Sofia, November 30 (BTA) - Maestro Nayden Todorov is in Mosow rehearsing with the Russian National Youth Simphony Orchestra a gala starring Bulgarian opera prima Sonya Yoncheva, the Sofia Philharmonic said. On the programme are works by Verdi, Puccini, Mascagni, Massenet, Dvorak and Tchaikovsky.

The concert, to take place at the emblematic Tchaikovski Hall on December 1, has sold out.

The Russian National Youth Symphony Orchestra is the biggest youth orchestral project. Established in 2018 on a presidential grant, it has already had 78 concerts in the first two seasons of its existence.

Maestro Todorov said of conducting this orchestra: "It is incredible to work with young people who have the advantage of high professionalism combined with the enthusiasm of youth".

As soon as he in back in Bulgaria, Naydenov Todorov starts rehearsing with the Sofia Philharmonic for a December 5 concert in Sofia's Bulgaria Hall. On the programme are Mendelssohn's Italian Symphony and a flute concerto by Carl Philipp Emanuel starring Karin Bonelli.

Bonelli has been a member of the Vienna Philharmonic Orchestra since 2012. She was the first woman to obtain a position in the wind section of the Vienna State Opera Orchestra and in the Vienna Philharmonic. Bonelli is a founding member of the Vienna Wind Quintet as well as the Klangkollektiv Wien. LN/