GALA CONCERT “GARDENS OF SPAIN”
SOFIA ART INSTITUTE
PRESENTS
Gala CONCERT
“Gardens of spain”
23 NOVEMBER 2026
7:00 PM
BULGARIA HALL
On 23 November 2026 at 7:00 p.m., Bulgaria Hall will host the gala concert marking the conclusion of the first edition of the Gardens of Spain Festival.
This spectacular evening, dedicated to Spanish music, will feature two of the most beloved and iconic works of the 20th century – Manuel de Falla’s piano and orchestra concerto Nights in the Gardens of Spain and Joaquín Rodrigo’s Concierto de Aranjuez. In the first, piano and orchestra create a rich and colourful musical landscape inspired by the atmosphere of Spanish gardens, while the second transforms the guitar into a vivid and unforgettable solo voice.
The soloists will be pianist Veneta Neynska and guitarist Georgi Dimitrov–Jojo, who will share the stage with Camerata Bulgarica under the baton of Spanish conductor Pablo Urbina.
The gala concert also has a special commemorative significance: 2026 marks the 150th anniversary of the birth of Manuel de Falla and the 125th anniversary of the birth of Joaquín Rodrigo. The concert date – 23 November – coincides with de Falla’s birthday, turning the festival’s finale into a special musical celebration in honour of one of Spain’s most significant composers.
The Gardens of Spain Festival concludes with a musical journey through two different yet interconnected facets of Spain – from the mystical beauty and colours of nocturnal gardens to the sunlit rhythms and unmistakable voice of the guitar in Rodrigo’s music.
The event is held with the exclusive support of the Embassy of the Kingdom of Spain in Bulgaria. InterContinental Hotel Sofia is the official accommodation partner of the Gardens of Spain Festival. Communications Partner – Bulgarian-Spanish Chamber of Commerce and Industry.
PART OF “gardens of spain” and “SPANISH AUTUMN”
THE PERFORMERS
Veneta Neynska – piano
Georgi Dimitrov–Jojo – guitar
Pablo Urbina – conductor
Camerata Bulgarica
THE PROGRAMME
Ruperto Chapí (1851–1909)
El tambor de granaderos – Overture (1896)
Emmanuel Chabrier (1841–1894)
España – Rhapsody for Orchestra (1883)
Manuel de Falla (1876–1946)
Noches en los jardines de España – Nights in the Gardens of Spain (1915)
I. En el Generalife
II. Danza lejana
III. En los jardines de la Sierra de Córdoba
Joaquín Rodrigo (1901–1999)
Concierto de Aranjuez – Concerto for Guitar and Orchestra (1939)
I. Allegro con spirito
II. Adagio
III. Allegro gentile
Georges Bizet (1838–1875)
Carmen – Selection from Suites Nos. 1 and 2 (1875)
Veneta Neynska is a Bulgarian pianist known for her original projects and insightful interpretations that bring together music, literature and the visual arts. She graduated from the National School of Music in Sofia with a National Diploma, before continuing her studies with John Perry at the University of Southern California in Los Angeles and Joan Havill at the Guildhall School of Music and Drama in London.
Her notable projects include the albums Brevitas and The Architec’s View, as well as the music documentary Dimitar Nenov and the Dimensions of Elegance, created in collaboration with director Jassen Haralambev. Veneta is an active researcher and advocate for the music of Dimitar Nenov. Her recording of his exceptionally demanding Toccata is the first official one by a female pianist.
As a performer, she is distinguished by her interest in rarely performed repertoire, including works by Clara Schumann, the sons of J. S. Bach, Alexandre Tansman and Bulgarian composers. She is the founder and Artistic Director of Sofia Art Institute and the creator of concert series such as Concerts with History, alongside innovative concert and educational projects.
Georgi “Jojo” Dimitrov is a Bulgarian classical guitarist whose work brings together historical repertoire, contemporary music, and interdisciplinary collaboration. His performances explore connections between different eras, traditions, and artistic languages.
A laureate of numerous international competitions, he has received the Musicians’ Company New Elizabethan Award, the European Bach Guitar Award, and First Prize at the Maurizio Biasini International Guitar Competition. He has performed at venues and festivals including Wigmore Hall, Bachfest Leipzig, Madrid’s National Music Auditorium, St Martin-in-the-Fields, Saffron Hall, St Bartholomew-the-Great, and Bulgaria Hall. His performances have also been broadcast by BBC Radio, Bulgarian National Radio, and Bulgarian National Television.
His discography includes a critically acclaimed Naxos album dedicated to J. S. Bach and Tales of Being, released as part of the Royal Academy of Music Bicentenary Series. Georgi graduated cum laude from the University of Music and Performing Arts Graz under Prof. Paolo Pegoraro and later completed a Master of Arts with Distinction at the Royal Academy of Music under Prof. Michael Lewin. He has also studied lute and Baroque guitar with David Bergmüller and Elizabeth Kenny.
Pablo Urbina is a Spanish conductor with an international career spanning four continents. Born in Vitoria-Gasteiz and raised in Pamplona, he began his musical education as a French horn player before studying conducting at the Thornton School of Music in Los Angeles and completing postgraduate studies at the Royal College of Music in London.
Since 2025, Urbina has served as Artistic and Music Director of the Orquestra do Algarve, and since 2019, as Principal Conductor of the London-based Orchestra Vitae. He has conducted leading ensembles including the Royal Liverpool Philharmonic Orchestra, the Hallé, the Ulster Orchestra, the Spanish National Radio and Television Symphony Orchestra, and the Symphony Orchestra of Castilla and León. In 2023, he won third prize at the prestigious Siemens Hallé International Conductors Competition.
Spanish music, opera and education hold a special place in his work, alongside his commitment to bringing classical music to new audiences. Since 2019, he has been an ambassador for The Amber Trust, a UK charity supporting music education for children and young people with visual impairments.
Camerata Bulgarica is a chamber ensemble comprising a select group of musicians -including concertmasters, section leaders, and distinguished instrumentalists – drawn from leading Bulgarian and international musical institutions.
Founded on the conviction that music finds its true meaning when shared, the ensemble develops projects where artistic mastery goes hand in hand with emotional impact. Its repertoire spans a wide range of styles and eras – from the Baroque to contemporary music – with each project tailored to the specific theme, atmosphere, and message of the event.
Alongside the interpretation of established masterpieces, Camerata Bulgarica actively expands its repertoire through original arrangements and new compositions. This enables the ensemble to adapt with exceptional flexibility to diverse cultural, institutional, and international formats.
Beyond the traditional concert stage, the ensemble serves as an ambassador for Bulgarian musical culture, showcasing the artistry of its musicians to audiences worldwide. Whether performing in a concert hall, at an international conference, or in a unique interdisciplinary setting, Camerata Bulgarica strives to create experiences that inspire, connect people, and leave a lasting impression through the universal language of music.
WITH THE SUPPORT OF
OFFICIAL ACCOMMODATION PARTNER
Important: Seating is limited. The concert lasts approximately 120 minutes.
The “Gardens of Spain” festival is organized with the exceptional support of the Embassy of the Kingdom of Spain in Bulgaria, hosted by the InterContinental Hotel in Sofia, and in partnership with the Bulgarian-Spanish Chamber of Commerce and the digital printing company iPrint.
“Pillow Concerts” is a project of Sofia Art Institute and is held with the support of If you would like to become a partner of the Sofia Art Institute, please contact us at [email protected].
23 November (Monday) | 19:00 – 20:30
