HCA NEWS Bulgaria celebrates Andersen

A variety of events is going to take place in Bulgaria throughout the year, e.g. conferences, theatre, translations, and ballet.

By awk - H.C. Andersen 2005 - 20 April 2005

As many other countries all over the world, Bulgaria also joins the celebrations on the occasion of H.C. Andersen's 200th birthday anniversary.

The programme is rich in events and aims at drawing the attention of the the general public as well as of specialists in the sphere of literature, linguistics, music and fine arts. Outstanding writers, artists and  popular public figures are contributing to create a really festive and special atmosphere for these celebrations. The main organizers are "St.Kliment Ohridski" University of Sofia and the Royal Danish Embassy of Sofia.

The appointed Honorary Ambassador of Hans Christian Andersen in Bulgaria is Mrs. Zorka Parvanova, the wife of the Bulgarian President.

 
Staging of "The Emperor's New Clothes" - from the official gala opening at the National Palace of Culture.

The first event from the programme is already a fact: The presentation organized by Egmont Bulgaria Publishing House of the newest edition of 11 of H.C.Andersen's most popular fairy tales with new and fascinating illustrations especially made for this book, took place at the Sofia City Library.
 
The official opening of the celebrations in Bulgaria was on 2 April at the National Palace of Culture. The day was dedicated mostly to the children- special amusement programme, performances, singing and dancing, and bestowing of the prizes on the winners in the national competition for children's drawings on Andersen's fairy tales. These were only some of the activities planned for the occasion.

The next major event was a three-day international scientific conference on the topic of "The Unknown Andersen" at the "St.Kliment Ohridski" University of Sofia which started on 4 April . The Conference was organized by the Department of German and Scandinavian Studies. More than 40 participants not only from Bulgaria but also from Denmark, Sweden, Russia, Austria, Finland and France took part in it.



The official opening in the Ceremonial Hall (Aula Magnum) of the University was emblematic- along with the Rector Prof. Boyan Biolchev and H.E.Svend Boje Madsen, Ambassador of the Kingdom of Denmark to Bulgaria, speeches delivered eminent Bulgarian writers and the European Affairs Minister Dr.Meglena Kuneva who spoke about "Andersen as a great European".
Two exhibitions was opened on the same day- one entitled "H.C.Andersen- life and work"- especially delivered by the Odense Museum and another one "Andersen in Bulgaria" showing special editions of Andersen's works and various translations, a historical review of the reception of the Danish poet in Bulgaria. It was arranged by the University Library and will travel around Bulgaria.

The Andersen festivities at the University also included a presentaion by Trud Publishers of the newest edition of H.C.Andersen's fairy tales translated from Danish. An the National Opera House has prepared a ballet performance of "The Red Shoes" and "The Emperor's New Clothes". Also a theatre performance will take place in October on Stig Dalager's play "Lord and Shadow".

For further information please contact

Dr. Vera Gancheva
University of Sofia
Department of German and Scandinavian Studies
mail:



The new edition of Andersen's fairy tales freshly translated from Danish into Bulgarian.


The translator of Andersen's works from Danish Vladimir Stariradev (in the middle) with H.E. Mr. Svend Boje Madsen, Ambassador of Denmark and Mr. Nikola Kitsevski, Publisher.


Moment from the international scientific conference on the topic THE UNKNOWN ANDERSEN at the University of Sofia.
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