Olya Al-Ahmed Author in Fakti.bg
The musical poem "The Hermit of Rila" will be presented at St. Alexander Nevsky Square
On 26, 27 and 28 July, the Sofia Opera presents the musical poem "The Hermit of Rila" on St. Alexander Nevsky Square at 21 h.
The spectacle is dedicated to the 100th anniversary of the consecration of the Patriarchal St. Alexander Nevsky Cathedral. The text of the musical poem is by Tihomir Pavlov, and the music is by Stavrophore oikonomos Kiril Popov.
Who is Tihomir Pavlov?
Tihomir Pavlov (birth name Aleksandar Aleksandrov Pavlov) was born on 14 June 1880 in Kazanlak. He carries Renaissance virtues and revealed his writing talent at a very young age.
His first work was the poem "The Orphan" (1898). He developed active political activity in Bitola, Macedonia. He participated in the struggles of the Bulgarians in Adrianople Thrace with his detachment. After the end of World War I he devoted himself exclusively to journalistic and writing activities.
He wrote novels, short stories, poems, journalism, ethnographic works, etc. In addition to his historical journalism and books relating to Bulgarian history, which are a distinctive feature of his work, he also published poems, short stories and novels about contemporary life.
Perhaps the most significant part of his oeuvre is connected with his work at the Western Suburbs Research Institute, where he was attracted by Emanuil Popdimitrov.
Regardless of where and what he worked, he dedicated his life to the unification of Bulgaria. Tihomir Pavlov is of the generation of Bulgarians who lived after the end of the Balkan Wars and the First World War. He is one of the great Bulgarian intellectuals, among whom are Rayko Alexiev, Yordan Slivopolski and others. His novel "Blessed Land" is proof of this. It is a sacred testament for all those who dedicate their efforts for the good, justice and freedom of the Fatherland.
Tihomir Pavlov died on 1 December 1937. Shortly before his departure from this world Pavlov created his last poetic work "The Hermit of Rila", according to the life of the All-Bulgarian saint Rev. John of Rila the Wonderworker. Unfortunately, this unique poem remained in oblivion until in 2022 our contemporary clergyman, composer, conductor and teacher Father Kiril Popov (b. 1955) found it in his personal archive and received musical inspiration.
About Stavrophore oikonomos Kiril Popov, the composer Kiril Popov
He was born on 5 December 1955. He graduated in 1975 from the Sofia Theological Seminary and in 1981 from the Theological Academy. In 1982, by the decision of St. In 1982, 1982, he was appointed a postgraduate student at the Moscow Theological Academy.
After his return to Bulgaria, he taught Eastern Church singing (1985-1989) and choral singing (1991-2000) at the Sofia Theological Seminary, conducted the choir at the St. Nedelya Cathedral – Sofia (assistant conductor 1985-1990 and conductor 1991-2000), and in 1989-1990 worked as a research assistant at the Church History and Archives Institute of the Bulgarian Patriarchate.
In 1987-1988 he underwent post-graduate training in choral conducting at the Bulgarian State Conservatory (now the Prof. Pancho Vladigerov National Academy of Music – Sofia) in the conducting class of prof. Vasil Arnaudov. Since 17.03.1986 he has been conductor of the Sofia Priests Choir. In 2000 he accepted the clerical ministry.
Since 01.11.2013 he is a parish priest in the Metropolitan St. Nedelya Cathedral Cathedral in Sofia. As a conductor he has released recordings on gramophone records and a total of eight CDs with the Sofia Priests Choir. He composes and makes arrangements of more than 100 church hymns and secular songs.
In "The Rila Hermit" take part:
Irinei Konstantinov, Atanas Mladenov, Angel Hristov, Ivan Radev, Dimitar Stanchev, Nikolay Petrov, Veselin Mihaylov, Stefan Vladimirov, Ivan Aleksandrov, Veleslav Ninov and others.
Production team: Conductor (26.07) – Metropolitan Cyprian of Stara Zagora, Conductor (27 and 28.07 ) – Zhorzh Dimitrov, Director – Plamen Kartaloff, Chorus master – Violeta Dimitrova, Stage design – Nela Stoyanova, Costumes – Marta Mironska and others.
The work consists of two acts and ten scenes.