in Ruse

L. v. Beethoven – Symphony No. 9 in d-Minor

Soprano – Tsvetelina Vasileva

Alto – Petya Tsoneva

Tenor – Boris Lukov

Bass – Plamen Beykov

Chorus and Orchestra of the State Opera Ruse

Conductor – David Holzinger

Chorus leader – Stiliana Dimitrova-Hernani