Nikola Iliev
clarinetist | composer | educator
About
Nikola Iliev, an extraordinary clarinetist and composer, is a rare phenomenon that any nation would be proud of. He founded the infamous Konushensky Folk Orchestra in 1963, which he has led for the last 50 years. There is no need in rehashing the career description of Nikola Iliev and his orchestra. The scope and quality of his music, his pedagogical and performance accomplishments and international recognition of his artistry speak for themselves and require no further embellishment. He is one of those artists who have contributed in such noble way to keep one nation's tradition and further its new essence of growth.
The Compendium Archive
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Никола Илиев
Никола Илиев и Конушенски Оркестър
Critical Acclaim
The worlds of classical and folk music
The worlds of classical and folk music, at first glance do seem very far apart. As a classical clarinetist, however, I was immediately struck by Nikola lliev's expressive virtuosity and melodic inventiveness. His compositions exhibit a wonderful harmonic, or, to be more precise, modal variety. They…
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The grand Nikola Iliev
Listening today to the grand Nikola Iliev and his breathtaking Konushensky Folk Orchestra makes me come back to the time of those youth days and walk again, surrounded by roses, on the yellow stone streets of romantic Sofia.