The International Music Festival “Music Weeks in Sofia”, Sofia

The International Music Festival “Music Weeks in Sofia” presents to the Bulgarian audience the most significant of the global and Bulgarian music and performance. The first edition of the festival was in May 1970. Gradually the event turned into the most significant international musical event in Sofia and in the country.

In 1982 the festival became a member of the European Music, Theatre and Ballet Festivals Association, along with many other prestigious Festivals throughout Europe.

Some of the performers which have taken part in the Festival are: symphony orchestras such as the Vienna, Berlin, St Petersburg Philharmonics, opera houses and ballet troupes from Italy, France, Sweden, Great Britain and other countries, world-renowned conductors (Claudio Abado, Gennady Rozhdestvensky), famous instrumentalists and singers (Henrik Schering, Leonid Kogan, Alexis Weissenberg, Janos Shtarker, Elena Obraztsova, Jose Carreras, Mirela Freni, Piero Capucilli), world-renowned chamber ensembles (Virtuosos di Roma, Moscow Virtuosi, Amadeus Quartet, Smetana Quartet) and the Sofia Philharmonic, the Sofia Opera, the National Philharmonic Choir Svetoslav Obretenov, The Symphonic orchestra and the mixed choir of the Bulgarian National radio, the Chamber Ensemble “Sofia Soloists”, etc.

The Festival program includes scientific conferences on music theory, photo exhibitions, film coated operas, Master classes for young instrumentalists and singers. The anniversaries of major Bulgarian and foreign composers are celebrated, new musical works are presented.

The festival is held at the National Palace of Culture, the National Gallery of Art, etc. Organizers of the festival are the Municipality of Sofia, the Ministry of Culture, and National Palace of Culture. The festival in held annually in May and June.