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 move quickly and effortlessly among different forms of major and minor changing moods at a dazzlingly quick pace. His performances have both great rhythmic precision and a very detailed sense of nuance, qualities which are the envy of classical musicians.