Music for violin and orchestra from the big screen, live at the Cinema Violino concert

The featured soloist is Bulgarian virtuoso violinist Katia Popov, the first female concertmaster of the Hollywood Bowl Orchestra

May 2, 2018, Sofia
Exciting music for violin and orchestra written for the big screen will sound at the Cinema Violino concert, performed by the Classic FM Radio Orchestra on May 30, 2018 at 7:30PM at Sofia’s Bulgaria Concert Hall. The magnificent scores to films such as Schindler’s List, Scent of a Woman, Cinema Paradiso, as well as other memorable works, in which the violin is in the spotlight are among the selections in this program. The featured soloist is Bulgarian virtuoso violinist Katia Popov – the first female concertmaster of the Hollywood Bowl Orchestra. On the conductor’s podium we will see American conductor Scott Dunn, who will be making his Bulgarian debut. In this program, film fans will also have the opportunity to hear favourite music hits from Star Wars, Harry Potter, and Pirates of the Caribbean, among others. This concert is part of the Music of America concert series, presented by Cantus Firmus and the America for Bulgaria Foundation. Cinema Violino also appears in this year’s program of the European Music Festival and is included in the 2018 Sofia Municipality Cultural Calendar. The Bulgarian Ministry of Culture co-organizes the European Music Festival.
In an interview for Bulgarian radio station 105.6 “Novinite sega”, Katia Popov shared her excitement of returning to her home country for the first time in 28 years, and performing a concert for a Bulgarian audience, after a successful music career in France and the United States. “I will always have Bulgaria in my heart. I will always be Bulgarian, despite living in the US longer than I have lived in Bulgaria. This is a beautiful country, a magnificent place with such resources! This gives me hope and makes me proud,” said Katia Popov in the interview.
As concertmaster of the Hollywood Bowl, one of the most prestigious US symphony orchestras for film music, Katia Popov has performed under the batons of John Williams, John Mauceri, Zubin Mehta, and Sir Simon Rattle, and has also collaborated with such renowned musicians as Placido Domingo, Joshua Bell, Marilyn Horne, Gloria Estefan, as well as the bands
Chicago and Earth Wind and Fire. The Bulgarian violinist has recorded over 600 film scores for the Motion Pictures in Los Angeles, where she has worked for many of the most sought-after Hollywood composers.
Born in Sofia, Bulgaria, Katia Popov studied at the Nation Music School and the National Music Academy in Sofia, and later continued her studies at the Paris Conservatory. After moving to the United States, Katia became a member of the Los Angeles Chamber Orchestra and the Long Beach Symphony.
Katia Popov plays on a 1691 Pietro Guarneri “Ex-Wilhelmj” violin.
American conductor Scott Dunn has also dedicated his career primarily to film music. He has appeared with the Atlanta Symphony, Los Angeles Philharmonic, Seattle Symphony, San Diego Symphony, Pittsburgh Symphony, the BBC Concert Orchestra and Singers, Orchestra of St. Luke’s, Orchestre Nationale de France, Vienna Radio Orchestra (RSO), the St. Petersburg Philharmonic, and the Sydney Symphony Orchestra, among many other ensembles. Since 2012, Mr. Dunn has served as Associate Conductor of the Hollywood Bowl Orchestra.
Tickets for the Cinema Violino concert range from 20 to 50 Bulgarian Leva and are on sale at the Cantus Firmus box-office at Bulgarira Hall, as well as online at www.ticketsbg.com.