Culture Minister: A solution for BNR’s musical ensembles will be found

The Bulgarian government is committed to finding a sustainable solution soon to the financial difficulties facing the Bulgarian National Radio’s music ensembles. This was stated by Bulgarian Culture Minister Evtim Miloshev in an interview with the Bulgarian National Television.

He was commenting on the announcement by a violinist from the Symphony Orchestra of the public broadcaster that she is prepared to go on hunger strike on September 28 if no short-term measures are identified by then to improve the ensembles’ situation.

BNR orchestra violinist announces hunger strike over low pay

“This is something that has deeply concerned me, simply because the Bulgarian National Radio is a primary budget spending unit. There is no administrative hierarchy between us, but in terms of our moral responsibility, our working relationship, and our concern and attention towards artists, I know them personally. They are wonderful orchestral players, musicians and cultural professionals. But I believe that the entire government has a commitment to them.

“We are not far from finding a sustainable solution for the ensembles at the Bulgarian National Radio. I very much hope that things will not come to extremes. I understand that their patience has already been exhausted, but these are extreme measures,” Evtim Miloshev said.

BNR Director General Milen Mitev told BNT that ad hoc measures are not a viable solution, but that a short-term measure is needed until changes are made to the legislation governing the financing of the public broadcasters BNR and BNT, which would resolve the problems facing the radio’s musical ensembles.

Meanwhile, Konstantin Ilievsky, chief conductor of the BNR Symphony Orchestra, warned in an interview with the Bulgarian News Agency (BTA) that the musicians’ low pay threatens the ability to attract new talent and retain the public broadcaster’s elite ensembles.

BNR musicians halt concerts in protest over low pay

According to Ilievsky, the funding problem has persisted for a decade, but the situation has become even more difficult over the past two years.

BNR Symphony orchestra conductor Konstantin Ilievsky: We are fighting to survive

Edited by Tanya Ivanova (BNR's Horizon channel)

English: R. Petkova