Grammy award winner
in 1990, the choir of the Bulgarian State Television, known as “Le Mystère des Voix
Bulgares”, has performed over a thousand concerts in the most prestigious concert halls in the world
(the choir also appeared once on the Johnny Carson Show).
The choir this time played in the splendid cloister of
the Abbey of Rosazzo, located near Udine (a 90-minute show
worth 22 songs, and all sung in a cappela
too). It’s specialized in traditional Bulgarian contemporary and popular music and is
made up of over twenty women who sing in traditional costumes
which represent the different regions of Bulgaria. The so-called “mystery”
in the choir’s name lies in the ability
to combine harmonious singing
with the dissonance impact at second intervals.
Fans of these cultural ambassadors of the European Union
include musicians such as Kate Bush, Abba and also David Byrne.
The origins of the Abbey
are rather contentious and not fully validated by written records. Tradition has it that a hermit settled in the
area in the year 800 to find peace to construct an oratory and a cell. This atmosphere
of spiritual tranquility attracted an increasing number of the faithful, the
number of cells increased. The oratory
eventually became a monastery. In 1070
the church dedicated to Saint Peter was inaugurated. In 1090 the monastery of
Rosazzo was elevated to the status of Abbey and in the following year
Augustinian rule was suppressed and replaced by Benedictine rule.
In the Middle Ages the
Abbey took on an important economic function in addition to its role of
spiritual guidance.
After more than 300 years
the Benedictine monks left the abbey. In
1522 the Dominicans established themselves in the Abbey and remained there for
248 years. The ancient Abbey is also
surrounded by some mighty fine wine vineyards.
