The Wladigeroff trio revives the spirit of silent cinema in Bulgaria

The Wladigeroff Trio is one of the best-known ensembles formed by the grandchildren of the renowned Bulgarian composer Pancho Vladigerov (1899–1978).

Vladigerov is often referred to as the patriarch of Bulgarian classical music and is best known for his celebrated Vardar Rhapsody. Composed in 1922 as a virtuoso piece for violin and piano, it was originally written for performance by the composer and his twin brother, the renowned violinist Lyuben Vladigerov. Today, Pancho Vladigerov’s grandchildren continue his legacy as internationally acclaimed jazz virtuosos. The trio comprises Alexander Wladigeroff on trumpet, his twin brother Konstantin Wladigeroff on piano and their sister Ekaterina Wladigerova, who is also a pianist.

Music has shaped their lives from an early age, as the artistic spirit runs deep in the family. Over the years, the trio has performed in concert halls across London, Zagreb, Budapest, Tel Aviv, and Vienna, where the family has lived for more than two decades.

To celebrate the 120th anniversary of Pancho Vladigerov’s birth, his family members gathered on the chamber stage at Sofia’s Bulgaria Hall to perform their own arrangements of his works. It is said that Albert Einstein himself once congratulated Vladigerov on his Vardar Rhapsody. The Bulgarian composer knew Einstein personally from his years living in Berlin.

The Wladigeroff brothers are back in Sofia to continue a tradition established by their grandfather during his years in Berlin. In the early 20th century, Pancho Vladigerov accompanied silent film screenings on the piano in various theatres while still a student. Today, that practice has evolved into something of a family tradition. This evening, the Wladigeroff brothers will perform live music to silent films by Charlie Chaplin at a well-known Sofia club, transporting audiences back to the atmosphere of 1916–1917.

“The music for the films is created in real time — spontaneous, emotional and inspired by what unfolds on the screen,” the Wladigeroff brothers say.

The descendants of Pancho Vladigerov have built strong ties within Vienna’s music scene and far beyond, enjoying a wide circle of friends and admirers around the world. Despite their international careers and constant travel, however, they have never lost touch with Bulgaria. They return every month for concerts in Sofia and other Bulgarian cities, where they are well known and warmly welcomed by audiences.

“Our family is large — people often call us a musical dynasty,” says Ekaterina Wladigerova. She says she is especially grateful that the Wladigeroff Trio has been invited to take part in the Bulgarian Education Ministry’s project The Untold Stories of the Bulgarians.

“We have often performed for Bulgarian communities around the world, and I know how much energy and love people there put into preserving their roots,” says Ekaterina Wladigerova. “We have shared those emotions with them many times. After concerts in places as far away as Canada or the United Kingdom, people come to us carrying this Bulgarian warmth, respect, and patriotism that has been preserved. Sometimes I have even thought that Bulgarians living far from home feel an even stronger warmth towards their country than those who remain in Bulgaria and face its everyday problems and disappointments.”

The pianist says that they are constantly learning from and rediscovering their grandfather's music with every rehearsal.

“We are still far from having explored the full scope of his work,” she says. 'We always try to include new and rarely performed compositions in the trio’s programme because Vladigerov left behind an enormous body of work and laid the foundations of Bulgarian classical orchestral music. We love all of his compositions and always seek to reinterpret them from a contemporary musical perspective.”
Ekaterina Wladigerova concludes, speaking as both a follower of and heir to the Wladigeroff family tradition.

Editor: Desislava Semkovska