Mandolins and canzonettas for tenor Boyko Zvetanov's 70th

To celebrate his 70th birthday, world-famous Bulgarian tenor Boyko Zvetanov will perform in a special concert on 18 October at the Central Military Club in Sofia. Joining him on this milestone occasion will be the Prima Visione Mandolin Orchestra, conducted by Plamen Maslev.

During his illustrious career, Zvetanov has performed leading roles at opera houses around the world and served as the Zurich Opera's principal tenor for many years. He has performed with renowned opera singers such as Gena Dimitrova, Nicolai Ghiaurov and Nikola Gyuzelev, and understudied roles for legendary artists including Luciano Pavarotti, Plácido Domingo and José Carreras.

At the celebratory concert, the tenor will perform a selection of Italian canzonettas, including rarely performed pieces by his favourite composer, Paolo Tosti. Joining him on stage will be soprano Girgina Girginova, baritone Feodor Katranov and bass Stoyan Bonchev. Alongside the Italian bel canto repertoire, the programme will feature orchestral miniatures arranged by Plamen Maslev.

Founded in 1991, the Prima Visione Mandolin Orchestra has performed extensively in Bulgaria and abroad. A new chapter began in 2018, when Plamen Maslev — a violinist by training, as well as a virtuoso mandolinist, arranger, concertmaster and soloist, who inherited the mantle from his father, Ivan Maslev, in the 1980s — took over as conductor. All pieces in the orchestra’s repertoire are specially arranged by him.

This concert is part of the second “Art of the Mandolin” festival, organised with the support of the Bulgarian Ministry of Culture to celebrate the elegance and versatility of the mandolin in contemporary performance.