About Me
Bulgarka Junior Quartet was established in 1989 in the city of Plovdiv with the help of the Rumiana Tsintsarska (who, together with Marcel Sellier, produced the legendary Bulgarian choir "The Mystery of Bulgarian voices"). The four singers of Bulgarka junior quartet are ex-soloists of the famous "Trakia" ensemble from Plovdiv - definitely one of Bulgaria's most polished music performing institutions. They have graduated Bulgarian National Academy of Music and Dance Art in Plovdiv.The quartet's music maintains that marvelous balance between the Orient and the West, tradition and avant-garde. The purity of their voices commands respect and emotion. With Bulgarka Junior Quartet we could discover the four vocal parts of a Bulgarian choral group but within a chamber music format. Each one of the singers comes from four different Bulgarian folklore areas (Strandja, the Rhodopes, Strandja-Sakar and Thrace) and this specificity enhances their repertoire. In fact, the absence of a leader in the group obliges each of the members to give a new dimension to the songs which they have collected in their respective families or regions (more often from elder generations). Singing for them is a family tradition and way of life. All these, besides the fact that they have musical education, contribute to their professional development. Each of them has recorded for the national radio and private productions like soloists. Due to their popularity they have paved the way for other vocal quartets.The mystery of Bulgarian voices resides in this expression, high pitch and sparkling, only the Bulgarian countrywomen forged by centuries of tradition can achieve it. These songs speak about love, Life and also give homage to the history and heroes who fought and died defending their homeland from invaders and in pursue of freedom. The repertoire of Bulgarka Junior, extends from traditional music to scholarly music. Specially conceived for the Bulgarka Junior the repertoire was composed by some of the most brilliant contemporary Bulgarian composers such as Ivan Spassov, Theodossi Spassov, Krassimire Kiurkchiiski, Stefan Moutaftchiev and Nikolai Kauffman. The traditional repertoire is a result of a patient work of research and collection giving a special touch of colour to the songs...Bulgarka Junior quartet first appeared in 1991 on the stage of a showcase in MIDEM (Cannes/France). It was the first step of the quartet to the world stages. It has been followed by concerts in France, Finland, Germany, Israel, Morocco, Belgium, Italy, UK, etc.Bulgarka Junior participated in various international projects, records and festivals among them the albums "Hiri, 2006"; "K" 2003" and "Maren, 2001" of Kepa Junkera, El Lebrijano's "Lagrimas de cera" (Wax tears) - record dedicated to the Holy Week, "Misa Primi Toni" of Ivan Lantos, "Lux Obscura" of the renown French composer Hughes de Courson (best known with Lambarena - Bach to Africa,1995 and Mozart in Egypt, 1997) and not list - participated in the production of "Tricodex", Philippe Decoufle's dazzling new multi-media work for the Lyon Opera Ballet. The group performed at prestigious venues such as The Wagner Theater in Bayreuth, Germany, Polyphonic encounter in Calvi, "L'esprit des Voix" Festival, The Fes Festival of World Sacred Music, Morocco etc.Now Bulgarka Junior Quartet works on a new project called Solemn Liturgy - orthodox songs using original themes performed traditionally in Bulgarian orthodox monasteries and arranged for their four female voices by renown Bulgarian composer Alexander Hristov.
