петък, 26 април 2013 г.

A DAY IN THE LIFE OF A FOLK SINGER “SINGING IS A WAY OF LIFE FOR ME”


A DAY IN THE LIFE OF A FOLK SINGER
“SINGING IS A WAY OF LIFE FOR ME”

Dr. Ksenia Kisselincheva

During the glasnost era, back in 1989, the “Outlook” broadcast of the Russian TV was frenetically popular throughout the ex-Soviet Union and in this country as well. Whenever it was on, everybody was glued to the TV, intoxicated with the exhilarating sensation of freedom, from which we had been banished for so long. Once they showed the soldiers, returning home from the war in Afghanistan. As background music they played a Bulgarian folk song, I saw the crippled and emaciated lads, the immense sadness of the song gripped my heart, tears choked my throat and my hair “stood on end”.  The song seemed to evoke the unspeakable drama of the blighted young lives returning from hell and confronted with peace-time reality.   I was struck by the voice of the singer, then unknown to me, as if a resounding spout out of which the soldiers’ agony seemed to gush out. As I found out later, it belonged to Stefka Sabotinova, one of the stars of the world- famous Koutev ensemble...
   Now I am sitting opposite her on a canvas chair in her garden in Boyana while she is trimming down the rose bushes and weeding the flower beds.  I don’t need to ask why she loves flowers and roses, in particular. I already know that she grew up in a village in the Thracian valley among vineyards, meadows and wheat fields. One day, she remembers, when she was four, she got into one of those barrels where the grape is crushed and she started singing a folk song which she had picked up from her granny. Suddenly all the neighbors who overheard her singing, stopped going about their daily hustle and listened breathless. Later, a cousin of Stefka’s asked her grandma: “What was it you played on the gramophone this afternoon?” The old woman wondered since she didn’t remember to have played the record player at that particular time. Then, she realized it must have been little Stefka and she joked: ‘It must have been that little rascal Stefka’. I spanked her for having got into the grape barrel. One minute I heard her singing and the next minute she was crying for help since she couldn’t get out.”
It all sounds like “ad improviso” launching of a budding talent. The neighbours would occasionally hear the little girl singing and they would listen for a while forgetful of their daily concerns. Years passed by and on a hectic harvest day suddenly heavenly vibrations would pierce the white hot air. It was Stefka once again, already grown into a shy doe-eyed maiden, helping with the harvest and singing, her song soaring into the sky... Later she was singled out by the great maestro of folklore, Philip Koutev. Singled out among hundreds of applicants. She joined the ensemble-she felt herself to be very lucky to make a living out of what came as naturally to her as breathing. Though it took a lot of effort before the rough diamond turned into a polished one.  Before the local prodigy turned into a distinguished professional. But sometimes she was rebellious and she disobeyed the maestro. So she formed a duet with Tinka Pesheva, another folk singer, and they started touring the country. The maestro violently disapproved of the ‘tertza’ singing technique which was widely practiced in the Macedonian region. But still they were widely applauded and were continually booked for new performances. The success won them the envy of some colleagues who “reported” them to the maestro and consequently they were punished by cuts in their salary and by not being nominated for honorary titles. The album which was released in 1963 contains a good selection of their joint repertoire and most of the songs proved to be evergreens in the long run. The tunes and the wording of the songs are genuine gems from the treasury of Thracian folklore-they are tales of the trials and tribulations of slavery and of the indomitable national spirit which not only endured but prevailed. ..      
The sun is sinking behind the lush-green slopes of the Vitosha mountain, the tinkling of bells signals the return of the goats in the neighbour’s yard, mingled with the occasional barking of street mongrels. Stefka has offered me to taste her home-made jelly and she can’t help sharing with me her concern about the ever falling standards of national history teaching at schools and the decline in national pride. “I would like to appeal to mothers, to find the time to educate their children to love the national heritage and to cherish their ancestors’ customs and traditions.”
But at the same time she is fully aware of the difficulties that women face at present-unemployment, insecure income, lack of resources to raise even one child. She told me she hadn’t seen a pregnant woman for quite a while and when she met one on the street she felt like hugging her and exclaiming admiringly: “What a brave little woman you are!”
We are back on the track again-Stefka is showing me her latest album whose promotion took place a month ago at the NDK. It aims at bringing folk music close to the young generation and it combines in a very unusual way electronic music in the style of funk dance with some Thracian songs, based on ancient legends. Stefka fervently believes that folk music, like anything else in life, should change and develop in order to survive. ”Look at Greek folk music, she says-it is played everywhere, it is loved by young and old alike, it is part of their culture and national identity...” So, my companion felt greatly reassured when the new compact disc made its way into some discos and it was repeatedly played on radio music programs. While she watched some young people dance to it she almost cried with joy. But she is poignantly aware it would be a long and hard battle to make a breakthrough in the hearts of the young, so obsessed with Western music.
I want to hear the story of her international hit “from the horse’s mouth”. Stefka is somewhat reluctant to discuss it, it must still be painful for her but at the same time this experience is too important for her to keep quiet about it.” It all happened in the mid-sixties when I worked for the National Radio Ensemble-she starts reminiscing-and then I had a song recorded, called “The Mountain Turned Round”, drawn from my grandmother’s repertoire. It was heard by a Swiss producer Marcel Selliers at an international festival in Bratislava. He was obviously impressed and he immediately arranged to meet some ‘big wigs’ at the Radio and persuaded them to sell him the author’s rights to this song of mine. All without my knowledge, without my consent. Then it was arranged by a French musician Jacques Anounas and it was included as the only solo performance in “The Mystery of Bulgarian Voices”. Polygram music company made a TV clip out of it and it attracted the attention of a number of film directors who used it as a soundtrack for their films. One among them is the Canadian director Cyril Collard whose film ”Jesus from Montreal” dealt with the Mafia in Eastern Europe.  If you happen to drop in at the Melrose music shop in Hollywood, you can buy a compact disc with her songs at the price of 28 US dollars.”
 And Stefka, who is so down-to-earth and sober, in spite of her world- wide   fame, passionately believes that there are other songs in her repertoire, deserving to become international hits. One among them is the ‘Han Tatar’ song from her latest album, based on a 17th century legend. And she also believes the music arrangement done by Angel Andonov is no less impressive than the one done by Jacques Anounas.
It was getting a bit cool in the garden so we moved inside and I asked her if she had any time for teaching the young. She exclaimed:
”Oh, my dear, I wish I had more time to teach the young. I am really time-squeezed between rehearsals, performances and recordings I hardly have enough time for this highly responsible job.” And Stefka showed me the photo of a pupil of hers - Vesselka who is only ten years old and comes to her teacher’s house during the school holidays. “Let’s hope something will come out of her. As for myself, I wouldn’t have become what I am if I hadn’t met Philip Koutev at the right time. I owe to him most of what is best in me as a professional.”  She is a lot more than just a good professional, she is a world-famous star and there is a heavenly star in the Alriga constellation named after her. Alongside with Frank Sinatra and Elvis Presley...
But, as she claims, she is more of a down-to-earth person than a celebrity. To confirm this   statement, Stefka points at a pair of leather shoes, hung on the wall opposite the fire-place and says in a half-joking manner: “I keep these peasant shoes in front of my eyes to always remind me of where I come from.” And she loves to go back to her native place and to sing at family gatherings and to share memories of “the good old days.” While browsing through her photo album with mementos from her international touring, I asked which place she liked most of all. She did not hesitate to say it was China. She was swept off her feet by the sophistication of this ancient culture, she loved the cuisine and the people. Such clean, polite and hard-working people. But, nevertheless, she got home-sick and she couldn’t wait to get back to her beloved ones. Back to the house at the foot of the Vitosha mountain, back to her friends and neighbours, back to the flowers she tended with so much love and care.
Apart from gardening, Stefka has another favourite pastime - hunting. Last winter she went to the Rousse region and she enjoyed it all tremendously - they were lucky to hit a couple of wild pigs. She showed me her 16-calibre hunting rifle-while she was handling it she reminded me of those brave women who fought the Turks alongside with men. There are legends and songs dedicated to them.  From my childhood I have remembered the one about Sirma Voivoda. A beautiful tune permeated with tragic sadness. I was tempted to ask Stefka if she would sing the song to me. And she started singing, singing as natural to her as breathing. It’s her magic wand which helps her escape from her daily cares and to soar high and afar as carefree as a lark at dawn...         
Sofia Western News, 1998



неделя, 21 април 2013 г.

EDUCATION FOR LIFE IN THE REAL WORLD


EDUCATION FOR LIFE IN THE REAL WORLD

Dr. Xenia Kisselincheva talks to Prof. Helmut Schweiger from
City University, Seattle – Washington

City University, Seattle - Washington has distinguished itself as a leader in graduate and post-graduate education for nearly a quarter of a century. According to recent surveys conducted by the AACSB, City University ranks fifth among the universities with the largest MBA enrollments in North America. Its diplomas and certificates are recognized all over the world.

“Prof. Schweiger, what makes your business and management programs so attractive for an increasing number of students, both in the US and worldwide?”

“The programs we offer are progressive and innovative, since they are created and updated with input from leading corporate experience of such companies as the Boeing Company, US West Communications Inc and the Microsoft Corporation. They incorporate cutting-edge concepts as strategic systems, business ethics and business and the environment. We aim at equipping our students only with the most current management principles and strategies, relevant to the ever-changing local force and global economy. Consequently, City University business graduates are not only prepared to understand established business practices, but to anticipate and respond to future trends as well.

“How did the idea of assisted-distance learning evolve within the specific educational strategies of City University?”

“From the start, City University has focused on making education accessible, relevant and affordable. To accommodate the schedules of working adults, way back in the 70’s, it held classes only on evenings and weekends and at multiple locations, a rare practice of higher education at the time. Some classes were even taught on a ferry boat during the 90 minute morning commute from Bremerton to Seattle. City College, as City University was initially called, did something else, which was innovative-it advertised its programs through direct mail, newspapers, TV and radio commercials. Large local companies such as Boeing and Weyerhaeuser called on the college to conduct business seminars in-house for employees. The university grew and expanded thanks to its flexible, practical approach to education. The stage was being set for much wider recognition.”

“So, the idea of assisted-distance learning grew naturally out of the university’s philosophy, taking advantage of the miraculous opportunities, created by high information technologies?”

“That’s right. We did not waste time to grasp the new and vast opportunities, opened by technological innovation. Assisted distance learning is specifically targeted at working adults, highly motivated to learn, but in the past cut off from conventional forms of tuition, because of tight working schedules, family responsibilities or distance from instructional sites. The University takes care of the training of 2000 employees from Boeing and 3000 employees from Microsoft.  By the 80’s, City College expanded further not only beyond Washington state and all over North America, but on an international scale. Its academic community presently comprises a highly qualified faculty and highly motivated students, of an average age of 37, from 75 countries worldwide, China, Canada and Egypt among them.”


“How about the response to your assisted distance learning programs in Europe?

“We have enjoyed a fast-growing response to our programs in EU countries like Germany and Switzerland. Students have earned their bachelors or Masters degrees, while pursuing their career in national and international organizations. Since 1991, we have launched MBA and BBA programs in three campuses in Slovakia. Over 1200 students have enrolled so far and the program has been recognized by the Slovak Parliament as the first legitimate foreign university in the country. Some of our graduates, who occupy key top management positions, are already putting into practice the acquired knowledge and skills to the benefit of their country’s faster transition to a market economy.”

“Could you say a few words about your MBA program, presently being launched in Bulgaria? What could be the short-term and long-term effects of its successful implementation?”

“The Executive MBA program, which is offered, is the first reputable American program of its kind, offered in Bulgaria. It is designed for individuals who aspire to be promoted as leaders within companies, large state or government organizations. By using the case-study method, it draws on the most vibrant professional experience in the respective field. It will help them streamline their businesses along more competitive lines, thus accelerating the process of their integration into the global market. On the other hand, Bulgaria will attract more foreign entrepreneurs and investors by providing reliable local professionals, who are fully aware of local character and peculiarities and who can be very helpful in making Western projects work in an alien and complex environment.”

“Could you mention a few more advantages of your assisted-distance learning program, which has already provoked a lively response from professionals of all ages and various walks of life?”

“The Executive MBA program consists of three modules-Management, Marketing and Financial Management, each module, in its turn, consisting of five courses. The tuition can be completed in 18 months, holidays included. The students have full access to the university’s electronic library and the chance of interacting with instructors of excellent academic credentials and valuable professional expertise. The diplomas are recognized and well-received in all UNESCO countries, an advantage, enjoyed by only 45 universities worldwide, also members of the International Council for Open and Distance Education. We have done our best to make the course more affordable, the tuition fee amounts to US $ 4,500, compared to us $ 6,000 in Slovakia and US $ 20,000 in the US. Moreover, we are not competitive with the existing educational institutions in the country, we are only complementary to the spectrum of variety on the educational scene, offering something radically new and unique in both form and content.”

Sofia Western News Monthly, 1999

събота, 13 април 2013 г.

THE ALCHEMIST WHO TURNS WASTE INTO GOLD


THE ALCHEMIST WHO TURNS WASTE INTO GOLD

                     
Prof. Vladko Panayotov is deputy rector of the University of Mining and Geology. He has been an EU MP since 2007. His major line of activity is directed to the processing of ores and minerals, water purification and introducing new technologies for extracting copper and gold from industrial waste. Prof. Panayotov is honorary member of the Russian Mining Academy and the Balkan Mining Academies. For introducing an environmentally friendly technology for processing lead and zinc ores, he is awarded with a gold medal at the International technical fair in Plovdiv.

A Bulgarian scholar created a clean technology for extracting non-ferrous metals from industrial waste, i.e. copper, nickel, aluminum etc. In this way, the inventor put an end to the use of cyanides, acids and bases which detrimental to the environment and to people’s health. Another huge benefit, coming from his innovative method is the reduction of industrial waste which is another global pollutant with long-term consequences.

-         Prof. Panayotov, could you tell us more about your innovative method which is in the process of being patented on a world-wide scale, including the most developed countries?

-To begin with, we tested the new technology in a pilot project in Elshitza. After the trial period, the method has been introduced routinely. It has been processing the industrial waste from the Plovdiv plant for ferrous metals. In 2007 we presented and defended successfully before the European Parliament an international project. It envisages the creation of an European Technological Center near Plovdiv with the participation of great Britain, Portugal and other EU member-countries. With this project, research of industrial waste recycling is given a kick start which is to be financed by the Marie Curie Fund within the range of 3 million euros.     
-         What was the response to presenting your innovation at the World Congress on Raw Materials Processing in Beijing last year?
-         There was massive response to my presentation of the new technology and offers to patent it on all continents. I also presented another new technology, connected with water purification, especially removing the highly toxic arsenic. Wherever there are gold deposits or deposits of other precious metals, there is a lot of arsenic. This is another instance of dialectics - good goes alongside with evil. My water cleansing technology is directed to arsenic removal from industrial waste water. My method does not apply other chemicals to eliminate the arsenic, which makes it revolutionary and environmentally friendly. There was great interest shown to it by countries like US, Canada, Australia which will be among the first to apply for patent rights.
-         What is your vision about the water deficit which is to be expected on a world- wide scale in the next 20 years?
-         The only way out is purification and recycling of water, industrially polluted. It is completely unacceptable to use it only once, it should be cleansed and recycled.  

-What are your immediate plans about the future?

-My future plans are connected with my work in the environmental commission in the European Parliament and are related to Bulgaria’s global interests. One of them refers to looking for alternative sources of energy. Another one refers to reducing environmental pollution- neutralizers on cars, filters on factory chimneys, recycling waste etc. As far as alternative energy sources are concerned, a seminar was held in Brussels, dealing with hydrogen fuel and biomass second generation. I mean biomass from dead leaves, sawdust, straw etc. – when processed in a specific way, they turn into gas. As we well know, fossil fuels cannot last more than another 50 years. Germany is quite advanced in using hydrogen in public transport vehicles – cars, trains, trucks and buses. US is  about to launch the first hydrogen-fuel and pilot-free Boeing, Japan have launched the arrow trains, Denmark is running hydrogen fuel train between two railway stations. The incentive, where Bulgaria takes part is the divisive recycling of waste. The key point is to cultivate consciousness and responsibility among citizens which is yet to be improved. Waste is a resource-there is invested in each bottle energy, light, heat. This is a serious source of material welfare in all areas-clothes-making, construction and packaging. Denmark is a telling example in this respect.
-         What are the major criticisms to Bulgaria in the EU Parliament?
-         Up until now, the attitude is encouraging us to get in pace with other EU countries. I have stood up for amendments of EU law, defending Bulgarian interests. This is done with keeping in mind our long-term industrial policy, our environmental legislation etc. In the EU complaints and despair don’t work - to achieve success, you must target the common interests, the common motivation. A major issue is a Bulgarian lobby, as the one Romanians have.
-         And again about the precious depleting resource of water in seas, rivers and oceans-how could it purified from continual pollution?
-         The soil is a very sensitive resource, once polluted, it is lost for ever. A lot is to be done for education of young in environmental awareness. This has to be implemented through school education and family upbringing. There must be control, concerning the divisive disposal of metals, glass and paper.
-         What are your academic projects in this area, so vital for saving the plant?
-         I have published a book in co-authorship with leading Bulgarian and foreign scientists. It focuses mainly on hydrogen fuel, second generation biomass fuels and the conservation of CO2 emissions. We have to act too, following the example of Germany, Denmark, Italy. As an EU MP, prof. Panayotov firmly believes he can achieve a lot, using deftly the levers of the EU Parliament. Because he is not just a politician there, but a world-recognized scientist. In all his projects are involved other EU member-countries like Germany, Great Britain and Italy and EU finances are to be allotted.
-         It’s so stimulating to talk to positive, proactive and inspired personalities like prof. Vladko Panayotov. If all of us had some of his fervor and dedication, Bulgaria would be a different place to live and to invest.

Interviewed by Dr. Ksenia Kisselincheva

Sofia Echo weekly, 2008