Event details
A Groundbreaking Historical Music Premiere is on the Way:
“The New Four Seasons” Comes to Bulgaria
National Palace of Culture (NDK), Sofia – February 4, 2026, 7:00 p.m.
Sofia will host an exceptional musical event as two newly created “Four Seasons” compositions—from Hungary and China—are presented together for the first time this February. Poised to become one of the musical highlights of the century, this remarkable evening brings two visionary contemporary works to a single stage.
This concert at the National Palace of Culture (NDK) marks the Bulgarian debut of these original compositions, offering audiences a distinctly global perspective on the eternal theme of the seasons.
Distinct Historical Milestones
This thematic premiere aligns with two significant anniversaries in music history:
the 300th anniversary of Vivaldi’s Four Seasons (1725–2025), and
the 150th anniversary of Tchaikovsky’s The Seasons (1876–2026).
This historical convergence underscores the importance of presenting these modern works, which reinterpret the classical tradition and are poised to shape stylistic directions for years to come.
A Meeting of Cultures
The evening, titled “The Double Four Seasons Premiere,” will feature:
Wen Ziyang – The Four Seasons of China
Performed by internationally acclaimed violinist Lü Siqing
and the United China-Hungary Chamber Orchestra
(Beijing Major Ensemble & Béla Bartók Symphony Orchestra)
Stefán Péter – Hungarian Four Seasons
Piano Solo: Kovács Gergely
The Hungarian composition presents a new Central European, hunnic interpretation, while the Chinese work offers the first Eastern perspective on the timeless cycle of the seasons. Together, they merge authentic folk elements with chamber textures and solo virtuosity.
A Global Musical Journey and the Bulgarian Capital
Following their premieres in China and Singapore last year, this European tour brings both works to one stage, illuminating the vibrant musical heritage of Asia and Europe. Filled with authentic national melodies and refined artistic expression, these compositions reveal profound cultural connections and offer an original contemporary interpretation of the seasons—one that speaks to audiences in Bulgaria and beyond.
