Emil Karamanov

“Emil Karamanov is a conductor who combines passionate temperament with sincere, soulful lyrics and a subtle sense of artistic measure… Under his baton, the music flows smoothly and the listener easily and easily perceives the development of feelings and moods in it… As a true artist-creator… he skillfully guides not only the orchestra, but also the audience through the pages of the musical work. With his warm and exciting performance, Karamanov conquered the hearts of the audience.”

This short quote is from an enthusiastic review written after a performance of Tchaikovsky’s Swan Lake at the Sofia Opera in 1956. At that time, Emil Karamanov was 36 years old, but he had already achieved serious professional success. Eight years earlier, he was the chief conductor of the newly formed Municipal Symphony Orchestra in Ruse. Under his leadership, the orchestra expanded its composition, built up a repertoire, and just a year later was declared a state orchestra. In 1952, Karamanov was appointed conductor of the State Radio Orchestra (today the Bulgarian National Radio Orchestra). He then conducted at the Sofia Opera, guested with various orchestras in Bulgaria and abroad, and from 1964 until the end of his career was associated with the Bulgarian National Radio.

"Emil Karamanov graduated from the National Academy of Music in Sofia in 1944, was a choir conductor for a short time, played in the Tsar's Orchestra and the Sofia Opera Orchestra. He went to Ruse at the invitation of the municipality. Konstantin Iliev had already conducted the first concert, but soon after he returned to Sofia. After a period of difficulties, he managed to strengthen the orchestra. In the "Bulgaria" hall, where the Review of symphony orchestras in our country was held (and at that time every larger city had its own orchestra), the audience wildly applauded the musicians, and glowing reviews were published. Later, he was a graduate student in Moscow, studying with the then famous conductor Nikolai Anosov. There he had the opportunity to be part of the active musical life, gaining a lot of experience. After his graduate concert, he received invitations to conduct the Moscow and Leningrad Philharmonics, and he visited the latter again two years later."

As a guest conductor, Karamanov was invited to Germany and Romania. He teaches orchestral conducting at the National Academy of Music and chamber music at the National School of Music.