It may be that a copy is never as good as an original, but Italian artist Daniele Dondé’s reproductions of famous paintings sure come close. An exhibition of his works will be on show in Varna until July 23 2008 at the Golden Tulip Hotel in Business Park Varna.

Dondé has been known for making copies of paintings by names like Vincent van Gogh, Claude Monet, Auguste Renoir, Paul Gaugin, Gustave Klimt, Amedeo Modigliani, Edgar Degas and Leonardo da Vinci, among others, for more than 20 years.

In fact, the show in Bulgaria is not only works by Dondé, but by a whole team of 10 of his reproductionists.

To achieve such exact copies, the artists take the original images and reproduce them inch by inch, including every minute detail, in the new work. To obtain the look of originals, the artists use specially aged canvases and paints that are as close as possible to the composition of those used in eras past.

On his website, Dondé says that he became interested in this profession after having discovered that some 50 per cent of the art in his father’s collection were fakes; instead of becoming permanently depressed, he decided to work with such reproduction artists and legitimatise their craft, the agreement being that they work solely for him.

The show in Bulgaria has been made possible by Koicho Belchev, a Dondé collaborator in painting. Belchev, born in 1922, comes from a long line of influential tobacco industry players; his family served as the prototype for the family in Bulgarian author Dimitar Dimov’s novel Tyutyun (Tobacco). After communism entered Bulgaria, he went to Switzerland, going on to graduate from a university in Zurich in the late 1940s, where he studied under Karl Jung. Working in the financial sphere in New York City, US, for 22 years, he eventually become owner of the (now defunct) Hayden, Stone & Co. He has been working with Dondé since 1990. At present, Belchev lives in Switzerland.

Source: SofiaEcho

Bansko needs to correct a major fact in its city guide, Katya Melamed, the archaeologist supervising ongoing digs in the vicinity of Bulgaria’s major ski resort, said to The Sofia Echo. All reference books state that the first signs of settlements can be dated back to the 15th century, Melamed said, but recent findings indicate that active life in the area started around fourth century CE.

Her team is continuing a series of excavations that initially began almost 15 years ago. Now they are looking into a large building from the seventh century, and with a quite complex architectural plan, Melamed said. The remaining structure displays evidence of adjoining spacious warehouses with floors, covered with wooden grids.

According to Melamed, this was an early Christian basilica as it is evident by the fragments of stained glass as well as richly adorned Byzantine glasses recently unearthed.

The scholar suggested that most likely the basilica was burnt down by a Slavic tribe that later built a settlement over the ruins. Melamed discovered another layer of remnants consisting of rectangular-like dwellings. Later on, around the 10th century, another religious building was erected, a church perhaps, which also crumbled in a fire, the archaeologist said.

What happened after that is hard to determine, Melamed said, but the settlement was abruptly abandoned and turned into a necropolis. More than 150 graves have been located, as the majority of them have been excavated. Melamed said that the findings are typical for a burial site, such as various adornments and coins.

Thus far, the most valuable objects Melamed and her team have found are a silver ring with a engraved cross and an inscription written in Greek, as well as a coin left from the time of Bulgarian ruler Ivan Assen II (1218/1241).

Melamed said that a great quantity of Slavic pottery has been unearthed. The basilica’s roof was covered with locally manufactured tiles. Earlier archaeological discoveries have found that a Slavic pottery factory functioned in the area and supplied the nearby region.

Source: SofiaEcho

At the beginning of October 2008, MM Television – the first Bulgarian music television – will give the first “Music Decade Awards” in Bulgaria’s history, thus celebrating 10th anniversary of the television.

MM TV has invited ten of the most renowned Bulgarian music video directors, Alexander Mollov, Valeri Milev, Georgi Tornev among them. Each of them will reveal his personal point of view on the development of Bulgarian music during the last ten years, providing a short movie about each of the ten categories of the music awards.

All performers, nominated through the years, will take part in the competition for the anniversary awards. The jury will include competent music journalists and editors, as well as MM TV crew.

Source: News BG

Going to Bulgaria this summer, brush up on some basic phrases using BBC Languages Tools

85% of the approximate 8.7m population of Bulgaria speak the official language, Bulgarian. 2.5% speak Macedonian, considered in Bulgaria as a dialect of Bulgarian and not as a separate language.

Other minority languages include Romani, Turkish, spoken by 9% of the population, and the related languages of Gagauz, Tatar, and Albanian.

The works of Bulgarian sculptor Ivan Minekov have been chosen for exhibition as part of the 23rd International Ballet Competition Varna 2008.

The show opened on July 17 in Alfa Art Gallery III in the Black Sea city’s Palace of Culture and Sport.

Given the event that it accompanies, the theme of Minekov’s exhibition is overarchingly ballet, with 12 statues of various sizes representing the art. Among those on display is his newest work, entitled Ballerina, which will be conferred as the grand prize to the winner in the young age category of the dance competition.

Paintings by Minekov’s daughter, the London-based Paola Minekova, complement Minekov’s works, along with canvases by Varna artist Svetlin Nenov. The show is on until July 30.

Minekov’s history as an artist dates back to the 1970s, when, between 1975-1990, he was the man who designed many of the communist-stylised statues in cities around Bulgaria, like Bourgas, Dorkovo, Lovech, Rousse and his native Pazardjik.

Today his works can be found in private collections around Europe, and in Israel, Japan and the United States. At present, he is working on a memorial to the Bulgarian Jews in World War 2, and a monument to be placed at the site of the El Al civilian airliner crash, which was shot down over Bulgaria in 1955.

Source: SofiaEcho

The music formations Jazzanova and Landslide will be special guests of a series of parties on the Bulgaria Black sea coast.

For the summer evenings in Varna appearing also DJ Deep & Chateau Flight, Michael Rutten и Michael Reinboth.

The sea concerts will be dedicated to the new jazz, chill out, latino jazz, bossa nova, drum’n'bass, hause and the break beat sounding.

The series of events, organized by Cotton Records will occur between 25 July and 16 August in the sea capital of Bulgaria Varna.

Source: BG News

Bulgarian wine cellars received 40 awards at the International Wine Fair, which was held in London. This is Bulgaria’s best achievement at international wine exhibits and fairs in the last years.

Bulgarian wines were awarded with 6 silver, 14 bronze medals and with 20 honorary certificates.

Of course, when compared to the awards received by the world wine leaders such as France with its 700 medals, the number of the Bulgarian ones seems quite small. However, according to experts, the 20 medals are very important because they demonstrate that after years of decline, the Bulgarian wine industry can again become competitive on the world market.

In the 90’s Great Britain was invaded by Bulgarian wines – over 20 million bottles were imported there just in 1999. Official data from the Ministry of Agriculture shows that currently this number is 10 times lower. Bulgarian wines in Great Britain have been replaced by the New World competitors – manufacturers from Chile, Argentina, South Africa.

The International Wine Fair is one of the most anticipated events each year among world wine producers. 180 000 bottles of red, white and rose wines have been sent to London from all over the world. The visitors, which included mostly wine merchants and tasters, could see over 1250 stands.

Bulgaria was represented by 20 companies and such overpowering competition makes the 40 Bulgarian awards even more significant.

Source: Novinite.com

TOKYO: Bulgarian Kotooshu made history in Japan’s ancient sport of sumo Saturday as he became the first European to win an Emperor’s Cup.

The 25-year-old Bulgarian star needed only one win from his weekend bouts to claim the title. He crashed into opponent Ama’s chest, getting both arms wrapped around the Mongolian sekiwake’s “mawashi” belt to bulldoze him to the edge of the straw ring.

Kotooshu then tackled him from behind, throwing himself on top of the opponent who went smashing down to the dirt surface at Tokyo’s Ryogoku Kokugikan arena.

The victory lifted Kotooshu, whose real name is Kaloyan Mahlyanov, to a 13-1 record, claiming the title with a bout to spare.

It was the first tournament win in a six-year-long sumo career for the 6-foot-7-inch (202-centimeter) Bulgarian, who switched to sumo having been an accomplished Greco-Roman wrestler in his homeland.

His father Stefanov stood with cheering crowd, waving a Bulgarian flag to celebrate his son’s victory, which took him 34 tournaments since his sumo debut in 2002.

“I’m too overwhelmed to say anything,” a beaming Kotooshu said in a televised interview. “I’m so happy. I finally did it.”

Kotooshu entered the tournament with the modest goal of getting more wins than losses to maintain his ozeki rank. But he conquered both grand champions Hakuho and Asashoryu and matched his previous best winning streak of 12 bouts.

“Today I was able to wrestle my sumo, and I was really moved,” said Kotooshu, after a firm handshake with his trainer Sadogatake.

Kotooshu was all smiles when he returned to his locker room, where he got his topknot fixed by a hair stylist.

“I still can’t believe it,” he said, then hugged his father.

Overall, Kotooshu is the seventh foreign wrestler to win a tournament title, after retired Hawaiian grand champions Akebono and Musashimaru, as well as Mongolian yokozuna Asashoryu and Hakuho.

Bulgarian Ambassador Blagovest Sendov hailed Kotooshu’s victory, calling him “a national pride.” Continued….

Source: The International Herald Tribune

Bulgaria celebrates the Day of Bulgarian Education and Culture and Slavic Literacy today. It is the day of Bulgarian holy brothers’ St. st. Kiril and Metodiy, creators of the first Slavic written script – the Glagolica.

The holiday was celebrated for the first time in 1851, and since 1857 this holiday is celebrated regularly as the day of Slavic Literacy and Bulgarian Culture.

The day of Slavic literacy is feted in the honour of holy brothers st. st. Kiril and Metodiy.

There is presently no country which uses the created by them Glagolic, but it was replaced by the created by their student Kliment Ohridski, who developed their Clagolics and created the Cyrillic alphabet.

It consists of 24 Greek letters and other 12, signing specific for the Old Bulgarian language sounds.

The Old – Bulgarian is one of the first writing languages in Europe and turns Bulgaria into cultural center for the Slavic world as its written language is accepted as state one in some neighbour countries.

The forming of the literal Russian and Serbian languages is strongly influenced and helped by the Old – Bulgarian.

Source: International BG

For our Canadians readers here’s a special event that may be of interest….

“If you love choirs — or any sort of music — I suggest driving up to Nanaimo’s Port Theatre Monday night. That’s where Le Mystére des Voix Bulgares will be performing.

Thursday night, this choir of 25 gave an absolutely mesmerizing concert at UVic Centre. The Grammy-winning choir specializes in both traditional and contemporary Bulgarian folk music. Performing a cappella, under the expert direction of conductor Dora Hristova, the ensemble has won kudos the world over — including raves from celebs such as Jerry Garcia and Pat Metheny.

Their reputation is well-deserved. Singing in their native tongue, Le Mystére des Voix Bulgares (The Mystery of the Bulgarian Voices) gave a concert of unearthly beauty for an enthused, sometimes cheering audience. The choir’s secret weapon is its harmonies. To Western ears, the intervals — that is, the blended note choices — are unusual, even dissonant. In particular, their microtonal harmonies provide a distinctive drone almost ungodly in its beauty.

The choir, mostly women, sang the first part of the program in traditional dress representing different regions of Bulgaria. Arms linked, they wore colourful headdresses, aprons, and artificial roses in their hair. For the second part of the evening, showcasing mostly contemporary fare, they changed into modern evening wear.

The lead singing — for example, a song called The Dark Cloud featuring soloist Dafinka Damyanova — is often based on Eastern scales. It has a melancholic and plaintive quality, bringing to mind a lone voice emanating from a mosque. Florid, Eastern-style ornamention is common.

The rhythms, sometimes asymetrical, can be extremely complex. There were skittering staccaco lines layered over top of one another. Songs punctuated with yips or yelps. Some ended with a descending yo-yo-like dip. The harmonies are so precise, it brings to mind a pipe organ.

The effect can be startling. For example, when two women harmonized for Songs from The Shope Area (the Shope is a region in Bulgaria), an eerie overtone suggesting a invisible third singer seemed to surface.

Although Le Mystére des Voix Bulgares makes it look easy, this singing requires phenomenal technique. I have never heard a choir as well-rehearsed and accomplished as this one. Despite the discipline required, the women are encouraged to bring out their unique timbres — a throaty, earthy sound here; a more nasal sound there.

This choir sings in a style said to reflect ancient singing traditions in Bulgaria, which was isolated from the rest of Europe for 500 years of Ottoman rule. Western listeners may not understand the words, but we can comprehend the timeless beauty of this unusual yet accessible music.

The evening was so entertaining, it seemed to fly by. Trust me. Make the trip Nanaimo on Monday (or Vancouver’s Chan Centre, where Le Mystére des Voix Bulgares performs Friday night). You won’t regret it.”

Source: Adrian Chamberlain, Times Colonist, Canada.com