Carnival Overture Op 92 - Dvorak
Concierto de Aranjuez - Rodrigo
Peer Gynt Suite No 1 - Grieg
Suite from Gayane - Khachaturian
1812 Overture - Tchaikovsky
The Sofia Philharmonic may not boast the fullest possible string tone, the most secure wind playing or infallible intonation (despite making such a ritual of tuning at the start of a concert) but under Emil Tabakov they gave performances distinguished by a sensitivity and sense of balance which put some starrier visiting ensembles to shame, and which made this rather hackneyed programme come to life.
The Dvorak overture sometimes found the violins uncomfortable above the stave but they never had to compete unnecessarily against the brass section and the smallest details were rendered precisely.
The performance had the unforced Slavonic lilt one had hoped for.
The strings were fuller and the wind more secure in the Grieg. I can't recall when I last heard Aase's Death played with such a wealth of tonal shading and sounding so direct and moving in expression - and without the least weepiness or exaggeration.
The Khachaturian and Tchaikovsky items (the former containing the famous Sabre Dance) were as lively as one could wish, as were encores by Gounod and Borodin, but thanks to Tabakov's natural taste and control of balance they seemed better music than usual.
His accompaniment for George Vassilev in the concerto was likewise full of delicate touches.