150 years since the birth of Dobri Hristov

For the first time, the entire mixed choir of the “St. Alexander Nevsky” Cathedral has sung at BAS

The 150th anniversary of Dobri Hristov’s birth was celebrated on December 15 in the Institute of Art Studies (IAS) and in the “Prof. Marin Drinov” Hall of the Bulgarian Academy of Sciences. The celebration was organized by the Music Department of IAS and the “St. Alexander Nevsky” Patriarchal Cathedral with the blessing of His Holiness Daniil – Patriarch of All Bulgaria and Metropolitan of Sofia and included a scientific conference and a concert by the Mixed Choir of the cathedral.

The “Dobri Hristov and His Time” scientific conference created an active dialogue between researchers from IAS, the “Prof. Pancho Vladigerov” National Music Academy, Sofia University “St. Kliment Ohridski,” University of Veliko Turnovo “St Cyril and St. Methodius,” and other scientific institutions about the work and presence of this remarkable personality in Bulgarian musical culture. The reports presented new research on the work and influence of Dobri Hristov in compositional creativity (secular and church), research on musical folklore and church music, music education, and choral work.

The concert of the Mixed Choir of the “St. Alexander Nevsky” Patriarchal Cathedral, conducted by Georgi Elenkov, was dedicated to the anniversaries of Dobri Hristov (150 years) and Angel Popkonstantinov (120 years) – both of whom had their destinies linked to this choir. The church works in the program, related to important moments in the history of the choir, were divided into three blocks. The first featured parts of Dobri Hristov’s “Liturgy of St. John Chrysostom”, while the second presented works from Angel Popkonstantinov’s “Collection of Liturgical Chants”. The concert ended with compositions from the late works of Dobri Hristov intended for the liturgical sequence of the All-Night Vigil.

The Vice-President of the Bulgarian Academy of Sciences Prof. Emmanuel Moutafov greeted the organizers and participants in the presence of His Eminence Bishop Gerasim, Chairman of the Church Council of the “St. Alexander Nevsky” Cathedral. “The role of Dobri Hristov as a public figure, deputy director of the National Theater, co-founder and conductor of secular and church choirs is also significant. At the same time, he was a profound researcher of Bulgarian folk music, a leading author of textbooks, a professor at the Music Academy, and a corresponding member of the Bulgarian Academy of Sciences since 1930,” the Vice-President of BAS emphasized. “His musical and theoretical thinking is new, strong, vivid, and has a powerful influence on the processes of modernization and professionalization of Bulgarian musical culture,” Prof. Moutafov added in his greeting.

Video: PATRIARCHATE OF BULGARIA – Angel Karadakov