Pleven Philharmonic Orchestra

Sasha Popov raised the orchestra in 1953 as the State Symphony Orchestra of Pleven; at the inaugural concert, on 6 September, the soloist was Pancho Vladigerov. Georgi Notev then held the principal conductor's post for thirty-five years, from 1973 to 2008, the period in which the ensemble became a touring and a recording body, working for Bulgarian and foreign broadcasters. Opera sits comfortably in its work — Aida and La Bohème among the titles it has taken on — and in summer it plays in the open air at the theatre in Kaylaka Park. Two competitions now carry much of its name abroad: the international competition for young opera singers named after Gena Dimitrova, and the Arthur Nikisch competition for conductors. It appears regularly at the Katya Popova Laureate Days festival, and the Union of Bulgarian Musicians and Dancers has awarded it the Crystal Lyre three times.