Vratsa Sinfonietta presents the story of Mara Belcheva and Richard Strauss

The little-known connection between Bulgarian poet Mara Belcheva and German composer Richard Strauss will be explored by the Vratsa Sinfonietta at the closing concert of the 57th Sofia Music Weeks International Festival, the orchestra announced, as quoted by BTA.

The concert, entitled Richard Strauss and Mara Belcheva – An Untold Story, will take place on 10 October at Bulgaria Hall in Sofia. The programme will feature music by Strauss, letters exchanged between the composer and Belcheva, and works associated with the European cultural circles of which she was part.

The audience will hear Strauss's Burleske for piano and orchestra, dedicated to Mara Belcheva, with pianist Nadezhda Tsanova as soloist. Tsanova is also the driving force behind the project.

Letters from the correspondence between Belcheva and Strauss will be read by Plamen Beykov, director of the Ruse Opera. The concert will be conducted by Hristo Pavlov, director of the Vratsa orchestra.

Editor: Miglena Ivanova