Balkanicus

Emil Mirtchev (b.1953) Rienzi-Bagatelles (Reminiscence VI) for

BULGARIA clarinet and cello (2017)*

     Nickolai Kolarov, cello

     Daniel Friberg, clarinet

Dejan Despic (1930-2024) Nepotrosac (Non-consumer) on poem by Ogden Nash

SERBIA (translated by Dragoslav Andric) for voice and piano (1998)*

     John De Haan, tenor

     Yu-Chien Huang, piano

Petar Petrov (1961-2022) Dialogues with Silence for clarinet and cello (1994)*

BULGARIA

     Nickolai Kolarov, cello

     Daniel Friberg, clarinet

INTERMISSION

Vassil Kazandjiev (b.1934) Concert Piece for bassoon (cello) and vibraphone (2025) **

BULGARIA

     Nickolai Kolarov, cello

     Fernando Meza, vibraphone

Dorian Cene (b.1980) Prisoner's Right on text by Alexander Solzhenitsyn for

ALBANIA voice and piano (2022)*

     John De Haan, tenor

     Yu-Chien Huang, piano

Simeon Pironkov Sr (1927-2000) Concerto Rustico for cello and orchestra (1982)*

BULGARIA (orchestra score arr. for piano by Hao Shen)

     Nickolai Kolarov, cello

     Minglan Tu, piano

* indicates American Premieres

** indicates World Premieres

Internationally acclaimed tenor John De Haan has enjoyed successes throughout the world singing both traditional and recently composed music. He performed the leading tenor role of L’Oiseau in the world premiere of Stephen Hartke’s The Greater Good for Glimmerglass Opera in 2006. These performances were recorded by Naxos Records. As a principal artist with the Deutsche Oper Berlin for four years, Mr. De Haan sang Florestan in Fidelio, Erik in Der Fliegende Hollander, Macduff in Macbeth, Hans Schwalb in Mathis der Maler. Mr. De Haan may be heard in the leading role of “der Fremde” in Decca’s recording of Korngold’s Das Wunder der Heliane conducted by John Mauceri, and in Goldschmidt’s BeatriceCenci for Sony Records. He is currently on the voice and opera faculty at University of Minnesota’s School of Music. He has been performing on the Balkanicus concerts since 2008.

Native from Costa Rica Fernando Meza is Professor of Music at the University of Minnesota School of Music, where he has been Director of Percussion Studies since 1993. Over this time period, he has built and established in Minneapolis what is considered by many to be one of the most comprehensive centers of percussion studies in the United States. Meza has also performed as soloist, chamber, or orchestral musician in such places as Alice Tully Hall in Lincoln Center, Carnegie Hall, the Philharmonie in Berlin, and the Musikverein in Vienna among others, and is in demand locally as a performer with the Minnesota Orchestra, Saint Paul Chamber Orchestra, Chamber Music Society of Minnesota, Bakken Trio and others. Meza has been performing on the Balkanicus concerts since 2010

Bulgarian cellist Nickolai Kolarov is the founder of the Balkanicus series in 2003 in the Twin Cities, MN. The series has featured music written especially for him. He is the President of the Balkanicus Institute for Balkan Art, Culture and History, a non-for-profit organization that promote the cultures from the Balkans. Kolarov performs actively both classical and contemporary repertoire throughout the country and appears as a soloist with orchestras from the Midwest. The Bulgarian National Radio and TV, as well as various radio and TV stations in Minnesota and Kansas featured some of his performances. Kolarov has taught cello at the University of St. Thomas and has delivered lectures and master classes in several universities and colleges. In 2011 he was invited for a performance-lecture in the Juilliard School. Kolarov holds DMA from the University of Minnesota and he studied with Igor Gavrish from the Moscow Conservatory of Music.

Daniel Friberg is a clarinetist based in Bloomington, MN. As a soloist and chamber musician he has performed with JOYA!, the Hill House Chamber Players, The Singers, The Cedar Valley Chamber Music Festival, and Saint Mark’s Music Series (Minneapolis). Past ensemble engagements include the Minnesota Orchestra, New World Symphony, Duluth-Superior Symphony, Dubuque Symphony, Sioux City Symphony, and Minnesota Winds. He has taught at Winona State University, The University of Wisconsin La Crosse, Wartburg College, and Gustavus Adolphus College.

Dr. Friberg earned his Bachelor and Master degrees at Yale University studying with David Shifrin, and his DMA degree at the University of Minnesota studying with Burt Hara. From 2009 to 2010 he was a fellow at the Royal Ghent Conservatory of Music in Belgium. He is manager of the printed music department at Groth Music Co. and author of “Clarinet Excerpts in Context: Duets for Ensemble Mastery.”