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Surprise for Bulgarian audiences - Austrian violinist Rainer Honeck and Bulgarian pianist Plamena Mangova give first concert together

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Photo: sofiasoloists.com

Little-known works will be performed by outstanding musicians at the Bulgaria Hall in Sofia on 6 November. Variations on a Theme of Frank Bridge, Op. 10, an early work by Benjamin Britten dedicated to his composition teacher Frank Bridge, will be performed by The Sofia Soloists Chamber Orchestra conducted by Konstantin Dobroykov. 

In the second part we will hear the Concerto for Violin, Piano and Strings by Felix Mendelssohn Bartholdy, another early work by the then 14-year-old composer and conductor. With these works Bulgaria's most prestigious concert stage brings together for the first time in a joint performance the violinist Rainer Honeck - concertmaster of the Vienna Philharmonic - and Plamena Mangova - one of the most outstanding Bulgarian pianists of recent years. For Radio Bulgaria, Plamena is happy to share her excitement about the upcoming performance and her stage partners in this concert:

Plamena Mangova
"I have known Rainer Honeck for several years - the legendary concertmaster of the Vienna Philharmonic, the magical Austrian violinist. We have met many times as participants in various international festivals, but we have not yet been able to do a joint project. 

Plamena Mangova and Rainer Honeck
So I am very happy that Maestro Dobroykov and the Sofia Soloists have accepted the idea with enthusiasm. Mendelssohn's concerto is perhaps not played that often, but it is truly exceptional, simply a brilliant work. The audience will also have the opportunity to enjoy the "little Austrian surprises" we have planned. 

Rainer Honeck himself intends to perform some works by Fritz Kreisler and Erich Wolfgang Korngold - so we will hear this music "straight from the source", as they say. We are grateful to the Sofia Philharmonic, the Austrian Embassy in Bulgaria and the Krasno Selo Municipal Cultural Institute for their great support in making this concert possible".

Everything about Rainer Honeck is extremely interesting - adds Plamena Mangova. She recalls that more than 40 years ago, at the age of 20, the Austrian violinist joined the Vienna Philharmonic - a prestigious orchestra that has always maintained a phenomenal level. He was 31 when he was appointed a concertmaster. As a young concertmaster, Mr Honeck worked with Herbert von Karajan, Carl Böhm and Leonard Bernstein. He has fond memories of the then young Claudio Abbado, Riccardo Muti, Daniel Barenboim... Of course, he also played as a soloist with these distinguished conductors, as is the practice in all major orchestras.

Rainer Honeck
Rainer Honeck and I are preparing a special programme of Austrian composers for the next European Music Festival in Varna. So there are more encounters with Bulgarian audiences to come, and it is always exciting for me to return to my homeland".


Photos: sofiasoloists.com, Facebook/ Plamena Mangova, salzburgerfestspiele.at
Posted in English by E. Radkova

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