Balgarianovinite.com Bulgarian percussionist Vivi Vassileva took the stage on Friday night at the biggest acoustic hall of the Presidential Symphony Orchestra in Ankara. She performed as the soloist in a concert marking Europe Day. Conducted by Michal Nesterowicz, the programme featured Percussion Concerto by Danny Elfman and Carmen Suite No. 1 by Georges Bizet. The event is supported through the European Union’s Communication Strategy.
Vivi Vassileva has the extraordinary ability to captivate audiences with her talent and energy whenever she steps behind the percussion instruments. With every strike, she recalls a defining moment on the shores of the Black Sea, when she first realized that their rhythm sounded like the beating of her own heart. And each time she studies a new score, she strives to return to that same spontaneity and emotion.
“I grew up in Germany, but every summer we went back to Bulgaria to spend time at the Black Sea. On one beautiful beach there were musicians playing drums and darbukas. I was about seven or eight years old when I asked if I could try. The moment I started playing, it felt like magic. At home I knew notes and composers, but this improvised music came straight from the heart, you close your eyes and the rhythm simply emerges from within you, from the pulse of your own heart. It was an overwhelming experience, and from that day on, I knew these were my instruments,” Vassileva told the Bulgarian News Agency (BTA).
Vassileva is the youngest sister of another beloved Bulgarian musician known around the world – violinist Vasko Vassilev.
“What inspired me most was the way he gave himself completely to the music on stage, with every cell of his body, and passed that emotion on to the audience. As a child, it was quite an experience for me to be at his concerts. That is the true meaning of being a musician, sharing these incredible emotions and this immense love of life, which I believe music expresses better than anything else. Music is our gift to people,” Vassileva said.
On the eve of Europe Day, which she celebrated with audiences in the Turkish capital, Vassileva says she continues to believe in the European ideal.
“I support the idea of a strong Europe. To me, it represents humanity’s greatest strength, our ability to stay connected and work together. I hope people continue striving toward that. Music does exactly that, it connects us. Today, at rehearsal, I got goosebumps when I heard the Ode to Joy,” she added.
This will be Vassileva’s third performance in Turkiye and her first appearance in Ankara. She says she will leave the Turkish capital with memories of its traditional cuisine and its vibrant community of modern musicians. Bulgarian Percussionist Vivi Vassileva Performs Europe Day Concert in Ankara 2026 THE NEWS FROM BULGARIA – NEWS AGENCY 2009-2025 2026-05-08 19:12:30 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