SVETOGLAS (Bulgaria)

Daniel Spasov
Milen Ivanov
Satnimir Ivanov
Viktor Tomanov

With their unique voices and magnetic presence on stage, with their diverse program and a different way of interpreting the tradition, the Svetoglas quartet is among the most popular and beloved Bulgarian folk ensembles. The singers present a kind of panorama of the different musical dialects and styles of the traditional Bulgarian folk art and the old ecclesiastical music. The performances of the quartet vary from sharp typical intervals to refined tonal extraction of Orthodox practice.

The ensemble was founded in 2009 by Daniel Spasov and Milen Ivanov – soloists of the world famous choir “The Mystery of the Bulgarian Voices”. It is one of the first Bulgarian male vocal groups aiming to present the richness and beauty of the ancient Bulgarian male ecclesiastical and folk singing. Following the great worldwide success of the Bulgarian female voices, a new ensemble is coming, with a new way of reading of ancient folklore, with different timbre voice and worldview, which translates most of the colors and tones of the ancient Bulgarian musical tradition in modern language.

What is new in the vocal and stage practice of the ensemble is the presentation for the first time of musical works from the folklore culture, never heard before. These are songs from the oldest Bulgarian folklore layer, polyphonic creations based on tradition, improvisations, ancient monadic and harmonious ecclesiastical-Slavonic chants. The series of concerts under the motto “The Mystery of the Bulgarian Polyphony” have been extremely successful both in Bulgarian and around the world. Their voices sound equally well in big churches and cathedrals as well as in prestigious concert halls and at festivals.

In 2012 the first album of Svetoglas, called “The Wheel of Life” was released. In 2014, at the invitation of the “Music Reverse” Greek music company, the ensemble carried out the “Prayer of the Lord” project with ecclesiastical chants.

In 2013, Svetoglas ensemble made an extremely successful tour in Russia. The demanding audience in the big concert halls and the philharmonic orchestras of the cities of Samara, Tolyatti, Vologda, Kazan, Perm and Ekaterinburg applauded the performances of the four singers.

The next year, Svetoglas quartet received a special invitation to participate in “Music of Faith” Festival in Kazan and took part in the opening of the “Thracian Gold from Bulgaria – Legends Come to Life” exhibition at the State Historical Museum in Moscow. In February 2014, the singers had a concert in the European Commission Headquarters in Brussels.  

The singers have made prestigious solo tours in Norway, Russia, Spain, Great Britain, Belgium, Italy, Columbia, Hungary, Turkey, Sweden and France. They took part in the Festival for Spiritual Music in Dramen, Norway, the “Maestro de la Roza” Festival of Ecclesiastical Music in Oviedo, Spain, in the International Music Festival in Cartagena, Columbia, the “Three Cultures” Festival in Murcia, Spain, the “Fausto Flamini” International Festival for Ecclesiastical Music in Rome, the “Musiche della Terra“ International Festival in Cheriana, Italy and had also a concert in the famous hall of the “Juan March” Foundation in Madrid, Spain, A CAPPELLA – Leipzig, International Festival of Sacred Music – Fribourg.  Along with their international appearances they have performed a lot of concerts in Bulgaria, made recordings in the Bulgarian National Radio as well as had a number of participations in programs of Bulgarian National Television. 

Svetoglas – this is a spontaneous expression of the Bulgarian folklore tradition, of the beauty and the mystique of the old music and its modern vocal-scenic interpretation.

The creative biography of Daniel Spasov includes recordings of more than 300 folklore songs in the Bulgarian National Radio, films on the Bulgarian National Television and four solo CDs. In 1994 his name was included in the world encyclopedia “Music of the World” /London/. Since 1996 Daniel Spasov has been a soloist of the world famous female folklore choir “The Mystery of the Bulgarian Voices” /„Le Mystere Des Voix Bulgares”/. On his own and as a soloist he has sung in some of the most prestigious concert halls in Europe, Asia, the Americas and Africa – The Royal Festival Hall and Barbican Center, London, the Kennedy Center in Washington, the Concert House in Vienna, Concertgebouw in Amsterdam. In 2000 he took part in “The Vatican Congratulates the World with the XXI century”. In 2011, together with “The Mystery of the Bulgarian Voices” he made recordings for the BBC Radio – London. In 2012 Daniel Spasov, Milen Ivanov and monks from Tibet performed an impressive concert at the Berlin Philharmonic under the motto “Music from the Monasteries”. The voice of Daniel Spasov can be heard in many documentaries presenting the Bulgarian cultural and historical heritage. In 2012 he received a special invitation to record part of the vocal music for the international film production “The Dervishes – the Mystics of the East”. 

Daniel Spasov is also the executive producer of “Folklore Programs” at the Bulgarian National Television.

Milen Ivanov is the founder and conductor of Eva Quartet. All four singers are part of “The Mystery of the Bulgarian Voices” Choir. Under his conduction the quartet formed its professional image and asserted itself as one of the best chamber folklore groups. Songs performed by the quartet, conducted by Milen Ivanov, are included in the fourth album of Marcel Cellier from the series “The Mystery of the Bulgarian Voices” and in the album “Spiritus” released by PolyGram. Eva Quartet and Milen Ivanov have made prestigious solo tours both in Bulgaria and around the world. Since 2000 Milen Ivanov has been the conductor of the academic mixed choir “Slavic Sounds” – Sofia. Under his leadership, the choir recorded songs at the Bulgarian National Radio and made concert tours in Spain, the Netherlands, Hungary, Greece, Turkey and the Republic of North Macedonia. 

Milen Ivanov works as an executive producer and editor at the Bulgarian National Television.

Stanimir Ivanov is one of the young members of the ensemble. He is a graduate of “Pancho Vladigerov” National Music Academy. For a short period of time he made a number of recording, as well as composed own musical pieces of work. Stanimir Ivanov works also as a sound director at the Bulgarian National Television.

Viktor Tomanov is one of the young members of the ensemble. He graduated “Folk Singing” at “Lyubomir Pipkov” National Music School in Sofia and “Music Pedagogy” at “St. Kliment Ohridski” Sofia University. He has a series of appearances on the Bulgarian National Television and the Bulgarian National Radio. He also won awards and diplomas from folklore competitions and festivals and had participated in a number of musical performances.

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