THE SYMPHONIC DEATH METAL TITANS SEPTICFLESH ANNOUNCES THE EXCLUSIVE 2026 SHOW “ANCIENT WHISPERS” WITH SYMPHONIC ORCHESTRA AND CHOIR AT THE ANCIENT THEATER IN PLOVDIV, BULGARIA
PLOVDIV, BULGARIA — In a monumental announcement for the global extreme metal community, the iconic symphonic death metal pioneers Septicflesh have revealed their plans for a massive, exclusive performance titled “Ancient Whispers”. Set to take place on September 19, 2026, within the hallowed, ancient embrace of the Ancient Theater of Philipopolis, Plovdiv, this event marks a significant chapter in the band’s storied career. Promoted by Blue Hills, this performance will stand as the only one of its kind for the group throughout the entirety of 2026 and serves as the sole symphonic metal event of this magnitude on the European continent for the year. This distinguished event is expected to attract guests from around the world. The Ancient Theater in Plovdiv will host Septicflesh fans from all corners of the world as it has previously hosted metalheads at big shows like this one.
This ambitious production marks only the seventh time in Septicflesh’s history that they have performed with a full orchestra and choir, and Bulgaria will become only the third country in the world—following their homeland of Greece and the far away land of Mexico—to host this awe-inspiring show. The event follows the band’s recent two consecutive sold out shows in 2025: the staggering success in Athens at the historic Herodion (Odeon of Herodes Atticus). The group is bringing that same grandiose atmosphere to the magical Ancient Theater of Plovdiv. This show promises to capture the attention of concert goers not only from Europe, but from all continents. The musicians from Septicflesh state that this show is the paramount of their concert calendar for the entire 2026!
The Ancient Theater in Plovdiv is a distinguished venue that has a long-standing tradition of hosting metal royalty, including previous performances by Katatonia and Ihsahn, but “Ancient Whispers” promises to push the boundaries of the theater's acoustic and visual capabilities to their absolute limit.
The musical integrity of the evening is anchored by the academic and artistic brilliance of the band’s own guitarist and „maestro“, Christos Antoniou. A graduate with high honors from the London College of Music, Antoniou has personally composed the entirety of the orchestral scores. These arrangements will be brought to life by the prestigious Plovdiv Philharmonic Orchestra, an institution celebrating 80 years of excellence, comprised of over highly qualified musicians. They will be joined by the powerful voices of the National Opera Choir Plovdiv, ensuring that the complex, dark layers of Septicflesh’s discography are recreated with the same terrifying precision found in their studio recordings.
Complementing the auditory experience is the striking visual aesthetic curated by the band’s frontman and bassist, Spiros Antoniou, also known by his artistic name Seth Siro Anton. As the architect behind the visual identity of Septicflesh and a world-renowned artist for bands such as Nile, Paradise Lost, and Exodus, Seth has designed the "Ancient Whispers" poster as a unique artistic venue in its own right. His vision ensures that the show is not merely a concert, but a multi-sensory ritual that honors the ancient history of the Plovdiv ruins while looking forward to the future of extreme art.
With fans and specialized metal media from around the globe expected to descend upon Bulgaria for this singular event, "Ancient Whispers" is poised to be a career-defining moment for Septicflesh and a landmark achievement for the Bulgarian live music scene. This performance serves as definitive evidence of the country's capacity to host world-class, complex musical projects of the highest order. Plovdiv, the oldest city in Europe, is eagerly anticipating visitors as it is a remarkable cultural destination on the European continent. The Ancient Theater in Philipopolis (the old name of Plovdiv) is one of the best preserved ancient open theaters in the world. Even though it was erected during the second century, the Ancient Theater continues to be the epicenter of the cultural life in Plovdiv and attracts visitors from far and wide.
The concert is part of the Music Of The Ages music forum and the Cultural calendar of the Plovdiv Municipality.
