Podcast in English
Text size
Bulgarian National Radio © 2025 All Rights Reserved

Tania Kostova: The song should touch a gentle string in the human soul

Photo: личен архив

A mild and timbre-rich voice and plenty of emotion expressed in every single performance - this is Tania Kostova in a nutshell. The singer is a soloist of many years of the Pirin Folklore Ensemble and one of the pioneers of original southwestern Pirin songs that provide an extension of the region's diverse folklore tradition. Born to the family of shepherd's flute player Nikola Kostov, who used to be the concertmaster of the Pirin Ensemble, she became keen on folk music in her green years. Tania had the chance to meet in her home leading composers such as Stefan Kanev and Krasimir Kyurkchiiski. Her music training continued at the National School of Folklore Art in Shiroka Laka where she chose the tambura (tambourine). At age 18, she was discovered for vocal art by Stoyan Stoyanov, the conductor of the choir at the Pirin Ensemble. However, the greatest influence in her life came from her father.

“We had a professional partnership for many years”, she said. “He taught me to work with precision and try to eliminate my shortcomings. This has been of great help in my efforts to master my own style. To me, the Pirin Ensemble is a family and I put all my soul in my work there. My best years professionally were during the time of Prof. Kiril Stefanov when the ensemble had its heyday.”

Tania Kostova is one of the founders of the Pirin Fest Festival for original songs based on folklore.

“In 1992 when the festival Pirin Fest was created the idea was to present the production of the Radio & Television Center in Blagoevgrad. I was one of the soloists and other soloists included Georgi Gotsev, Ivan Gotsev and Yordanka Vardjiiska. The idea was to present original music based on the folklore of Macedonia and the composers who wrote songs were very professional - Kiril Ivanov, Dimitar Dinev - people who were experts in this kind of music.”

In the recent years Tania Kostova has been living with her family in Cyprus but music retains its place in her life.

“In Cyprus I am surrounded by musicians and we perform Bulgarian folk music on holidays. Young people like folklore but do not necessarily understand it. There is a trend of mixing styles. Singers from the western Shoppe region or Trakiya (Thrace) sing Pirin songs and vice-versa. And as to original songs based on folklore - they have to touch a gentle string in human soul, so that they could be remembered and made popular.”

Pirin songs are often sung during holidays - but what is the song's meaning for the singer?

“It is wrong to believe that Pirin songs are too simple and easy to sing well. In fact they display a very fine and specific ornamentation. Pirin songs require dedication and emotion conveyed by the singer. I would advise young people to find songs with their souls and convey this emotion with their voice. The voice has to be full of life and feeling to reach the audience.”

English Daniela Konstantinova


Audio contains the following songs:

1. I gave you a wedding ring

2. Altana

3. Sickness makes him gentle

4. Sister invited her brother for supper, with Georgi Gotsev




Последвайте ни и в Google News Showcase, за да научите най-важното от деня!
Listen to the daily news from Bulgaria presented in "Bulgaria Today" podcast, available in Spotify.

More from category

Photo: Facebook/Jazz UInder the Stars at Devetaki Plateau (archive)

Jazz Under the Stars on Devetaki Plateau: Music and magic for the 11th time

From June 27 to 29, Devetaki Plateau and the surrounding villages are being transformed into a stage for the Jazz Under the Stars festival. The 11 th edition of one of the most poetic musical events in the country kicks off tonight with a..

published on 6/27/25 4:30 PM

Pancho Vladigerov - ''Classical and Romantic''

Of all the works by Bulgarian composers, Pancho Vladigerov’s music is undoubtedly the most frequently performed on the Bulgarian and world stage. When Bulgarian musicians want to represent their homeland through its musical heritage, they most often..

published on 6/27/25 8:05 AM

Zornitsa Petrova sings about the courage to fly

After years spent on stage in Bulgaria and around the world, Zornitsa Petrova presents her first original song – "Leti" (Fly). In her words, the song "Leti" came to her naturally. She wrote the music and the lyrics. The arrangement is by Shterion..

published on 6/26/25 12:47 PM