A concert by the world-renowned South Korean violinist, SongHa Choi, a laureate of the Queen Elizabeth Competition, and the acclaimed young pianist, Jeonghwan Kim, will kick off the first edition of the Burgas Festival—an international chamber music festival. On July 6, 2026, at 7:30 p.m., this major musical event invites music lovers in Burgas to the Toncho Rusev Hall, within the NHK Cultural Center.
Virtuoso performances of César Franck’s Sonata in A Major, and Maurice Ravel’s jazz-infused Sonata No. 2, are just some of the works the Burgas audience will enjoy. As a special surprise, the visiting South Korean duo will perform a dynamic international interpretation of Pancho Vladigerov’s legendary Bulgarian rhapsody, “Vardar.” The highlight of the evening will be the world premiere of “Bilyana Plattno Beleshe” for two violins and piano, which will bring together on stage SongHa Choi, Jeonghwan Kim, and festival founder Gergana Raykova (violin).
This major musical event is held under the patronage of Philip Carne, MBE, and with the support of the Gergana Raykova Foundation. The Burgas Festival—an international chamber music festival—brings together premier artists from around Europe and the world for solo and chamber concerts and master classes.
Each concert program at the festival will include at least one Bulgarian musical work. “The goal is to integrate Bulgaria’s musical heritage into the European and global repertoire of top-tier artists,” says Gergana Raykova, founder and artistic director of the festival.
