Petko Radev, klarinet – Bandûlgarski narodni hora i randûchenitsi

Chirpansko horo
Bulchenska rûchenitsa
Belorechensko horo
Kopanitsa
Vinarovsko horo
Svobodensko horo

Asenovo horo
Milevska rûchenitsa
Volovarovsko horo
Marichenska rûchenitsa
Patrikovo horo
Sitno shopsko horo
Svobodenska rûchenitsa

A vivid and unique star shone on the Bulgarian musical horizon in 1953. At the Fourth World Youth Festival in Bucharest the Bulgarian clarinetist Petko Radev, only 20 years old, received a gold medal. Ever since then Petko Radev's star has continued to shine brightly and vividly, in all the competitions in which he takes part. He is always at the head and all the prizes he receives are gold medals.

At the Third All-Bulgarian Competition for Singers and Instrumentalists in 1956 he again was awarded a gold medal.

The first prize at the 1957 Geneva Competition confirmed his high class and exceptional performer's qualities. This is the most important prize ever received by a Bulgarian instrumentalist at such a representative competition.

Year in and year out through strenuous and meaningful labour Petko Radev continued his impetuous ascent: soloist of the Symphony Orchestra of the Bulgarian Radio; of the Sofia State Philharmonic; assistant professor at the Bulgarian State Conservatory and ever since 1974 a soloist of the world famous La Scala in Milan.

The solo manifestations of Petko Radev are countless. He has been a successful guest performer with all symphony orchestras throughout Bulgaria; has given independent concerts in France, Czechoslovakia, Switzerland, Poland, Turkey, the Soviet Union, Hungary, Romania and many other countries all over the world.

Of late he has also taken an active participation in all the concert manifestations of the chamber ensembles of the La Scala Orchestra. Everywhere he goes the musical critics note with enthusiasm his successes.

On the occasion of his last concert at the Bulgaria Concert Hall with the Sinfonieta Orchestra, the newspaper Narodna Kultura wrote as follows: "Listening to Petko Radev we immediately want to underline, with sincere joy and pride, the beauty and nobility of his tone, the virtuoso technique, the refinement and intelligence which he introduced in every single detail of the interpretation, which justly assign him a place of honor amidst the most distinguished clarinetists in the world."

And again an exceptional event in the practice of the greatest operatic theater in the world, on the stage of which the most distinguished opera stars from all over the world come on guest performances. Normally the musical critics make a review of the vocal and scenic play of the performers of the main roles, as well as of the musical leadership of the respective conductors. But after the staging of Tosca with the participation of the People's Artist of Bulgaria, Raina Kabaivanska and Luciano Pavarotti, the newspapers Il Giorno and La Nacione from May 22, 1980 allotted special attention to Petko Radev, about whom they wrote: "The clarinet solo of the well-known aria of Cavaradosi was executed excellently and with great refinement."

Alongside the successes which he has achieved in performing classical music, endowed with musicalness and nourished with love for Bulgarian folk music, he again has taken the lead in playing popular horos and rûchenitsas. At the time when he was winning a series of international competitions, Petko Radev, together with the accordionists Kosta Kolev and Ivan Kirev, made their first horo recordings for the Sofia Radio. The fans of Bulgarian folk music were delighted with the performance of the well-known Krivo Sadovsko Horo (The Winding Sadovo Region Horo). Many groups, ensembles and individual musicians began to imitate Petko Radev's manner of playing. His performances have become standards in the playing of Bulgarian popular instrumental music.

The industrious master of the clarinet, however, did not stop his development there! He took part in the radio and gramophone recordings of all the distinguished popular performers of Bulgarian folk songs (both singers and instrumentalists) during that particular period: Ivan Shibilev, Emil Kolev, Nedyalka Keranova, Penka Pavlova, Yanka Rupkina, etc. He dug out and recorded the most popular horos played by the accordionists Petko Dachev and Yordan Yotov; of the trumpetist Ivan Hadzhiiski. He formed his own orchestra with which he took part in the Festival of the Danube River Countries, which was held in Novi Sad, Yugoslavia, in 1973. There too the public was enchanted and the musical critics enthusiastic! At that time Petko Radev was making his own arrangements of a number of folk songs and horos. Even now, living temporarily in Italy, his love for Bulgarian folk music has not diminished, nor has it faded away! He has only recently recorded two new horos: Volovarovsko Horo and Patrikovo Horo, both of which are included in the present album. The other horos, performed by him, also included in this album, have been registered during various periods of Petko Radev's recording activity.

Petko Radev's fans, admirers, supporters and imitators are very numerous. There does not exist a single Bulgarian popular musician who does not feel deeply gratified and flattered, when hearing the appraisal: "He plays just like Petko Radev." – Iliya Popov

Recorded in late 1980 or early 1981.