SINFONIETTA  - SOFIA ORCHESTRA

The Sofia Sinfonietta keeps and successfully develops the traditions of the chamber orchestra set up in 1972 by the eminent Bulgarian violinists Dina Schneidermann and Emil Kamilarov, which in 1987 turned into Bankya Collegium Musicum.

In 2003 the latter was extended to become the Sofia Sinfonietta, and in 2006 was granted the statute of an orchestra with is own metropolitan opera stage. This was an official recognition of its opera and ballet activities and the unique position it has as the only professional municipality orchestra of this type on the Bulgarian musical stage. Maestro Svilen Simeonov is the Chief Conductor of Sinfonietta - Sofia since 2000.

The Sofia Sinfonietta is made up of 38 instrumentalists. Its projects are extremely varied and ambitious. They include participation in popular concert cycles intended for the youth, pure entertainment programmes and open-air stage performances, where Sinfonietta plays in the capacity of an academic orchestra, operetta and musical performances, the presentation of film and theatre music, premiere works of contemporary Bulgarian and foreign composers, interactive projects suggesting improvisation ideas that can involve electronic devices, jazz and folk musicians alike.

Due to both home and foreign performances, the Sofia Sinfonietta enjoys enormous prestige and high professional reputation. It is a welcome guest orchestra at music festivals in this country and abroad, jubilee concerts and many charity events.

The Sofia Sinfonietta works in good partnership with other orchestras, soloists and conductors. In association with some educational institutions it completes projects aimed at making the young like classical music through knowledge provided at a series of concerts. One of its many initiatives is the “Young conductors, soloists and composers“concert cycle.

The orchestra performs in Europe, Asia and America, giving a number of concerts and making recordings for radio and TV programmes and record companies. The Sofia Sinfonietta is holder of the Crystal Lyre’01, an extraordinary edition of the Union of Bulgarian Musicians and Dancers’ annual award, and of the Golden Lyre’07 for high achievements in the performing art and music. 

Germany, the Netherlands, Switzerland, Denmark, Austria, Greece, Japan, Italy, Spain, Belgium, Turkey, Serbia, among others.

Bulgaria Concert Hall, Sofia;  Berlin Philharmonic Hall; the Musikverein Golden Hall, Vienna; Sava Centre, Belgrade; Victoria Hall, Geneva; Palau de la Musica, Barcelona; Auditorio Nacional de Musika, Madrid; Teatro Auditorio, Cuenca; Auditori, Girona, Concertgebouw, Brugge; Teatro Sociale di Mantova; Concert House, Seres and Concert House, Kavala.