Violinist Joanna Kamenarska brings Bulgarian classical music to the world

More than 40 Bulgarian violinists have reached what is a dream for virtually every musician in their profession: becoming concertmasters of some of Europe's most prestigious orchestras through talent, dedication and years of hard work. Alongside such internationally renowned names as Albena Danailova, Vasko Vassilev, Svetlin Roussev and Vesko Eshkenazy, familiar to Bulgarians at home and abroad as well as to audiences around the world, stands another distinguished Bulgarian musician whose story deserves to be told: violinist Joanna Kamenarska.

Her exceptional talent and devotion to the violin opened the doors to one of Germany's leading orchestras, the Hamburg State Philharmonic Orchestra, where she has lived and worked for the past 18 years. She says she was among the fortunate musicians to win her position on her very first audition, and since 2008 she has served as the orchestra's concertmaster.

Joanna Kamenarska attributes her love of music to her mother, a pianist, as well as to her violin teachers, Prof. Yosif Radionov and Yoakim Atanasov. She considers them part of her family and says she learned from them not only invaluable musical skills but also important lessons about life.

"I began with the piano and later switched to the violin without really understanding why. The adults who observed me, however, knew the reason. They had seen me listening to other violinists with my mouth open and holding my breath, and they said: 'This child needs a violin because she has an immense desire to play this instrument.' The violin is not only the most difficult instrument, but also the most captivating among the classical instruments. It is its sound that draws people to it. Regardless of a person's age or life story, when they are touched in the unique way that the sound of the violin can touch them, I believe something irreversible happens."

Although Joanna admits that she would not describe herself as a patriot in the strict sense of the word, Bulgaria occupies a special place in her life.

"Bulgaria has given me a lot, especially in terms of my education. But there is also something very special about Bulgarian music and the Bulgarian spirit," the violinist says. "This reminds me of something that has been on my mind for at least two decades. Bulgarian music has still not taken its rightful place within Europe's musical heritage. I regard promoting Bulgarian classical music as one of my personal missions."

Bulgaria is proud of a host of remarkable composers, including Pancho Vladigerov, Lyubomir Pipkov, Parashkev Hadjiev, Marin Goleminov and Dimitar Nenov, yet their names remain largely unknown to European audiences. For this reason, Joanna was especially grateful to fulfil one of her long-held dreams in 2024 by performing a work by Pancho Vladigerov (or Wladigeroff) in Hamburg. The occasion was significant for another reason as well: Vladigerov's Violin Concerto No. 1 was performed there for the first time since its world premiere in the city in the 1920s.

"The concerto was performed as part of a subscription concert series by the Hamburg Chamber Orchestra, which expanded its ensemble especially for the occasion. It was included in a programme designed to create an artistic connection between Joseph Haydn and Pancho Vladigerov. At first glance, that may seem rather unlikely, but since the idea was to show how cultures can be brought together, let me explain what united the two works. The final movement of Haydn's Symphony No. 104, which audiences know well, is based on a Croatian folk song. That became the link which allowed us to suggest that Haydn may have known the Balkans, at least through music, even if he never travelled to the Balkan Mountains, Rila or Pirin. Croatia is not so far removed from our cultural world, and in this way a bridge was created. Two years have passed since then, and it is time to think about a new challenge of this kind. The ideas are already taking shape."

At present, the accomplished Bulgarian violinist is taking what she describes as a period of recovery, using the time to reflect on how much energy and time she wishes to devote to her professional commitments in the future. She assures, however, that she is not giving up music and will soon resume her concert career.

You can watch more performances of Joanna Kamenarska in her channel on Youtube.

English: R. Petkova