The Mayor of Rousse, Mr. Plamen Stoilov,was presented with a golden rose from UBB as a token of recognition of the Bank's long-standing partnership for one of the major cultural events of the town.

The 53^rd edition of March Music Days International Festival was officially opened last night in Rousse town. For a 10^th consecutive year United Bulgarian Bank (UBB) is the festival’s general sponsor. The Festival is one of the oldest and most renowned festivals in Bulgaria, established in 1961 and it annually transforms its home town into one of the most attractive cultural destinations in Southeastern Europe.

The start of the event was given by the Mayor of Rousse, Mr. Plamen Stoilov, while His Holiness Patriarch Neophyte was among the official guests at the opening. Mrs. Ivanka Trifonova, UBB’s Regional manager for Northern Central region, addressed special congratulations to the festival’s audience. On behalf of the Bank Mrs. Trifonova presented the mayor of Rousse with a golden rose - a symbol of the long-lasting partnership between UBB and the festival organizers. "We are proud that during the past 10 years UBB has become part of the history of March Music Days. UBB has been contributing to the preservation and continual development of the traditions of this event, unique in terms of nature and prestige, which is part of the cultural calendar not only of the town but of the country as well, Ms. Trifonova stated. As a token of recognition of its longstanding support, UBB was presented with a plaquette, called "Rousse", by Mayor Plamen Stoilov.

The first concert enjoyed by the audience and held immediately after the opening of the festival, was by the George Enescu Philharmonic Orchestra of Bucharest conducted by Christian Badea and with a soloist the great Bulgarian violinist Prof. Mincho Minchev.  

The program of March Music Days 2013 offers 20 concerts and shows, ranging in style from Baroque to contemporary music and jazz. During the days of the festival which continues until the end of March, over 600 world-famous artists from 10 European countries will turn Rousse into an exciting part of the great musical stage of Europe. The residents and the guests of the town will be able to enjoy the performances of the world- famous Italian Baroque ensemble Il Giardino Armonico, winner of the Grammy award, conducted by Giovanni Antonini, and the Moscow City Symphony Orchestra “Russian Philharmonic”, visiting Bulgaria for the fist time. The orchestra’s chief conductor is Dmitri Jurowski- a talented heir of the famous Jurowski conductors’ dynasty.

Two chamber ensembles that have recently gained particular popularity in Europe will have their debut before Bulgarian audience. These are the German string quartet Kuss that will perform well-known instrumental miniatures from Russian masters, as well as the remarkable Eggner trio brothers from Austria.

The sixteen- year old violinist Elin Kolev will play for the very first time with the Rousse Philharmonic Orchestra. The young talent, born in Germany but of Bulgarian origin, has already been proclaimed by the music critics to be one of the new discoveries on the stage.

On March 21^st within the frames of March Music Days, the Rousse State Opera will give the opening night of Giuseppe Verdi’s Falstaff with Rosen Gergov conducting. Ognyan Draganov is the stage director and the scenography is by Maria Trendafilova. The cast includes: the great Bulgarian singer Ivan Konsulov and the soloists from Rousse town – Petar Danailov, Teodora Chukurska, Vladislava Garvalova, Petar Kostov, Maria Tsvetkova and Plamen Beykov.

Another greatly anticipated performance is that of the Lithuanian chamber orchestra with the famous violinist Sergey Krilov who is going to perform Antonio Vivaldi’s Four Seasons and Buenos Aires’ Four Seasons by Piazzolla.

The famous French flutist and conductor Patrick Gallois will also participate in the festival by performing two concerts and giving a master class. The audience will have the opportunity to also enjoy the performances of the ensemble of Plamena Mangova, who has gathered six elite musicians from all over Europe.

The Bulgarian National Radio Symphony Orchestra conducted by Emil Tabakov with soloists Svetlin Roussev (violin) and Francois Salk (violoncello) will perform works by Wagner, Brahms and Strauss. Special attention deserves the concert dedicated to the 80^th anniversary of the unforgettable to Rousse citizens choral conductor and pedagogue Prof. Vassil Arnaudov. 

UBB’s support for March Music Days International Festival is part of the Bank's overall policy on sponsorship and corporate social responsibility. UBB  traditionally supports and promotes projects related to the preservation of the Bulgarian cultural and historical heritage, the professional and the amateur sports and children's involvement in those, events and initiatives related to art, as well as vulnerable social groups.