In its 90 years creative history, Sofia Philharmonic Orchestra has come a long, intensive path of artistic growth associated with the names of such distinguished musical figures like Sasha Popov, Konstantin Iliev, Dobrin Petkov, Vassil Stefanov, Vladi Simeonov, Dimitar Manolov, Yordan Dafov , Emil Tabakov, Julian Kovachev, Nayden Todorov. High artistic achievements and concert activity at home and around the world, attracting audiences invariably populated and growing well-deserved international reputation is representative of all our modern music culture.
Unforgettable in the annals of the Philharmonic are creative contacts with personalities such as Herman Abendrot conductors, Igor Markevich, Carlo Cecchi, Charles Brussels’, Heinz Bongarts, Karel Ancherl, Witold Rovitski, Janos Ferenchik, Gennady Rozhdestvensky, Yuri Temirkanov, Gyorgy Lehel, Kurt Mazur, Karl Osterrayher, Jean-Bernard Pommier, Karlheinz Stockhausen, Neville Marriner, Uros Layovits, Yuri Simonov, Leopold Hager, and others.
Soloists of the orchestra were Dmitri Shostakovich, David Oistrakh, Svetoslav Richter, Emil Gilels, Shura Cherkasky, Annie Fischer, Ruggiero Ricci, Eugene Istomin, Andre Navarra, Yvonne Lefebure, Alexis Weissenberg, Dimitris Sgouros, Mstislav Rostropovich, Joseph Palenichek, Wanda Vilkomirska, St. Pierre, Frederic Gevers, Kerer Rudolf, Josef Suk, Yoko Sato, John Ogden, Sekeyra Costa, Vladimir Spivakov, Janos Shebeshteyn, Nathaniel Rosen, Julian Rahlin, Bernd Glemzer, Andrew Marriner, Ashkenazi Topalov, Sergey Roldugin and dozens of famous foreign and Bulgarian artists.
Particular emphasis in the recent history of the Philharmonic are memorable and joint projects with famous musicians contemporary genres, which have been adopted with great enthusiasm by the audience and contributed to the international prestige of Bulgaria – Robin Gibb / Bee Gees, a group Manowar, Jon Lord / Deep Purple, Sting, Ill Divo, Jose Carreras. These concerts led not only lovers of classical music to be proud of our National Philharmonic Orchestra, but also the whole Bulgarian society.
Sofia Philharmonic Orchestra’s repertoire includes works from all over the world musical literature – from classics to the latest Opus, including premiere performances of dozens of Bulgarian works. In recent seasons have been met for the first time in our major works of world musical treasure of Scriabin, Penderecki, Martinu, A. Roussel, N. Rota, Olivier Messiaen, Charles Ives and others.
Together with the National Philharmonic Choir sounded masterpieces of cantata-oratorio works of Bach, Handel, Orff, Brahms, Schubert, Berlioz, Scriabin, Stravinsky, G. Verdi, Mendelssohn and others. Begun before more than half a century / 1939/ their tours abroad Sofia Philahrmonic has a serious credibility and recognition worldwide. Visit with success in major musical centers of Europe, Asia, America, welcome and the most demanding audience with loud acclamations. So far, the Philharmonic has visited in all European countries and in Mexico, Japan, South Korea, Singapore, Taiwan, Syria, Lebanon, Morocco, and Turkey. Repeatedly concerts in USA, UK, France, China, Germany, Spain, Italy, Netherlands, Belgium, Portugal, Greece, Harvatian, Slovenia, Macedonia, Yugoslavia, Malta and others.
With very high and is related to activity recorded the Philharmonic. The orchestra recorded annually in a few minutes of music with the most outstanding works from their repertoire, integral with the works of Mahler, Bruckner, R. Strauss, Stravinsky, instrumental concertos and vocal works by prominent local and foreign singers. There are plates issued by companies Balkanton, Gega, Suprafon, Elan, frequency, Koch, Mega, Capriccio and others. Radio entries Paris, Berlin Radio, Radio Moscow, Radio Munich, Bulgarian National Radio and Bulgarian National Television.
The Philharmonic was awarded the prestigious awards – Musician of the Year category Premiere /2002/ by Allegro vivace listeners, Bulgarian National Radio. Receives high honors, Golden Lyre / 2003 / Union of Musicians and Dancers in Bulgaria, honorary medal from the Macedonian Philharmonic Orchestra / 2004 / Award of Sofia Municipality / 2004 /, “Stave Gold” / 2005 / Union of Bulgarian composers, Diploma XXV International music Festival – Laureate days Katya Popova / 2005 / diplomas and honorable sign of National Academy of Music Prof. Pancho Vladigerov, Crystal Lyre / 2006 and 2009 / Ministry of Culture, Honorary Sign of the New Bulgarian University / 2008 /. Last successful season Sofia Philharmonic received high award called Award of Sofia about music.
Since 2017 Director General of the National Philharmonic is Nayden Todorov.