M Y FAVORITES Bojidara Kouzmanova There are few words that can Music can understand, con- Music and making music can With this CD, I would like to de­­scribe what the violin means to sole, support, touch, unburden and lead one to doubt and even despair – give you an in-depth look into my me. She is like a friend, though delight. It can be thought-provok- but also always to grow. Music musical treasure chest, so that friendships change, so she is more ing, when we allow it to be. Music allows us to engage ourselves in we may share diverse and wonder- than a friend. She is a faithful com- accompanies daily life, the thoughts a dimension that is as substan- ful moments with each other. panion; a partner, with whom one of it occurring occasionally as an tive and necessary as the air that has intense discussions. She has unwanted, persistent guest – but its we breathe, but it’s not tangible. All Bojidara Kouzmanova known me my whole life, and we presence has impact in our lives. In that is the reason why I make music. have shared everything. Often, I the moments when music cannot For me, music is a direct path to have said that she is the only one help – cannot offer consolation, the human soul. Music can affect who can al ways tolerate me. How- nor under standing, nor relief – it is realms where far more important ever, as much as I love her, it is not a faithful com panion. Sometimes things matter than appearances about her, but about the music. It is full of emo tion, other times very and success. about what music expresses and calm and quiet; music is a conveys. partner for life. 2 A native Bulgarian, Bojidara Bojidara Kouzmanova regularly Kouzmanova began playing violin gives concerts and teaches mas- at the age of fi ve. She fi nished her ter classes all over the world. Her studies at the University of Music discography com prises more than and Arts in Vienna with Prof. Günter 15 CDs recorded for different labels Pichler and completed both her in America, Bulgaria and Austria. bachelor’s and master’s degrees in Kouzmanova has a passion for old, violin performance with distinction. precious instruments and owns more then 15 different Stradivarius Kouzmanova has won many and Guarneri violins as well as vio- national and international violin lins from other violinmakers. competitions in Europe and the United States, including the Bela Many composers have dedi - Bartok Competition (1996), Dobrin cated pieces to Kouzmanova, Petkov Violin Competition (1996), including Perikles Liakakis (Tune Haverhill Sinfonia Soloist Compe- for solo violin), Peter Richter (the tition (2000), Hudson Valley String violin concerto Bojidara), Florian Competition (2000), Grand Prix Meyer (Vienna Waltz Caprise), Julia »Alois Kottmann« awarded by the Purgina (Frederick for solo violin), City of Frankfurt (2001), Honour Sergio Navata (Tangara for Violin Prize from the University of Music and Piano). She is also a member and Performing Arts Vienna (2005). of the Kreisler String Trio, En semble Quasars, Ensemble of the XX Cen- She has performed as a solo- tury, Ensemble Collage and Recon- ist with many different orchestras, sil, Vienna. such as the Brandenburg Symphony Orchestra, Prague Radio Sym- Ms. Kouzmanova currently plays phony Orchestra, Montevideo Sym- a Postiglione violin (1890), which phony Orchestra, Sofi a Philharmo- was kindly loaned to her by a private nic Orchestra, Plovdiv Philharmonic sponsor. Orches tra, Rousse Philharmonic Orchestra, Bohuslav Martinu Phil- www.bojidarakouzmanova.com harmonic, Bach Soloists Vienna, Kottmann String Players Frankfurt, New Basel Symphony Orchestra and Recreation Orchestra Graz. 3 4 Violin Bojidara Kouzmanova (1, 5, 7, 11) Piano Piano Magda Amara (1, 5, 10) Ivan Buffa (3) Viola Viola Axel Kircher Julia Purgina (7) Horn Cello Wolfgang Vladar (1, 9, 10) Luis Zorita Kreisler Trio Bojidara Kouzmanova, Axel Kircher, Luis Zorita (2, 4, 6, 8) Rousse Philharmonic Orchestra (11, conductor: Nayden Todorov) Recording dates: March, May, June 2017 | Recording venue: Tonzauber Studio in Konzerthaus Vienna, Austria (1–10), Rousse Philharmonic Concert Hall, Bulgaria (11) | Producer, Engineer: Georg Burdicek (1–10), Ivaylo Yanev (11) Arrangements: Ivan Buffa (1), Bojidara Kouzmanova-Vladar (5), Fredo Jung (6), Dmitry Sitkovetsky (8) Photos: Maria Frodl, jarolas.sk, Atanas Peev, Rudy Bezhev | Translation: Mara Achleitner | Graphic design: paladino media 5 – 1 – – 7 – Johannes Brahms (1833–1897) Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart (1756–1791) »Guten Abend, gut’ Nacht« (1868) lullaby Andante cantabile from Duo in For our son Daniel B Flat major for Violin and Viola KV 424 2:19 (1783 in Salzburg) 3:07 – 2 – Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart (1756–1791) – 8 – Andante from Divertimento in Johann Sebastian Bach (1685–1759) E-flat major KV 563 Adagio (Variation 25) from Goldberg Variations 7:08 6:42 – 3 – – 9 – Johannes Brahms (1833–1897) Engelbert Humperdinck (1854–1921) Intermezzo (Andante teneramente) »Abendsegen« from the opera op. 118 Nr. 2 (1892) Hänsel and Gretel 5:37 2:29 – 4 – – 10 – Franz Schubert (1797–1828) Karl Pilss (1902–1979) String Trio in B Flat major D 471 (Allegro) Sinfonia (allegro energico) from 7:55 Tre pezzi in forma di sonata 9:24 – 5 – Franz Lehar (1870–1948) – 11 – »Lippen schweigen«, arrangement for violin and Pantscho Wladigerov (1899–1978) piano from the operette The marry widow (1905) »Song« from the bulgarian Suite op. 21 For my Wolfgang 6:50 2:26 TT 57:27 – 6 – Fritz Kreisler (1875–1962) Marche miniature viennoise 3:26 or 0027 a production of orlando records | ℗ & © 2017 paladino media gmbh, vienna | www.orlando-records.com 28062 ISRC: AT-TE4-16-009-01 to 11.