Marked by Byzantine, Ottoman, and Balkan influences, Bulgaria is renowned for its songs with subtle ornamentations and irregular rhythms — sounds that surprise the ear and set the body in motion with their unpredictable pulse. From the Balkan mountains to the shores of the Black Sea and the gateways of Anatolia, the Bulgarian Echoes Ensemble traces the contours of a richly colored musical landscape, woven with melodies full of history, struggle, and vitality.

This concert highlights emblematic traditional Balkan instruments such as the kaval (end-blown flute) and the Bulgarian tambura (lute), in dialogue with the accordion, guitar, cello, and drums. One of the distinctive features of the program lies in its fusion of traditional rhythms, modes, and melodies with elements drawn from jazz, Romani music, and other international styles.

Through these unique sounds, the musicians perform festive and everyday pieces that ultimately unite the Balkans — evoking the great and small mysteries that shape the region’s collective imagination, nourished by legends, emotions, and stories passed on by word of mouth. A chorus of voices and instruments celebrating encounter and dialogue among peoples, affirming — despite apparent divisions — a shared and living history.

Sergiu Popa – accordion
Noémy Braun – cello
Nedyalko Nedyalkov – kaval (flute)
Petar Milanov – guitar and Bulgarian tambura (lute)
Ayder Ashyrov – drums

Photo credits: Ruslan ArslanBek, Darina Zlatkova