Reviews
358 records
I've worked with Nayden before and, of course, if I agree to work with him again I must like it. He is wonderful. He gets inside the essence of my music, works with it, which makes me very happy. … This orchestra plays as if my music had always been in their hearts, and with big smiles on their faces. That is all I can hope for, and I am delighted. — Jon Lord
The conductor is great. He sensed me as no one before. He grasped the rhythm and is far closer to my feel than many other conductors. For instance, hardly anyone has ever dared to take the third movement of my Concerto for Group and Orchestra at such a furious tempo. — Jon Lord (Deep Purple)
Led by Nayden Todorov, the orchestra maintained an extraordinary level — it was no accident that it won the congratulations of the star Jon Lord.
Conductor Nayden Todorov masterfully led the orchestra of the Opera and Philharmonic Society and was personally congratulated by the great Englishman.
The Bulgarian band coped brilliantly with the difficult task of interweaving rock and classical music. And the players of the Plovdiv Philharmonic, led by conductor Nayden Todorov, proved that they are of world class. After 'Soldier of Fortune' Lord bowed down to the ground before our superb musicians, embraced the conductor… 'Support these musicians. They are your orchestra. They are great,' said Lord.
'This work of mine is celebrating its 40th anniversary and I am proud to present it to you with this wonderful orchestra,' said the rock classic. … The Concerto was played almost as it had been 40 years earlier, and with very well balanced sound. Every movement was applauded standing, and after the end of the work the applause did not stop for more than five minutes. Jon Lord greeted the contributions of every soloist and the conductor with an embrace or a 'God bless you.'
'I am glad to be working with such a gifted orchestra!' said the musician, then turned to conductor Nayden Todorov and winked: 'You're the boss here!' … 'How shall we play this rhythm?' conductor Todorov asked during a one-minute pause, but Jon Lord stood firm: 'Whatever you say. We'll follow you, because you're the boss.'
'You're the boss. Whatever you say goes,' the giant Lord told Nayden Todorov and gave a slight bow. Buoyed by the megastar's gesture, Todorov pulled off such a rehearsal that its perfect harmonic sound would have brought even the world's music-loving elite at the Royal Albert Hall to its feet.
Under the given climatic circumstances, the Plovdiv Philharmonic Orchestra under the prudent direction of conductor Nayden Todorov delivered an admirable performance without fault or blemish. … the spectators in the fully occupied stands gave thanks with long and heartfelt applause, often even with mid-scene applause.
When at 8.30 p.m. the Plovdiv Philharmonic Orchestra, under the direction of conductor Nayden Todorov, opened the musical round with soulful strings, the venerable Monschau castle was surrounded by a deep-blue late-summer sky. […] After pieces by Ennio Morricone and the unforgettable 'Don't Cry for Me, Argentina'… the audience rewarded the magnificent performances with long-lasting applause and standing ovations.
The Deep Purple legend Jon Lord will play under the baton of the Bulgarian star Nayden Todorov.
Here already the conductor impressively proved that he has his Plovdiv Philharmonic Opera — which provided the orchestra and, later in the 'Carmina', the chorus as well — firmly in hand. Just watching the man conduct the ensemble was a feast for the eyes in itself. … That the orchestral musicians master their parts, however, was never in any doubt.
The Solothurner Zeitung writes about the 'young and likeable', 'charming and temperamental' director of the Rousse Opera and Philharmonic Society, Nayden Todorov, who 'as a true Viennese-trained musician conducts his performances skilfully and with emotion, showing that he adheres to the Viennese school of old master conductors such as Karl Böhm, whose follower he himself is'. The same newspaper notes that 'the young Maestro conducts chorus and orchestra with a sure, yet no less temperamental hand.'
Musically too, the ensemble under the direction of Nayden Todorov left hardly any doubt. A well-harmonised orchestra, a powerful chorus and soloists secure in every register carried the listeners at the end to loud cries of 'Bravo' and long applause.
An overall fine opera production, which the conductor Nayden Todorov had well in hand. Particularly temperamental was Nelea Cravchenko's Fiordiligi.
The orchestra of the State Opera «Russe Bulgaria», under the direction of conductor Nayden Todorov, once again delivered a brilliant achievement. The warm, soft sound of the strings is hardly to be surpassed. The chorus, too, was once again thoroughly gripping and acted very vividly.
…the Bulgarian State Opera of Ruse, which last summer was heard at the Classic Openair for the first time and delighted audiences — above all with its singers, its young, congenial intendant Nayden Todorov, with the orchestra, or indeed — with the chorus.
Living up to its international reputation, the Ruse Philharmonic orchestra had at its podium the no less renowned conductor Nayden Todorov, who at only 35 years of age has managed to conquer Europe and to be a revelation even in the homeland of music, making an excellent impression in Vienna. … It was without doubt the most beautiful symphonic concert that Giurgiu has hosted in recent decades.
The performance began with verve. The well-staffed orchestra under Nayden Todorov shaped the evening with precise wind playing and buoyant tuttis; because it sat almost at stage level, it also moved visually to the center — a flowering landscape of sound, melody and driving rhythms. … Overall, the production delighted through musically brilliant, warmly pulsing performance. "On the whole, however, it was a musically brilliant and warmly pulsating performance that delighted. The dialogue sparkled in effervescent yet musically polished recitatives. Sonorous and full of movement, the chorus too — more than one would expect in a «Nozze» — contributed to an exceedingly dynamic staging. […] The performance had begun with verve: the well-cast orchestra under the direction of Nayden Todorov stamped the evening with accurate wind playing and a springy tutti, and since it played almost at stage level, the singing and the pit merged into an unusually immediate whole."
The Bulgarian-born conductor has already worked with important orchestras in Europe, the USA and Israel and is considered one of the most highly regarded young conductors.
An article on the competition for director of the State Opera Rousse and the disputes around it, which reached the Ministry of Culture.
…under the baton of the Bulgarian conductor Nayden Todorov, the National Radio Orchestra collaborated with soprano Sorina Munteanu… and the Italian tenor Gustavo Porta… it was a real event.
The sound picture is astonishingly well balanced in the Great Hall of the Darmstadtium… The orchestra under the direction of Nayden Todorov is a wonderful ensemble that unobtrusively underlines the soloists' singing.
Above all, one must highlight the musical direction of Nayden Todorov — a mediator between the stage and the pit, this time of the Palacio Valdés — in music full of atmospheres, textures and nuances.
The Rousse Opera has returned from the Solothurn festival. The performances were of the highest level; the reviews in the local newspapers are numerous. [...] At "Nabucco" the applause was so rapturous that the Chorus of the Hebrew Slaves had to be repeated — only then could the performance continue. [...] So strong was the showing of all the productions that an invitation for a new visit in 2009 was received. [...] With their worthy performances, maestro Nayden Todorov, the orchestra, the chorus and the soloists proved that we are at present one of the leading opera companies in the country. Congratulations! Bravo!