Founded in 1928, the Sofia Philharmonic Orchestra has long established itself as one of the leading institutions in Bulgaria’s musical life. Throughout its 90-year creative history it been associated with eminent musicians such as Sasha Popov, Konstantin Iliev, Dobrin Petkov, Vassil Stefanov and Vassil Kazandjiev, among others. The orchestra has also collaborated with conductors Kurt Masur, Neville Marriner, Valery Gergiev, Gennady Rozhdestvensky, Karl Österreicher and Charles Dutoit, and soloists such as José Carreras, Plácido Domingo, Dmitry Shostakovich, David Oistrakh, Sviatoslav Richter, Emil Gilels, Mstislav Rostropovich, Yuri Bashmet, Angela Gheorghiu, Diana Damrau and Joshua Bell.

The orchestra has a vast repertoire, and has given the pre...