Songs of Life

Founded in 2008, Songs of Life seeks to celebrate heroic acts of human compassion throughout history and tell their stories through the universal language of music.

2nd Songs of Life Festival a Huge Success!

“The English and Bulgarian voices rose together, with a few Hebrew phrases thrown in, to create a sound at once exotic and deeply familiar.”

The Washington Post

“Georgi Andreev’s oratorio “A Melancholy beauty” is a smart, confidently written, seductively attractive piece that weaves Bulgarian folk instruments and folk-singing styles into colorful scoring.”

The Washington Post

“The Songs of Life Festival offers the premiere of an oratorio by the Bulgarian composer Georgi Andreev, who combines elements of classical choral style and folk music to tell the story of the rescue of almost 50,000 Bulgarian Jews during World War II. “

The New York Times

“…a massive undertaking ….a noteworthy and stirring endeavor that deserves to be heard.”

The Boston Musical Intelligencer

"This is a smart, confidently written, seductively attractive piece that weaves Bulgarian folk instruments and folk-singing styles into colorful scoring."

The Boston Musical Intelligencer

"A Meloncholy Beauty...dedicated to preserving the memory of the rescue. 'We need to tell this story so it can show how people can behave under pressure,' Kalin Tchonev said. '...this is a lesson of strength, of character and of bravery. I feel this is a message of the utmost importance. For me, this is a heavenly commission.'"

The Boston Herald

“The concerts are a way to tell the story of the Bulgarians’ action, which remains largely a secret two decades after Bulgaria became a free country”.

The Jewish Week, New York

“…Songs of Life, a recurring music festival dedicated to telling stories in music, that encourage people to make the right decisions to save lives. “

The Washington Jewish Week

“The composer has masterfully combined folk song with full symphonic music into a dramatic oratorio… It is hair raising at times, poignant at others, dance-like in a folk manner in places.”

The Jewish Daily Forward

"A stirring union of classical music, Bulgarian folklore and Hebrew motifs to create a deep sense of respect for human courage, perseverance and dignity."

Sofia News Agency, Bulgaria

Photo by: Marc Apter

Photo by: Marc Apter

Photo by: Marc Apter

A Melancholy Beauty is a major choral-orchestral work that brings 300 superb choristers and instrumentalists to the stage, depicting the heroic rescue of 49,000 Jews during the Holocaust. This exciting Oratorio combines classical symphonic music with folk styles and rhythms in an unprecedented way – it is one of a kind!