photo: Alexander Thompson

Maestro Dian Tchobanov has been the General Music Director of State Opera – Plovdiv since their 2013-2014 season. He earned his master´s degree at the State Musical Academy (Sofia) in 1997 and at the University of Performing Arts and Music Vienna, Austria (Uroš Lajović – orchestra conducting and Konrad Leitner – accompanying). His conducting style has been influenced by Sir Colin Davies, Dresden, Germany, Maestro Fabio Luisi, and Maestro Michael Halas, conductor at Vienna State Opera. Tchobanov has been awarded with the second and the special award of “Lovro von Matačić” at the International Conductors Competition in Zagreb in 2003. In 2015 he was invited to jury the competition. 

Tchobanov is a Chief Conductor of the Croatia Chamber Orchestra; he has conducted the Orchestra of the Croatia State Opera, RSO-Vienna, Orchestra of “Arena di Verona,” RSO-Praha, Budapest Festival Orchestra, Dohnányi Orchestra Budapest, Concert Orchestra Budapest, Schönbrunn Chamber Orchestra, RSO-Sofia, Symphony Orchestra Kurichiba, Brazil, Ensemble “Cantus”, and more. Tchobanov has been a conductor of the Sofia Philharmonic Orchestra for six seasons and served as Chief Conductor of State Opera – Stara Zagora. He has worked with State Opera – Russe and Varna.

The GMD of Opera Plovdiv has conducted at several famous music festivals: “Oper Oder-Spree” Neuzelle, Germany; “Wiener Klangbogen” Vienna, Austria; “Austrian music weeks in Bulgaria;” “Varna Summer;” “March Music Days” Russe, Bulgaria; “Songs of life” Tel Aviv and Jerusalem, Israel; “Rijeka summer nights” Croatia; “Music Biennale” Zagreb, Croatia; “Weinklang” – Burgenland, Austria; “Opera and ballet arts” Stara Zagora, Bulgaria; “Opera Open”, Plovdiv, Bulgaria; “IV International festival of Chamber music” Yekaterinburg, Russia, 2016; “Palermo Classica” 7th international music festival 2017; and “Opatija Tribune” – Croatia 2017.

Since 2012 Tchobanov has been a permanent guest-professor at East China Normal University Shanghai, China. Tchobanov works on the stages of big European cities such as Vienna, Budapest, Verona, Frankfurt, Stuttgart, Meiningen, Amsterdam, Rotterdam, Prague, Zagreb, Porto, Palermo, Skopije; also in Tel Aviv, Jerusalem, the United States, Brazil, and China.

Tchobanov won the Prize “Plovdiv” 2014 – the most prestigious prize in the field of music in his home city.              

Albums

Dancing in the Palm of God’s Hand

Release Date: May 26, 2023
Catalog Number: NV6522
21st Century
Orchestral
Solo Instrumental
Orchestra
Saxophone
Voice
DANCING IN THE PALM OF GOD'S HAND from J.A. Kawarsky and Navona Records isn't at all a typical worship album; rather, it's a cross section through Kawarsky's oeuvre that encompasses minimalist solo pieces, intimate chamber music, and grand orchestral works. The themes on this album are vast and sweeping, at once lavish and carefully measured, reflecting the great and the minute, like an interplay between human and God. It's an almost philosophical experience, and one needn't be religious to enjoy its uplifting qualities.