Figures of Plovdiv

Figures of Plovdiv

Ivan Spassov (1934-1996)

Ivan Spassov (1934-1996)

1/1/2012 12:00:00 AM

Ivan Spassov (Jan. 17, 1934, Sofia, - Dec. 22, 1996, Plovdiv), composer, conductor, pedagogue...

Ivan Spassov graduated from the State Academy of Music in 1957, majoring in Composition under Professor Pancho Vladigerov and Choral Conducting under Professor Georgi Dimitrov. He specialised in composition with Kazimierz Sikorski and Stanislaw Wislocki at the Warsaw Conservatoire (1960-62). At his graduation concert, Spassov conducted the Warsaw Philharmonic premiering his First symphony.

Upon his return he was appointed symphony conductor. He founded the Plovdiv Chamber Orchestra and the Plovdiv Musical Youth Society. This gave him the opportunity to premiere works by Penderecki and other modern authors. In 1967 he took part in the summer courses for new music in Darmstadt, where in 1968 the Orchestra of Radio Frankfurt conducted by Gilen performed his Episodes for Four Timbral Groups.

From 1970 to 1991 he was Main Artistic Director of the Pazardzhik Symphony Orchestra, with which he toured and recorded in Bulgaria and abroad. From 1989 to the end of his life in 1996 he worked as professor and Rector of the Academy of Music and Dance Art in Plovdiv.

He lectured in the USA (1982, 1989, 1990). In 1989 he conducted the Symphony Orchestra of Garden Grove (Los Angeles) in New York, where he performed his work 20th Century Mankind, dedicated to the ONU, before the General Secretary of the ONU Xavier Perez de Cuellar. As a conductor, he also premiered a number of works by contemporary Bulgarian and foreign composers.

He was among the instigators and leading figures of the vanguard tendencies in modern Bulgarian music. He composed a mono opera and an opera (unfinished); 4 symphonies; 4 concertos; cantatas; orchestral, instrumental, vocal music; choral and solo songs; music scores to 50 theatre performances and 3 films, etc.

In his music the traditional Bulgarian melody and its rich ornamentation and rhythmical diversity are subject to individual rethinking by means of vanguard techniques such as aleatory, improvisation, etc. His choral songs are well established in the repertoire of the most eminent Bulgarian choral ensembles and are internationally acclaimed. His vocal-orchestral works from 1980s and 1990s are marked by a deeply felt spirituality.

His works were performed in a number of European countries, the USA, Japan and Australia. He recorded for Bulgarian and foreign radio stations and released his music on LP and CD.

Dimcho Debelyanov (1887 - 1916)
Dimcho Debelyanov (1887 - 1916)
1/1/2012 12:00:00 AM
Dimcho Debelyanov is one of the greatest Bulgarian poets. He was born on March 25th, 1887, in Koprivshtitsa, in a family of a tailor. At that time Koprivshtitsa was a cent...
Georgi Bozhilov (13.06.1935 - 30.05.2001)
Georgi Bozhilov - Slona (the nickname means Elephant) was born in Plovdiv. He graduated from the Art Academy in Sofia, Major Monumental Decorative Art, in Prof.Georgi Bogdanovs class.
Obreiko Obreikov, Dr (1891 - 1969)
Obreiko Obreikov, Dr (1891 - 1969)
1/1/2012 12:00:00 AM
Born on June 07, 1891 in Plovdiv, Dr. Obreikov comes from an eminent Bulgarian Revival period family. Having graduated cum laude in Law (Montpellier, 1912), and Finances and Trade (Paris, 1919), he...
Veselin Sariev (1951-2003)
Veselin Sariev (1951-2003)
1/1/2012 12:00:00 AM
Poet, publisher, historian and publicist,two-times winner of the Literary Award Plovdiv (1989 and 1999) and of the Honorary Emblem of the city of Plovdiv for Donorship. He is also the winner of the...
Krikor Аzaryan, Prof. (born 1934)
Krikor Аzaryan, Prof. (born 1934)
1/1/2012 12:00:00 AM
Prof. Krikor Azaryan received the title “Honorary Citizen of Plovdiv”, awarded to him on the occasion of his 70th birthday anniversary, 2004. Prof. Azaryan is receiving the honor...
Zlatina Todeva ( 1926  - 2007)
Zlatina Todeva ( 1926 - 2007)
1/1/2012 12:00:00 AM
The amous theatre and movie actress Zlatina Todeva was one of the most essential actresses in BG theater and cinema. The actress spent 17 years at the Plovdiv Drama Theater.  Tod...
Zlatyu Boyadzhiev (1903 - 1976)
Zlatyu Boyadzhiev (1903 - 1976)
1/1/2012 12:00:00 AM
Born on October 22, 1903, in the village of Bresovo in the Plovdiv District. Zlatyu Boyadzhiev graduated from the Ts.Todorov’s class of the Sofia Art Academy in 1932. He painted portraits and compo...
Jean Videnov (born 1959)
Jean Videnov (born 1959)
1/1/2012 12:00:00 AM
Jean Vassilev Videnov - born on March 22, 1959 in Plovdiv. He graduated from the English Language School of Plovdiv, and later - from the Moscow State Institute of International Relations (he studi...
Assen Kisimov (1936-2005)
Assen Kisimov (1936-2005)
1/1/2012 12:00:00 AM
The actor Assen Kisimov was born on May 3rd, 1936, in Plovdiv.\r\nEver since he was 12 he participated actively in radio performances. In 1959 he graduated from the Film and Theatre Arts Aca...
Georgi Vulkovich, Dr. (1833 - 1892)
Dr. Georgi Vulkovich - born in Edirne, 1833. Doctor, political figure and a diplomat. Member of Bulgarian Literary Society (later the Bulgarian Academy of Sciences). He comes from the eminent Reviv...