Pancho Vladigerov facts for kids
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Pancho Vladigerov (born March 13, 1899 – died September 8, 1978) was a very important Bulgarian composer, teacher, and pianist. He is considered one of the most influential Bulgarian composers ever.
Pancho Vladigerov was special because he was one of the first to successfully mix Bulgarian folk music with classical music. He helped start many new types of music in Bulgaria. He was also a founding member of the Bulgarian Contemporary Music Society in 1933. This group later became the Union of Bulgarian Composers. Vladigerov taught many famous Bulgarian composers and pianists, including Alexis Weissenberg.
Contents
Biography
Early Life and Education
Pancho Vladigerov was born in Zürich, Switzerland. However, he grew up in Shumen, Bulgaria. His mother, Dr. Eliza Pasternak, was a Russian Jew. His father, Dr. Haralan Vladigerov, was a Bulgarian lawyer.
Pancho started playing the piano and composing music when he was very young. In 1910, after his father passed away, his family moved to Sofia. There, Pancho began studying composition with Dobri Hristov. Dobri Hristov was a leading Bulgarian composer of that time.
Pancho's maternal grandfather, Leon Pasternak, was a big influence on his music. Leon was a mathematician and a chess player. He also played music and composed as a hobby. He often played the violin with Pancho and his twin brother.
The "Jewish Poem"
In 1951, Vladigerov wrote a great symphony called "Jewish Poem," Opus 47. He based this symphony on a Jewish tune his grandfather taught him. In 1952, this symphony received the highest award from the Bulgarian Government, the Dimitrov Prize. Other musicians greatly admired it. The famous composer Dmitri Shostakovich once said, "A work like this is written only once in a hundred years."
Studies in Berlin
In 1912, Pancho's mother helped him and his twin brother, Luben Vladigerov, get a scholarship. They went to study in Berlin, Germany. They attended the Staatliche Akademische Hochschule für Musik. This school is now part of the Berlin University of the Arts.
Pancho Vladigerov studied music theory and composition with Paul Juon. He also learned piano from Karl Heinrich Barth. He graduated in 1920. During his studies, he won the Mendelssohn Prize twice, in 1918 and 1920.
Return to Bulgaria
After graduating, Vladigerov worked as a music director at Deutsches Theater in Berlin. He worked with the famous theater director Max Reinhardt. In 1932, he decided to return to Sofia, Bulgaria. He became a professor at the State Academy of Music. This academy is now named after him.
Musical Works and Recognition
Vladigerov composed many different types of music. He wrote an opera called Tsar Kaloyan. He also composed ballet music and symphonies. He wrote five piano concertos and two violin concertos. His chamber music includes string quartets and trios. He also wrote many pieces for solo piano.
Vladigerov became very famous in Europe in the 1920s. Many of his pieces were published in Vienna. They were also released on records by a German company. His music was performed across Europe and in the USA. He toured many European countries as a pianist and composer. He mainly performed his own works. In 1969, he received the Herder Prize from the University of Vienna.
Many famous musicians admired Vladigerov's music. These include Richard Strauss, Dmitri Shostakovich, and Aram Khachaturian. His music has been played by artists like Alexis Weissenberg and David Oistrakh. Even today, pianist Valentina Seferinova performs his solo piano music.
Most Famous Work
Vladigerov's most famous work is Vardar Rhapsody. It is also known as Bulgarian Rhapsody. He first wrote it for violin and piano. Later, it was arranged for different instruments and orchestras. This piece is a strong patriotic work. One critic said it is "the Bulgarian equivalent of Chopin's Polonaise in A Major."
Legacy
Pancho Vladigerov passed away in 1978 in Sofia. His house in Sofia has been turned into a museum. His son, Alexander Vladigerov, and his grandchildren, Pancho Vladigerov Jr., Alexander Wladigeroff, and Konstantin Wladigeroff, are also respected musicians.
An international music competition is held in Shumen since 1986. It is named after Vladigerov. In 2006, Pancho Vladigerov Jr. started a foundation. Its goal is to protect and share Pancho Vladigerov's musical heritage.
The National Academy of Music in Sofia, Bulgaria, is named "Prof. Pancho Vladigerov" in his honor. Also, Vladigerov Passage in Antarctica is named after him.
See also
In Spanish: Pancho Vladigerov para niños
