"Childhood Memories": Pianist Donka Angacheva presents her most personal album

On Saturday, 25 February 2023 at 7 pm, Donka Angacheva will present her latest album "Childhood Memories" at the picturesque Thalheim Castle (Lower Austria).

For the star pianist, it is the culmination of a long journey, because for the first time she will present to the public those pieces that already shaped her fascination for classical music.

Additionally, the film "Appassionata" will be presented (release date: 19th March 2023). It documents the creation of "Childhood Memories" and sheds light on their project "The Art Lives On - DKLW", which came into being during the pandemic. It resulted in an elaborately produced digital concert series. The renowned journalist and filmmaker Georgi Toshev, known for his productions about ABBA, Monica Bellucci, Placido Domingo, Sonia Yoncheva and Herbert von Karajan, goes on a journey through time with Donka - from her hometown Plovdiv in Bulgaria via Switzerland to Vienna.

L'Officiel Austria is giving away two tickets for this concert evening. You can find out more about the competition at the end of the article.

What are your very personal "childhood memories" and how did they inspire the album?

Donka Angacheva: "I grew up with classical music - Bach, Mozart, Beethoven, Chopin. They were my first great love, shaped me and showed me the way. Of course, in the course of my artistic development, I have absorbed many other inspirations, such as Khachaturian, Rota and the great Astor Piazzolla. A great dream of mine was to release those pieces that have accompanied and influenced me since my childhood with a CD of my own. Some of them are unique arrangements that have never been heard in this form before."

That sounds fantastic! What can the listeners look forward to?

Donka Angacheva: "From baroque to romantic, modern, tango nuevo to Morricone. The highlight is the first recording of the work 'Phantasie Hromantique' for piano and orchestra by the great Bulgarian composer Milen Kukosharov, which he created especially for this CD. Also included are some arrangements for piano and orchestra of Ennio Morricone's music for the TV series 'La piovra' or 'Alone against the Mafia', the concert etude 'Un sospiro' by Franz Liszt, the Adagio from Spartacus by Khachaturian, 'Los pajaros perdidos' by Astor Piazzolla, Bach, Marcello the Adagio from the Oboe Concerto - which fascinated me so much in my childhood."

How do you see the future of classical music?

Donka Angacheva: "We have classical music so that we do not perish from the truth of life. It is what truly lifts our lives up again from the lowlands of everyday life from time to time. Without the most beautiful secondary matter in the world, we would be completely lost and without a way out. I can't even begin to imagine a life without classical music."

What are you particularly looking forward to at your concert in Thalheim?

Donka Angacheva: "The concert in Thalheim offers me the opportunity for the first time to share my art and my dreams in front of and with the audience. It is a special pleasure for me to have all the soloists and large parts of the orchestra around me on this evening, so that we are able to make the studio event tangible again for all listeners. Just like with our first recording. I am delighted that the artistic director of Schloss Thalheim Classics, among others, the wonderful violinist Lidia Baich, will also be part of this eventful evening.

If you would like to take part in the competition and win 1 x 2 tickets for the concert evening in Thalheim Castle, please send an email with your contact details (name and address) to digital@lofficiel.at.

Conditions of participation:

• The legal process is excluded. The winner will be drawn by lot.
• The closing date for entries is 15 February 2023.
• Employees of L'Officiel Austria are excluded.
• The tickets will be sent to the winner. By entering, you agree that we may contact you in connection with the competition and forward your contact details for the purpose of sending you the tickets.
• The tickets cannot be redeemed for cash.
• Travel costs are your own responsibility and are not part of the prize.

Cover photo: Manulli