Warsaw marks the 3rd of March with opera arias, folklore and National Revival songs
07 March 2018 News
An opera recital by world-famous tenor Kaludi Kaludov and his spouse, Anna Ditri-Kaludov, was the centerpiece of the 3rd of March celebration organized by the Bulgarian Embassy in Warsaw. The festive music program also featured a folklore performance by the Zornitsa ensemble of the town of Tryavna, as well as a medley of folk songs and dances from the repertoire of the amateur Bulgarian-Polish troupe Zelenika. The guests joined in singing patriotic songs under the guidance and baton of the Bulgarian-born opera singer and conductor Orlin Bebenov, who lives in Bydgoszcz.
Over 300 guests, among them representatives of Polish governmental institutions, members of Parliament, the local authorities and the diplomatic corps in Warsaw, attended the event, which took place on the 2nd of March. The National Day of Bulgaria was honored with the presence of Beata Mazurek, Deputy Speaker of the Sejm; Konrad Szymański, Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs responsible for European Affairs; Krzysztof Łapiński – Secretary of State in the Presidential Administration; Senator Marek Rocki, Chairman of the Foreign Affairs Committee of the Senate; Senator Jacek Włosowicz, deputy-chairman of the Parliamentary Group for Polish-Bulgarian Friendship; Witold Dzielski, Director of the Foreign Policy Department in the Presidential Administration, and other ranking Polish officials. Also attending were ambassadors and members of diplomatic missions accredited to Warsaw.
In his welcoming address, Ambassador Emil Yalnazov spoke about the significance of the date March 3rd in Bulgaria’s modern history, and about this country’s present-day development. He paid tribute to the memory of Bulgarian national heroes and of all soldiers in the foreign armies who fought in the War of Liberation, including those of Polish descent. Recalling the motto of the Bulgarian Presidency of the Council of the EU, the Ambassador underscored that the unity of the European Union is a top priority for Bulgaria. He pointed to the upward development of bilateral cooperation between Bulgaria and Poland, based on their long-standing cultural and spiritual links, and went on to say that today the two countries are bound by shared values and their membership on both NATO and the EU. In the context of the 100th anniversary of the restoration of Polish independence, Ambassador Yalnazov noted the upcoming events marking another centennial, the 100th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations between Bulgaria and Poland.
In her congratulatory speech, Beata Mazurek, the Deputy Speaker of the Sejm, paid tribute to the fight of the Bulgarian people for the restoration and building of Bulgarian statehood after the Liberation. She underscored the similarities between the historical destinies of our two nations and their common contribution to United Europe, and wished the people of Bulgaria success, peace and a secure future.
Next to deliver an address was the Mayor of Tryavna, Mr. Doncho Zahariev, who was visiting Poland at the invitation of his town’s twin city, Żyrardów in Poland. He presented Beata Mazurek with a gift of great symbolic significance: a bayonet from the Russo-Turkish war found in excavations near the town of Tryavna.
On the next day, 3 March, a celebration was held in the ballrooms of the Bulgarian Embassy for the Bulgarian expat community living and working in Poland, their families, and their Polish relatives and friends. About 200 guests turned out, many of whom contributed home-cooked meals to the festive buffet. The party was opened with a performance of the Bulgarian National Anthem and a speech by Ambassador Yalnazov, who greeted the attendees on the National Day while emphasizing the importance of the Bulgarian diaspora for promoting bilateral ties between our countries. The Ambassador gave thanks for the active contribution of our fellow nationals to organizing the festive event and appealed to them to stay united in preserving and enriching the cultural and historical presence of Bulgaria in Poland.
In parallel with the celebrations in Warsaw, on the 2nd and 3rd of March the guest performers of the Zornitza ensemble gave concerts in the towns of Żyrardów and Nieporęt. Their performances were warmly applauded and the audiences joined in the Bulgarian horo (circle dance).
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