Bulgarians have another reason for national pride. Our opera singer Sonya Yoncheva received a prestigious and important French state award – the Order of Arts and Letters – Officer's Degree.
The Order was awarded to her by the Ambassador of France in our country – Joël Meyer, on behalf of the French Minister of Culture Rashida Dati. The ceremony was attended by Luc Lévy – Director of the French Institute and advisor on cultural cooperation, the Director of the Sofia Opera – Acad. Plamen Kartaloff, diplomats, relatives, friends and partners of the singer, BTA reported.
Before the award ceremony, the ambassador presented Yoncheva's merits to French culture and her success as a singer. "Despite your travels and successes, you do not forget your beautiful country Bulgaria. The future of art and the transmission of the values it brings are essential for you," said Joël Meyer. "As we are here tonight in this residence, the home of France, which has been the home of France for more than 100 years, I would like to say that you are also here in your home," the Ambassador added.
"I can say without any hesitation that my love for France and its culture happened instantly, at first sight – with a strong passion and dedication to the art of this great country and nation. I travel constantly and am all the time discovering new worlds, audiences and emotions, but the feeling of being on French soil is something so special, exquisite and irreplaceable for me. This need to draw from French culture is like a fountain of endless inspiration and artistic freedom that I will always need for my artistic choices and explorations," said Sonya Yoncheva.
"Today, more than a decade after my first French operatic and concert debuts, my love for your culture and art is still as strong, and never ceases to inspire me with its rich means of expression. Namely, my pilot appearances in France were noticed by international audiences and critics and became fundamental for the rise of my world career," continued Yoncheva.
Photo: Getty
The opera singer used the podium to urge us to encourage children to explore the world of art.
"Today, as I stand on this highest platform before you, I will say: "Dear friends, teachers, artists, supporters, show this so colourful and dreamy world to children, introduce them to the different kinds of art – so that we can be sure that tomorrow we can pass the baton to them. When they will be the next important ambassadors of art and culture in the world – contributing to their preservation, development, pursuit of excellence, freedom and fulfilment of dreams," appealed the world-famous Bulgarian soprano.
https://www.edna.bg/izvestni/povod-za-gordost-bylgarka-stana-oficer-na-frenski-orden-4674849