On November 11, 1989, the remarkable Russian cellist Mstislav Rostropovich gave an impromptu concert in front of the crumbling Berlin Wall: in the midst of the debris around Checkpoint Charlie, he performed, of his own accord, several suites by Johann Sebastian Bach. Since then, this performance of Europe’s great musical heritage has been a symbol of the victory of the free creative spirit over walls and communist dictatorships.

Thirty-five years later, Bach will sound once more in front of a piece of the Berlin Wall, this time in Sofia and performed by the Bulgarian virtuoso Prof. Anatoli Krastev. This performance is an invitation to all Sofians, Bulgarians, Europeans, and citizens of the world to remember and relive that moment of freedom, hope, and spiritual connection between different countries and cultures. What is the significance of the events of 1989 today, when new walls and wars make Bulgaria, Europe, and the world increasingly less secure?

Photos: Yana Lozeva

Prof. Anatoli Krastev is one of the best known contemporary Bulgarian cellists and a leading music pedagogue. A soloist of all Bulgarian and many European and American orchestras, he has released more than 25 gramophone records and CDs and has been the recipient of a number of prestigious awards, including for his pedagogical activities. He teaches at the Prof. Pancho Vladigerov National Music Academy, is co-chair of the academy for young talents in Marseille, and leads master classes in Europe, Asia, and the USA.

Organizers: Center for Reading and Culture Association and Cultural Center of SU with the support of the Sofia Municipality Culture Program