Galery

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We are in the centre. We have the chance to feel all these differences close to us. Musicians from our neighbouring countries are of the opinion that music in Bulgaria has developed well and the state has had a very serious attitude towards our national music school and culture. We have two types of music schools. One type is for national culture frim which I graduated. There are such schools in Kotel, Shiroka Laka, Pleven. Our system is a mix of European musical culture and Bulgarian national culture, with Balkan influences, of course. The other school is for Western classical music with influences from Russia, Germany, Italy and some from France. It is no coincidence that our musicians who have been seriously engaged in improving their skills often can be seen as concertmasters of symphony orchestras throughout the world. We have a very valuable Academy of Music and Dance in Plovdiv. There are no such musical institutions in Bulgaria’s neighbouring countries and not much attention has been paid to this issue. Trends reminiscent of our system are yet to be seen, including in Turkey.

What is the future of jazz?

Jazz is the most open, the most liberal music. It is always alive. Jazz perceives and accepts all that is alive and develops precisely under those laws. Every jazz conservative falls in the category of museum workers and the others remain in the living life. In recent years, there have been a lot of impacts of world music in jazz. There are African and Spanish influences, there was Indian years ago, and Balkan now. This is very nice. It gives life and somehow a global perspective, which we need now to become close with people of other cultures and other nationalities.

Who is your favourite musician outside of jazz?

Oh, there are many. I listen to a lot of, and varied, music, and often change directions to keep the interest. I have many favourites, I am full of favourites. There are such geniuses in the world that a lifetime will not be enough to listen to all this music.

We see that the refugee flood to Europe has sparked different reactions in local communities. Some accept refugees with good feelings while others are more conservative and fear that their arrival will change their way of life. Do you think music can help towards rapprochement and how could it predetermine a common way of life?

If there had been no refugee flood during World War I and II, we would not have heard of Einstein, Gershwin and many others in different areas.

It is seen as something dangerous by those who are conservative and want to keep the world, as they know it. But with a good organization everything could seem orderly and proper. Were refugee floods during the two world wars smaller? How many millions migrated due to the mass extermination of millions of people at that time? These are processes of war. Unfortunately, it exists. And we should not keep silent about it but react adequately, as we would in wartime. To organize everything and to give the chance of life to those who need to be saved. We should rescue people in distress and liquidate this situation of war. The sooner the better.