For her eagerly awaited debut solo album Eugenia has joined forces with some of the leading contemporary Bulgarian musicians: Magdalena Stoyanova (double bass), Gancho Gavazov (gadulka), Stoimen Dobrev (kaval) and Velizar Mandzhovski (tamboura, guitar). As Eugenia Georgieva & Band together they have recorded an exquisite selection of Bulgarian folk gems famous and unknown, passed down the generations, in new original arrangement. The album Po Drum Mome is out now on Riverboat Records/World Music Network.
Award-winning London-based PERUNIKA TRIO was founded by artistic director Eugenia Georgieva, following the most archetypal format for Bulgarian harmony singing – the female trio. Incorporating Bulgarian, Macedonian and Russian traditional music and Orthodox chants into a broader Slavic repertoire, as well as Japanese traditional songs in Bulgarian polyphonic arrangement, their a cappella performances include poetry and
Photo S. Varsano
storytelling. The three singers of Perunika share a love of the dramatic beauty of Bulgarian folk music, where pagan past, Church Slavonic tradition and five centuries of Ottoman rule fuse, leading you on an exciting journey into Slavic spirituality.
“A glorious mixture of extreme vocal sophistication and exhilarating exuberance.” Orlando Gough, composer
Photo L. Turton
YANTRA is the unusual project of three singers from very different backgrounds, united by their passion of unaccompanied human voice – Eugenia Georgieva (Bulgaria), Vamshikrishna Vishnudas (India) and basso profundo Jeremy Birchall (UK). Born from an experimental session for BBC Radio 3’s Late Junction in 2009, YANTRA’s vocal focal point is the intersection of seemingly incompatible and incomparable singing traditions. Combining the purity of a cappella with modern multi-tracking recording techniques, their rich vocal fusion explores the spiritual and folkloric music from the traditional and ancient musical heritage of Bulgaria, India and England. YANTRA were special guests on BBC Radio 3’s Late Junction with Verity Sharp in May 2009 and The Choir with Aled Jones in October 2012. Former members include Yogeswaran Manickam and Shahid Khan.
“I was listening to The Choir on BBC Radio 3 on Sunday and nearly drove into a ditch because I was so excited and mesmerised by your sound. I LOVE IT!” Julia Draper, writer