ПРОГРАМИ
en de ru fr es sr gr al tr ro
Podcast in English
Share
Text size
Bulgarian National Radio © 2025 All Rights Reserved

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

Author:
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

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.
Radio Bulgaria Music    bulgaria hall concert music plamena mangova rainer honeck

More from category

“July”: Summer is everywhere

We’re stepping into July with the song of the same name — a track from P.I.F., the Bulgarian band that released it a decade ago. With its light reggae groove, “July” still brings a relaxed summer vibe. Written and composed by frontman Dimo Stoyanov, the..

published on 7/1/25 9:45 AM

Don't Wake Me Up - Deep Zone Project release a new single at the start of the summer

After a series of successful covers of hits (such as "Istina" by Milena and "Nyama kak" by Antibiotica), the musicians from DEEP ZONE Project are starting the summer with a new, completely original song. While the music for "Don't Wake Me Up" is the work..

published on 6/30/25 10:44 AM

Chamber music festival takes place for the first time in the Palace in Balchik

When she visited Balchik in 1921, Queen Marie of Romania was delighted by the beauty of the area and decided to return and stay. In 1924, the construction of a palace complex for the queen began. The project was by Italian architects..

published on 6/29/25 10:50 AM

WEATHER
Pick city: Sofía
Partly Cloudy
Min: 21 | Max: 39
Clear
Min: 24 | Max: 31
Clear
Min: 24 | Max: 31
Partly Cloudy
Min: 20 | Max: 39
Partly Cloudy
Min: 23 | Max: 38
Clear
Min: 23 | Max: 39
Partly Cloudy
Min: 21 | Max: 37
Clear
Min: 17 | Max: 36
Clear
Min: 21 | Max: 39
Partly Cloudy
Min: 20 | Max: 39
Partly Cloudy
Min: 22 | Max: 38
Partly Cloudy
Min: 21 | Max: 39
Clear
Min: 20 | Max: 39
Clear
Min: 18 | Max: 36
Clear
Min: 22 | Max: 39
Clear
Min: 20 | Max: 40
Clear
Min: 22 | Max: 36
Clear
Min: 23 | Max: 40
Clear
Min: 23 | Max: 38
Clear
Min: 21 | Max: 38
Partly Cloudy
Min: 17 | Max: 35
Clear
Min: 18 | Max: 37
Clear
Min: 18 | Max: 39
Clear
Min: 18 | Max: 36
Clear
Min: 22 | Max: 40
Clear
Min: 18 | Max: 37
Clear
Min: 22 | Max: 39
BULGARIA IN PICTURES
Which world-famous Bulgarian artist designed QSL cards for Radio Bulgaria?
Yasen Gyuzelev
Theodore Ushev
Christo Javacheff - Christo
Ilia Peikov
Lika Yanko

BULGARIANS ABROAD

Български English Русский Deutsch Српски Français Ελληνικά Español Shqip Türkçe Română
MOST VIEWED

Rushi Vidinliev drops new single - ‘The Border’

Rushi Vidinliev has released a new single called Granitsata (“the border”) , which is included in his latest album, No Baggage . The track arrives..

published on 7/24/25 2:20 PM

''Hubava Si, Moya Goro''

Lyuben Karavelov (1834–1879) was one of the most prominent figures in Bulgaria’s national liberation movement—an exceptionally knowledgeable person,..

published on 7/25/25 8:10 AM

english@bnr.bg

+359 2 9336 661

Общи условия за използване на сайта | Политика за поверителност | Политика за "бисквитки"