Хорът при църквата „Св. Седмочисленици" в София
The Choir at the St. Sedmochislenitsi (The Seven Saints) Church in Sofia

Summary/Abstract: This article traces the chronological development of the choir at the St. Sedmochislenitsi church from its founding until the present time. The first part of the article identifies all conductors of the choir, from 1902 until 1992, when the current director Dimitur Grigorov took the helm. Under his direction, the choir has begun a new stage in its development, expanding beyond the borders of liturgical practice and establishing itself as a vocal ensemble that has been recognized for its high artistic achievement both in Bulgaria and abroad. The second half of the article is dedicated primarily to the group’s repertoire and the singers’ stage practice. The St. Sedmochislenitsi vocal ensemble is a good example demonstrating that stringent requirements during the selection of pieces and performers assure success in the concert hall. The ensemble’s repertoire is exceptionally varied and wide-ranging, characterized by stylistic authenticity. During the performance of each of the choir’s pieces, both the conductor and the singers strive for a balance between rational and emotional elements. The conductor Dimitur Grigorov has made note-worthy contributions, especially where the choir’s high level of vocal mastery is concerned. This young conductor is truly an innovator and experimenter, most notably in terms of the choir’srepertoire. The music performed dates from the time of St. Methodius, passes through the whole of the religious canon, encompassing the most characteristic part of the liturgical practice of Orthodox Christians as well as Catholics, and even includes works of a secular nature (such as cantatas, operas, and so forth). The success that the vocal ensemble has achieved with every one of its performances is evidenced by their concert tours in Europe (Belgium, Spain, Holland, Czech Republic, Germany, and England) and their participation in prestigious festivals such as: Semana de Musica y Polifonia Sacra de Segovia, Cicolo de Musica Sacra de Bilbao, Semana de Musica y Poliforua Sacra de Santander, Cicolo de Musica Religiosa de Madrid (Spain),Festival Van Vlaanderen-Laus Polyphoniae (Belgium), Festival Oude Muziek-Utrecht (Holland), Prague Spring (Czech Republic), the Europalia Arts Festival in Belgium, the Cambridge Summer Festival, Cheltenham International Festival of Music, Birmingham International Festival (England), and the First Balkan Arts Bazar in Thessaloniki (Greece), among others.

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