Balgarianovinite.com July 16, 2026, marks the 80th birth anniversary of Bulgarian singer Pasha Hristova (1946-1971).
Born Parashkeva Hristova Stefanova in Sofia, her career did not start in the arts. Hristova worked as a drafter for six years, however, her dream of becoming a singer took her to the Bulgarian National Radio, where her talent was noticed by composer Ivan Staykov.
In 1966, she recorded her first song, “Shtarkelat Pristigna Pak” (The Stork Came Again), composed by Zornitsa Popova. With this recording alone, Hristova demonstrated not only her powerful voice but also her exceptional feel for the musical styles that were popular at the time. In the years that followed, she built a rich and varied repertoire, distinguished by its emotional depth and vocal mastery.
In 1967, she participated in the Golden Orpheus Festival with the song “Dazhdovete Zapochnaha” (The Rains Have Begun), which earned her third place in the competition for Bulgarian performers. Shortly thereafter, she recorded Spri, Vreme (Stop, Time), with which she represented Bulgaria at the 1968 Sochi Festival and won a gold medal – her first major international success.
Some of the distinguished composers who wrote music for her are Georgi Kostov, Dimitar Valchev, Yossif Tsankov, Nikolai Arabadzhiev. This is how iconic songs such as “Kolko Te Obicham” (How Much I Love You), “Pet Chasa” (Five O’Clock), “Skrita Lyubov” (Hidden Love), “Ostani” (Stay), and “Edna Balgarska Roza” (A Bulgarian Rose), her most popular song, came to be.
Because of her impressive interpretive skills, Hristova has been described as a versatile singer. According to critics, in addition to her dramatic performances, she also excels with exceptional ease in the more delicate and stylistically complex genre of bossa nova, as evident in songs such as “Popaten Vyatar” (Sailing with the Wind), “Predchuvstvie” (Premonition), “Utroto Shte Ni Sreshtne Pak” (Morning Will Meet Us Again), and “Kazhi Mi” (Tell Me).
From 1970 to 1971, Hristova enjoyed the most successful part of her career. In 1970, she won third prize for best performer at the third Golden Stag International Festival in Brasov, Romania. Her greatest success came in June 1970 at the Golden Orpheus Festival in Sunny Beach, on the Black Sea, where her performances of “Edna Balgarska Roza” and “Povei, Vetre” (Blow, oh Wind) impressed both the jury and the audience. Edna “Balgarska Roza” won first prize, while “Povei, Vetre” was awarded the grand prize and the golden statuette. This triumph established Hristova as one of the brightest stars of Bulgarian pop music.
On December 21, 1971, at the age of just 25, Hristova died in a plane crash. An Il-18 aircraft carrying 73 passengers crashed during takeoff at Sofia Airport. Among the passengers were artists travelling to Algeria for the Days of Bulgarian Culture. Among them were Pasha Hristova, Maria Neykova, Boris Gudjunov, and Yanka Rupkina. When one of the wings struck the runway, the fuselage snapped in two, the plane burst into flames, and one of the engines broke off. Thirty people were killed, including Hristova.
After her sudden death, recognition of her talent continued. The song “Byala Pesen” (A White Song) won the Bulgarian Melody of the Year television contest posthumously. After her death, the singer’s first and only record was released.
Yossif Tsankov said about the singer: “When Pasha sings, we feel a sense of stability. It’s not just a voice – it’s an instrument that sings. And it’s so warm and artistic.” July 16: Birth Anniversary of Bulgarian Singer Pasha Hristova 2026 THE NEWS FROM BULGARIA – NEWS AGENCY 2009-2025 2026-07-16 09:08:52 Latest news World news Country news Most important news latest news most important latest of the day Justice Petar Nizamov Feathers Petar Nizamov- Feathers Justice bg iustitia.bg iustitia iusticia usticia investigation Burgas Bulgaria news news of the last hour news of the day news of today Bulgaria news The news from Bulgaria blitz news top news most important most commented latest news Boyko Borisov news weather coronavirus news news weather facebook youtube facebook instagram news today news of the last minutes news today today news news bg news leading news hot news bg news site for news all news news bg news of the last hour latest latest news bg news of today news today news today news of the last hour latest news today news bg news news 24 hours news vesti bg novini news world bird bg bivol bg bivol trud bg novini latest news today novinite bg news hello bulgaria political party coat of arms delyan peevski scandalous Bulgarian National Television Free Europe Television scandal exclusive live tv live right now tv tv online tv program bg live now tv news online tv online live court Burgas court Burgas district court Burgas court Burgas district court Burgas district court Burgas appellate court Burgas prosecutor Burgas prosecutor’s office Burgas district prosecutor’s office Burgas district prosecutor’s office Burgas district prosecutor’s office Burgas district prosecutor’s office Burgas district prosecutor’s office Burgas district prosecutor’s office Prosecutor General Ivan Geshev Prosecutor Geshev Tsatsarov Ministry of Internal Affairs Burgas ODMR Burgas ODPR Burgas police Burgas district police Burgas prosecutor Tsatsarov SGS cases Varna court chairman of the SGS court decisions on civil cases decisions on cases Plovdiv court decision of the court decisions cases Varna court criminal cases district district court decisions work in the court SGS chairman of the SGS judges Sofia court post judges Plovdiv court Plovdiv judges Plovdiv Supreme Court Inspectorate Supreme Court Supreme Judicial Council lawyer lawyer criminal cases lawyer civil cases lawyer marriage cases lawyer administrative criminal law criminal process civil law civil process administrative law constitutional law