Dimka Vladimirova's career continued at the folk ensemble of the Bulgarian National Radio (BNR). In 1958 she was admitted to the choir. This was a great professional chance for her to work with renowned conductors like Boris Petkov, Kosta Kolev and Stefan Mutafchiev. Then the heyday of the folk choir at the Radio came with the work of composer and conductor Krassimir Kyurkchiiski. “The greatest contribution into the worldwide fame of the BNR Women's Folk Choir that later grew into the Mystery of Bulgarian Voices and into its 1990 Grammy Award, was in fact his. It was not his conducting job alone, but also his wonderful songs that received standing ovation in USA, Canada, Europe, Egypt and elsewhere. This was the peak of my career. The recognition of listeners across the world gave me wings, I felt great happiness and satisfaction with my work. We were dubbed the Bulgarian madonnas”, Dimka recalled.

During her 40-year work record Dimka Vladimirova has made a few solo recordings. All her songs come from her native village. She has learned them from her mother and other family members. Her solo repertoire belongs to the group of the so-called tronki - an ethnographic community in Strandja Mountain singing a particular kind of songs that combine two regional styles - the Strandja and Thracian ones.

Dimka Vladimirova has a clear, ringing soprano attuned to the music and verbal dialect of the village of Bistrets. Arrangements of her songs have been made by composers Atanas Naumov, Kosta Kolev and others. Audiences are particularly keen on her performances accompanied by the Strandja Band.

The portrait of the renowned singer won't be full without a mention of the successor of her talent - her son Lubomir Vladimirov, a famous mandolin player at the Bulgarian National Radio Folk Music Orchestra. Lubomir has studied with foremost mandolin player Rumen Sirakov and has graduated the National School of Folklore in Kotel and the Music Academy in Plovdiv.

In her career as folk singer Dimka Vladimirova has clearly demonstrated the worth of continuity in her area of work. She urges young singers to ask older generations for advice and keep the dialects as part of the national heritage.

English Daniela Konstantinova

The audio file contains the following songs:

1. Oi Tchoban, Tchoban

2. Zlatano, Zlatanke

3. Pilentse Pee (Birdy Singing) in the rendition of the Mystery of Bulgarian Voices Choir - soloists Dimka Vladimirova and Kalinka Vultcheva

4. Rado le, Mavrovitse (Dark Eyed Rada)

5. Oi Male, Male (O, Mother, Mother) accompaniment by the Strandja Band