Concert in Honor of Bulgarian Jews Held in Los Angeles

Jerusalem, 27 March, 2023 (TPS) -- 27.03.2023 (BTA)
Rescue of Bulgarian Jews
The family of Tzvetanka and Ivan Varimezov were special guests of the annual concert of the Nevenka Folk Ensemble in Los Angeles, the BulgariCA website of Bulgarians in California reported. The event was held under the motto “Memories of Kindness” and in honour of the 80th anniversary of the rescue of Bulgarian Jews in World War II.

The Varimezov family have been living in Los Angeles for 20 years. They are the only family abroad with a professor’s title in Bulgarian folk music, from the UCLA.

On Nevenka Folk Ensemble are the students of Prof Tsvetanka Varimezova: Americans who perform Bulgarian folk music. The ensemble was formed in 1976 and performs music from the Balkans and Eastern Europe, with the Bulgarian folk song being an important part of the repertoire.

Nevenka Folk Ensemble’s annual concert was opened by Trudy Israel, the ensemble’s first director, who told in detail how the Jews in Bulgaria were rescued in 1943.

In addition to Bulgarian performers, the program featured Yuval Ron Ensemble as special guests.

The concert at Glorya Kaufman Performing Arts Centre in Culver City was attended by 300 people.

The concert was made possible with LA municipal funding.