The Vidin State Philharmonic Orchestra, founded as a private institution in 1910, became State Orchestra on 28 April 1949. For decades it has now been a leading cultural institution in the city of Vidin and the Vidin region.

Vidin is located in the northernmost part of north-western Bulgaria, right on the banks of the river Danube. Founded by the Romans and having been the most important trading place of the lower Danube in the medieval times, Vidin is of rich historical and cultural heritage and musical traditions.

The Vidin State Philharmonic Orchestra's range of activities covers a season of about 35 symphonic concerts and 9 educational concerts in Vidin and its region.
As one of the most demanded tour orchestras of Bulgaria tours lead the orchestra to Germany, Austria, The Netherlands, Suisse, Italy, Spain, Hungary and Serbia-Montenegro. Recently the orchestra performed a highly cheered concert at the Internationales Donaufest 2004 in Ulm/Germany.

The orchestra is also often demanded for the orchestral accompaniment of piano-competitions and numerous masterclasses, such as "Wiener Meisterkurse fuer Junge Dirigenten" (since 1999) and on conducting masterclasses of Freiburger Dirigentenakademie (since 2002).

Many famous Bulgarian musicians - brilliant conductors and soloists like Konstantin Iliev, Pancho Vladigerov, Vassi Kazandzhiev, Dobrin Petkov, Yordan Daffov, Georgi Robev, Georgi Badev, Maria Prinz, Stoyka Milanova, Jenny Zaharieva, Mario Houssen - have worked with the orchestra throughout the years.

A number of foreign masters like Igor Oistrakh, Emil Gilels, Salvador Mas Conde, Redondo Romero, Ovidiu Balan and many others whose names are well-known in the musical word, have also had the pleasure to perform with the Vidin State Philharmonic Orchestra.

Manager and Artistic Director of Vidin State Philharmonic Orchestra is Miroslav Krastev.The orchestra is under the musical leadership of the Bulgarian Svilen Simeonov as Main Conductor and Joerg Bierhance, Germany, as Principal Guest Conductor. Maria Prinz, Professor of Vienna Music University, is Soloist in Residence for the current season.

For obtaining further information please contact us

Vidin State Philharmonic Orchestra
4, Gradinska Str.
Vidin 3700
Bulgaria
Tel/Fax: +359 94 601908