Bulgaria bids farewell to distinguished composer and conductor Vassil Kazandjiev

Today, Bulgaria bids farewell to one of the leading figures in its contemporary classical music – composer, conductor, teacher and academician Vasil Kazandzhiev, who has died at the age of 91. He leaves behind an extraordinary artistic legacy and generations of grateful students.

Kazandzhiev began his professional career as a conductor at the Bulgarian National Opera, where he worked for seven years. In 1962, he founded the chamber ensemble Sofia Soloists, one of Bulgaria's most prestigious musical ensembles, which he led for 15 years to critical acclaim at home and abroad.

His name is also inseparably linked with the Bulgarian National Radio Symphony Orchestra. Between 1979 and 1993, he led the orchestra through major recording projects and highly successful international tours. Among his lasting achievements are hundreds of studio recordings of both the international classical repertoire and works by Bulgarian composers, many of which are now preserved in Bulgarian National Radio's Golden Fund archive.

Kazandzhiev composed a vast body of symphonic and chamber music, including eight symphonies, numerous sonatas and concertos, as well as such landmark works as Pictures from Bulgaria, Living Icons, Festive Music and Apocalypse. He also wrote the scores for a number of classic Bulgarian films.

May he rest in peace, and may his music live on!

Editor: Desislava Semkovska