ZAMEK Culture Centre

The landscape of Bulgaria spans the many ridges of the Stara Planina range,  the gentle hills and deep valleys of the Rhodopes, and the peaks of the Rila Mountains, which tower over the Balkans. That terrain no doubt helps preserve the archaic traditions of the country, but simultaneously it nurtures local diversity, which has few parallels in Europe.

The music of Bulgaria owes much of its fame to the unique brand of polyphony one encounters in some regions. The harmonious texture is built from sharp seconds and long drones that stabilize the musical structure, while the singing is characterized by precise intonation and the use of intricate micro-intervals.

The members of the Women’s Quarter of the Philip Kutev Ensemble accomplish the apparently impossible, in that they extract the most precious essence from the rich Bulgarian traditions and skilfully transfer it to the stage. In doing so, they remain true to the singing tradition: the tension between the voices, the austerity, the play of breath and the emotions are all there.