The Symphony Orchestra of the city of Pazardzhik, Bulgaria was founded in 1969. Instrumental in its creation were violinist Georgi Koev (1947–2013), who served as its leader over many years, and composer and conductor Ivan Spasov (1934–1996), who was its artistic director from 1970 to 1992. Thanks to them and to its musicians’ enthusiastic response, the orchestra came to hold an important position in the musical scene of Bulgaria, gradually expanding the scope of its activities to include numerous tours in Austria, Germany, Spain, Belgium, Norway, England, the Netherlands and Greece.
Its broad repertoire spans the entire spectrum of symphonic music, opera and operetta. Of particular importance is its contribution in the field of Bulgarian contemporary music, with many composers having written pieces for the orchestra. In 2000, it also assumed the name of the ‘Maestro G. Atanasov’ Orchestra.
The orchestra has recorded several Greek operas (among them La Martire, La Biondinetta and Mademoiselle de Belle-Isle by Samaras, Despo and Frossini by Carrer, and Soeur Béatrice by Mitropoulos), as well as numerous orchestral works by Lialios, Lavrangas, Kalomiris and Philippos Tsalachouris, among others.
www.pazardzhik-symphony.com