Manchester University Orchestra, hosted by Bulgaria's New Symphony Orchestra, are to perform two concerts in Bulgaria over the next few days.

The first concert takes place at 7.30pm tonight (September 4) in Bulgaria Hall. The second concert is in Plovdiv on September 7, also at 7.30pm, in the amphitheatre.

The orchestra will play several compositions, including Dvorak's Symphony number nine, E minor (from the New World), Tchaikovsky Variations on a rococo theme - and Schubert symphony number eight - unfinished.

Leading the visiting musicians is Mark Heron, conductor and musical director of the Manchester University Orchestra.  
Veselin Dobrev, manager of Bulgaria's New Symphony Orchestra, says it's the first time that the Manchester Orchestra has performed in Bulgaria.

The Bulgarian New Symphony Orchestra was founded in 1991 by Julia Hristova. The company, which is privately run and is fortunate enough to have a large number of sponsors, invites overseas musicians to perform in Bulgaria, hence the visit from the Manchester University Orchestra.

Fortunately, the Bulgarian New Symphony Orchestra was able to find a last minute replacement for an injured double bass player from the Manchester contingent.  

Other orchestras invited to perform in Bulgaria include the Chicago Youth Symphony Orchestra and the Southampton Youth Symphony Orchestra.

Almost all the performers in the Manchester Symphony Orchestra are undergraduate music students at  Manchester University.
On September 3, the orchestra staged rehearsals in Sofia's British embassy on Vassil Levski Street. Later in the evening they attended a reception in their honour, hosted by British ambassador Steve Williams and Mrs Fiona Williams.