site.btaWorld-famous Piano Player Simon Trpcheski Is Honoured to Be Part of March Music Days, Is Optimistic for Future

World-famous piano player Simon Trpcheski of North Macedonia is a first-time participant in the March Music Days festival in Ruse, on the Danube, but told BTA he is honoured to be performing on its stage. He played in the opening concert with the Ruse Philharmonic under the baton of  Emil Tabakov.

He said he had heard a lot about the festival, its high level and how it was held up.

He believes that the universal language of classical music can help restore normalcy. “Music has extraordinary power and we have to use it as best we can. The rest does not make sense. We all see what politicians do in the 21st century. Unfortunately, it is innocent people who suffer. Artists, with their common sense and pure souls, can help raise the spirits.” 

He accepts collaboration between classical and commercial music. “This has been done for years now. Many well-known orchestras and music institutes do it. They mix styles. I am fine with that, as long as it has high standards,” said Trpcheski.

One example is his chamber music project Makedonissimo, which aims to take Macedonian folk music and its roots to a wider audience. In collaboration with composer Pande Shahov, he takes the Macedonian music tradition and mixes it with riffs and harmonies influenced by jazz. Bulgarian cellist Alexander Somov is part of the project.

He believes that governments have a role to play in making sure more people appreciate classical music, starting from a very young age.

Simon Trpcheski himself is currently working on a project for children, that acquaints them with classical music and threatre. He was inspired to start it by his own kids. 

He says he is optimistic about the future. “I have always been an optimist. I am just like that. In my profession, we go too far with commercialization but if there are more people like maestro Emil Tabakov and March Music Days director Iva Chavdarova with her dedication, things will change for the better.”

March Music Days is on until March 27. It will bring to the stage over 600 performers from Bulgaria and other countries, seven orchestral programs, 11 ensemble concerts, an opera performance and two exhibitions. The festival is organized by the Ruse City Hall with the support of the Culture Ministry. BTA is among the media partners.