Stefan Valdobrev - Knowledge

152:. Despite that he never quit his acting career and took part in numerous performances which have spanned a wide variety of genres from classical to contemporary drama, and from popular comedies to alternative, non-commercial projects, all staged by the most prominent Bulgarian directors on the most significant theatre stages. At that time Valdobrev gradually entered the world of film and theatre music and since 1992 has gone on to enjoy composing the original scores for more than 70 stage performances and 20 feature and documentary movies, winning many plaudits and awards for his work. In 2000 he received the 1353:

stopped and turned to look back. She had stopped too and was looking at me. We stood like that for a few moments, staring at each other, our parents holding our hands. Growing up with someone's memories and making that journey through adulthood together is probably what makes a relationship strong. No one knows me better than Jana." In 1998 Jana gave birth to their daughter Maria. Three weeks after that Valdobrev had a terrible car accident that almost cost him his life and kept him immovable and out of action for a year. For that reason he couldn’t join

1221: 901: 438: 602: 51: 973:. Regarding his ambition in films and theatre he knew he couldn't afford himself to keep a regular band, so he decided to invite highly skilled and established rock and jazz musicians. A large number of performers took part in the album, but there were three of them that formed the core of the future long term partnership in touring and recording studio albums: Ivan Lechev – the 892:

rules of arts in a way to use them in another field of your muses. Because the rules of art are universal. For me there’s no difference if I play a character, compose music or write poetry for my songs, it’s all about telling stories, communication, sharing thoughts and emotions, about the ability to stretch and push the boundaries with visions of your own world".

341:– a common Bulgarian Art House, where a variety of different arts could be trained and practiced. Very soon it became like a home to him: rehearsing plays on the stage, studying the guitar in the basement, reading and writing poetry in the attic, writing music for his own lyrics. It was not long before he made his acting debut as the King in 1008:

The music style of the first records was a mixture between alternative rock, new wave and ethno jazz music. But there was an unexpected 'factor' that finally took the lead and cast its mighty shadow over the other songs: a musical joke which Valdobrev created together with friend and colleague Kamen

1175:

In 2001 Stefan Valdobrev decided to concentrate mainly on his acting career and took a long break from the music scene. For almost a decade he very sporadically released a few singles that became instant hits but it was, as he stated, "just to keep me in form". In 2006 he recorded the blue romantic

758:

for 10 stage performances. His work garnered attention, providing him a long list of commissions to the professional scene. He then enjoyed a long period of productive years, composing the music for more than 70 theatre plays and 20 feature and documentary films, receiving many plaudits, awards and

366:

which Bulgaria was at that time, this school was like a breath of fresh air – with a discipline not so strict and teachers being lenient and having a personal approach to each of the students. They soon noticed Valdobrev's wandering mind and lack of concentration in class and created a system which

1352:

In 1996 Valdobrev married his high school love Jana. "We have many shared memories as childhood sweethearts in Stara Zagora. We were 10 when we first met. Our parents were coming back from an excursion, we got off the bus at the same station and headed in different directions. After a few meters I

891:

was of course a disadvantage, but this was compensated by the advantage of being an actor who composes for fellow-actors and senses their need on the stage or on the screen: "After all, if you had the right professors and they were good in a certain art (which was my case) they could teach you the

801:

in the lead role. Both the film and the soundtrack were very successful. The film received numerous international awards and nominations, reaching the Oscars' Foreign Language Films' Shortlist. During the same period Valdobrev started to span his work on mainly European projects. Since 2008 he has

847:

His musical style is difficult to catalogue. It varies greatly with the passage of time, play after play and film after film. Working in a wide field of genres, due to the requirements of the dramaturgy or the script, Valdobrev successfully switches from melancholy, delicate and deeply emotional

848:

compositions to Balkan gypsy and folk brass music, from classic orchestra scores to ethno-ambient tunes. He sometimes uses a light jazz idiom with a slight hint of the absurd and another time would use examples of circus-like dodecaphonic themes in a gently ironic way. Artistic movements like

321:

than attend to his studies. According to his own account: "The good old socialist block of flats I lived in was in the middle of a magical Bermuda triangle in which I got lost – the stadium, the cinema and the circus. I spent all my time there – playing with a ball, wandering with my friends,

782:

performed by Stefan Valdobrev and featuring his friend and colleague Arabel Karajan became one of the film songs classics. The film’s score earned Valdobrev the Golden Rose for a film debut at the 2000 National Film Awards ceremony. Two years later Komandarev and Valdobrev teamed up again in

1282:. Valdobrev, together with the director of photography Krum Rodriguez decided to "follow the quest of this man's awkward dream to be named after his favorite football club and by getting close to the life of a Bulgarian builder and his memorable mates to create a moving social portrait of 1199:

During that period Valdobrev briefly resumed touring for a series of sold-out concerts, presenting mainly his theatre and film music and working with an orchestra of fifteen jazz, ethno and classical musicians. In 2007 he received a nomination for Best Male Artist of the decade by the

1118:

In the next several years Stefan Valdobrev's career reached its zenith. He has toured extensively for each of his albums and has released a total of 12 number one BG Charts singles. He further incorporated diverse styles into his music. Together with Arabel Karajan he performed the

1028:. Back in Sofia they recorded the song in less than an hour, adding the characteristic voice of their colleague, the young actress Maya Bejanska. Although this ditty was totally different from anything in the album, it was so catchy that the producers decided to release it as a 753:

When he was still in the Academy of Theatre and Film Arts Stefan Valdobrev was assigned to compose the music for almost every one of the performances he played in. This is how he gained skills directly in practice. By the end of his acting education he had already written the

617:, mainly as a participant in a students' show with a cult status named "Coo-Coo". Despite this success he subsequently decided to turn to film for more challenging roles. While struggling to establish himself in cinema, he took small parts in international co-production 1032:. In no time it became vastly popular and later gave its name to the album that sold over 130,000 copies. This success almost obliged Stefan, Kamen and Maya to repeat this direction. And in 1996 they joined for a single project – an album called 1309:

Initially launched by Stanimir Trifonov and Vreme Film Studio, the project went through some difficulties, before being successfully finalized by producer Dragomir Keranov with the support of Desislav Dionisiev and Alexander Vrabevski.

1607: 698: 171: 1168:. Thematically it was a more personal and introspective record. Valdobrev’s lyrics have incorporated a variety of social, philosophical and political influences and appealed mainly to a vanishing counterculture in burgeoning 934:-elements. They made some gigs and some recording sessions, unfortunately all the tapes are missing. The group disbanded two years later when Valdobrev was accepted to study acting at the Theatre and Film Academy in Sofia. 351:. At the age of 18 he established himself as a songwriter, performing his first solo concert. Additionally he formed a rock band called "Alleya Alya" which made several studio recording sessions, all of them now missing. 697:, performing the supporting character of the Bulgarian emigrant Stoyan. The film enjoyed a rich festival career, won many nominations and awards, was released theatrically in 72 countries worldwide and reached the 322:

sneaking into the ballerinas' trailers, acting scenes from films I'd just watched, so I often forgot to go home until late at night. The school was something in between, but never became a part of this triangle".

147:

Valdobrev rose to prominence in the early 1990s, mainly with his hit songs, which made him extremely popular and gained him idol status on the Bulgarian music scene, twice being awarded as best male artist at the

375:

of new songs, perform them with his guitar in the lessons and translate the words for his classmates. These everyday concerts were the real productive education for him and later, when he was traveling over the

449:

Even before their graduation, Valdobrev and his friends were very active in acting or staging in professional theatres like the Academy Drama Theatre or the Youth Theatre. Such kick-start performances as

273:

After being away from the rock stage for almost a decade in 2012 Stefan Valdobrev decided to rejoin his old band "The Usual Suspects" and to start recording songs and performing live in concerts again.

1237: 239: 4640: 573:

2007 marked a significant turning point in his career. After an absence from the theatre stage for a few years, Valdobrev returned as a freelance actor for a beneficial collaboration with the

2876: 2826: 2390: 2356: 404: 137: 736:

Simo, who, together with his close friend and neighbour, finds the most unorthodox way to make ends meet, with them both setting out on a comical journey from their modest village to the

548:. In 1997 the independent theatre company La Strada, formed by the popular director Tedi Moskov produced three major hit performances in collaboration with the Bulgarian Army Theatre: 5118: 4315: 1317:

and has since then enjoyed a rich festival career, winning two international awards and being presented in the competition or the official selection of 21 major world film festivals:

4861: 3530: 2002: 1596: 789: 693: 162: 634:(2003) gave him his first leading role as a clumsy journalist who falls in love with his cousin's girlfriend. 2004 was the year of his big movie break when he took on the lead in 5414: 1322: 255: 1204:. After being away from the rock stage for nearly ten years, in 2012 Stefan Valdobrev decided to rejoin his old band "The Usual Suspects". They recorded two brand new songs: 242:(FAMU). After graduating from there he directed a few short films, TV programs and music videos. He made his director's film debut in 2010 with the documentary comedy drama 1387:

wasn't enough for the people and they demanded additional democratic reforms. Valdobrev became part of the strong student movement raised to power in the next few years of

5085: 1318: 251: 4766: 1133:. The song became a major hit and that same year Valdobrev repeated his Best Male artist annual music award. Later he became the first artist to sign a contract with 713:

by Stanimir Trifonov in which Valdobrev portrayed the obstinate priest Peter, a hermit who is experiencing a crisis of faith and trying to discover the secret of the

4450: 1055:

was released in October that same year, it topped the charts in the country, becoming a big critical and commercial success. The album spawned five number one hits:

4248: 4425: 5220: 1044:

and used many ethno instruments and elements in a rock context. Meanwhile, in 1995 Valdobrev released a collection of his scores for theatre performances called

4358: 1407:

resigned. On the next year a new two-month-long occupation strike inflamed by the Art Academy students led to the resignation of the Communist Prime minister

1286:

with its bewildered and confused people, so disappointed by the life in the country that they migrate to their own substitute reality. The journey started in

5409: 5384: 581:

Bulgarian director Galin Stoev, who started occasionally to return home only to stage the texts of the prominent contemporary young dramatist Yana Borisova.

5404: 5399: 1412: 4503: 4630: 643: 948:. A lot of new names and bands sprang up, bringing fresh air and sweeping away the old music controlled and censored by the Communist authorities. 1083:

represented a significant change in musical and thematic direction for Stefan and the band. Sonically the record incorporated influences from the

227:), he gradually moved away from this area, and also from the music stage, to become more established as a film actor. In 2004 he got his break in 1140:

In 2000 he made a dramatic shift and gradually ventured into more unconventional and more radio-unfriendly works. He focused on experimentation,

621:. His onscreen career began in 2000 with the supporting role of the tricky Communist activist Popadamchev in the Bulgarian-Macedonian production 5169: 4942: 732:- a film by the Bulgarian independent and critically acclaimed film-maker Lyudmil Todorov. Valdobrev portrayed the poor and dreamy painter of 1568: 1416: 5106: 4305: 5369: 5359: 4849: 419:, Kamen Donev, Stefka Yanorova, Koyna Ruseva, Kasiel Noah Asher, Lilia Maraviglia they formed the core of a New Wave in Bulgarian theatre. 1383:

The year of 1989, when Valdobrev attended the National Academy of Theatre and Film Arts, was crucial for the whole of Eastern Europe. The

516:, with a leading status in the cultural life). He spent there 10 years, taking part in many significant performances like Georg Buchner's 5198: 250:, the film won two international awards and was presented in the competition of the official selection of 21 major world film festivals: 5364: 4673: 2297: 2241: 1334: 267: 5389: 4703: 3068: 1314: 944:

In the early 1990s Bulgaria was powered with the spirit of freedom, revolution and exaltation – the perfect background for creating

5025: 4744: 593:(2013) became remarkable events in the theatre life and were many times awarded for best performance, best play, or best director. 1709: 1384: 92: 160:

original movie soundtrack featuring Arabel Karajan. In 2008 he composed the music for Stefan Komandarev's highly acclaimed film

5073: 3236: 1487: 875:

lessons at school, Valdobrev followed the way to a collaboration and friendship with the most outstanding Bulgarian musicians,

623: 5379: 1283: 646:, from which he finally escapes, has been described as fine, deep and centered , and brought him the Best Actor award at the 642:

period. Valdobrev’s performance of the romantic Italian doctor Enrico Corsa, separated from his Bulgarian wife and sent to a

513: 407:

to become part of what was later called: "the most successful acting class of the two highly praised Bulgarian professors –

566:. As one of the cast Valdobrev spent the next five years touring and presenting the plays at the most prestigious European 5226: 5164: 5113: 5080: 4460: 4353: 4254: 1469: 833: 614: 860:

are also influential on his work. What may be regarded as a mark of his output is the very occasional use of a memorable

5374: 4262: 1153: 762:

In 1999, Valdobrev was approached by director Stefan Komandarev to compose the music for his feature directorial debut,

4415: 778:

was actually the first ever released Bulgarian movie soundtrack. It turned out to be a great success. The pilot single

5234: 3353: 3177: 2784: 966:, which had later been added in the company's debut album, and turned out to be Valdobrev’s first released song ever. 505: 4541: 4513: 4346: 2410: 1002: 347: 2275: 2219: 1899: 1546: 1095:, the elements were very subtly dispersed into the prevailing guitar sound textures. A good example was the song 962:

In the next year, while being a member of the student's TV Show Coo-Coo, he garnered attention for a song called

647: 639: 377: 232: 4813: 4390: 4583: 2472: 956: 550: 295: 203: 1403:

by occupying all the Universities for more than a month. As a result the recently elected Communist President

3111: 2570: 1260: 1220: 733: 544: 223: 5394: 3687: 3332: 2968: 2951: 2632: 2489: 2455: 1330: 524: 512:, so eventually moved to the Bulgarian Army Theatre (actually, a civil repertory theatre sponsored by the 263: 193: 183: 153: 3681: 937:

Despite his heavy studies there, he never quit his tend for singing and was eager to join the burgeoning

5250: 4982: 4908: 4476: 4278: 3300: 1134: 650:. Valdobrev was cast as Mitko, an expert of campaigns in the team of his American colleague Tim Knight ( 504:

and others appeared between 1991 and 1993. In June, 1993 Valdobrev became a member of the troupe of the

555: 740:

shore. Critics praised the film as being "one of the finest comedies of the newest Bulgarian cinema".

5354: 5157: 4952: 4903:[The Adventures of Iliyana Boycheva - 9 May 2012]. (in Bulgarian). 9 May 2001. Radio Tangra. 3268: 3032: 1714: 1306:, and ended up back home, raising questions about identity, about who we are and who we want to be". 1092: 318: 136:

actor, film/theatre composer, singer-songwriter and filmmaker. He received classical training at the

4854:[Stefan Valdobrev, actor: The young now are great, even if they don't show their feelings], 900: 1358: 471: 412: 342: 178: 4856: 1698: 1388: 880: 666: 655: 188: 125: 1256:

in 2007, marked the beginning of a professional collaboration and friendship with the acclaimed

691:

In 2008 he collaborated with director and friend Stefan Komandarev in his highly acclaimed film

4977:[Morning show Starter - 20 February 2005]. (in Bulgarian). 20 February 2005. BG Radio. 908:

He began creating songs when he was 17. In the beginning it was more like putting music to his

437: 5339: 5286: 5190: 4736: 2820: 2779: 2350: 1372: 1368: 1299: 1279: 1112: 628: 578: 491: 456: 400: 299: 291: 313:

Not that he was a bad student, but he found early on that he would rather immerse himself in

5015: 4665: 3536: 3476: 2985: 2404: 1303: 1267: 1169: 1165: 1161: 1149: 1088: 986: 924: 771: 770:

and the words and music for six songs, performed by some of the most prominent contemporary

670: 601: 567: 509: 486: 416: 396: 368: 307: 247: 198: 5263: 4995: 4921: 4489: 4291: 3494: 3458: 3453: 3448: 2763: 2538: 2521: 1201: 1076: 872: 868: 849: 798: 534: 466: 381: 355: 170:

in the lead role, which won a considerable number of international awards and reached the

167: 149: 4695: 1294:, told the story of the protagonist’s struggle with the authorities, lead all the way to 1245: 1013:. Tired of the long and boring trip they took a bunch of keys for percussion and started 4726: 4253:[The day closely with Maria - 4 January 2012]. (in Bulgarian). 4 January 2012. 4851:Стефан Вълдобрев, актьор: Младите сега са страхотни, нищо че външно не показват чувства 4456: 1408: 1404: 1354: 1141: 1100: 1029: 920: 853: 841: 803: 794: 408: 17: 5348: 2854: 2664: 2369: 1400: 1233: 1018: 755: 529: 500: 476: 461: 213: 208: 1172:. This album was unexpectedly darker and yielded decent reviews, but no major hits. 1341: 1295: 1275: 1249: 1041: 978: 955:, a new wave-like, alternative middle tempo record that was premiered and aired on 916:. At the age of 19 he made his first solo concert, which included 22 author songs. 888: 710: 681: 539: 363: 283: 218: 88: 50: 5225:[The day starts with culture - 4 May 2012]. (in Bulgarian). 4 May 2012. 5309: 3677: 2919: 2701: 1185: 1022: 998: 994: 931: 857: 722: 651: 451: 338: 3551: 1752:

FUSION Film Fest Valencia - Award for best supporting actor in a foreign film

1241: 1193: 1160:. He sought a harder-hitting sound and headed a direction which was more into 1037: 982: 970: 945: 884: 775: 767: 726: 718: 21: 5290: 4740: 2291: 2235: 1396: 1363: 1326: 1145: 1108: 1005:- a young and talented guitarist joined the band to stay till the present.) 974: 861: 737: 714: 674: 481: 359: 290:, the son of Maria Valdobreva (née Atanassova) and Kostadin Valdobrev, both 259: 4885:[Distant from personal questions with the actor Stefan Valdobrev], 721:, whilst crossing paths with an unknown visitor to his village, the French 4632:Стефан Вълдобрев: Можем да захраним с положителна енергия половин България 4551: 1411:. On 31 December 2006 Valdobrev hosted Bulgaria’s celebration concert for 919:

Parallel to this in 1988 he formed a band, named Alleya Alya – a blend of

4797: 4767:"FNE at Golden Rose FF 2012: Competition: Migration of the Belted Bonito" 4382: 2285: 2229: 1287: 1120: 927: 826: 389: 385: 287: 246:. Provided with the cameo appearance of the Bulgarian football superstar 133: 1103:

Orchestra's folk singer Snejka Borisova. Until today, Valdobrev’s album

238:

In 2006-2007 Valdobrev completed a film directing specialization at the

5335: 4578:[Stefan Valdobrev: "I was making money as a street musician"]. 4455:[Looking for: Stefan Valdobrev]. (in Bulgarian). 2 June 2013. 2423: 1084: 1014: 990: 618: 518: 508:, but some time later he had to start serving his 12 months' mandatory 334: 302:, and his paternal ancestors come from midst of the country, where the 29: 5307:[Valdobrev will make a film with Catherine Deneuve in Sofia], 4823: 4818:[Stefan Valdobrev: A person is bigger than the whole world]. 4637:

Stefan Valdobrev: We can charge half of Bulgaria with positive energy

4614:[Stefan Valdobrev: Everything needs to be done with a wink], 4310:[Stefan Valdobrev - where creativity starts and never ends]. 1291: 1257: 1181: 1123: 1010: 913: 909: 819: 702: 372: 330: 303: 4573: 842:

saving of 48,000 Bulgarian Jews in the years of the Second World War

1091:

of the time. And even if there were some songs with an impact from

638:, a love drama by director Stanimir Trifonov, set in the immediate 5328: 5230: 5054:[The teenagers' favourite is married to his school love], 4258: 1232:

In 2006-2007 Valdobrev spent two productive years specializing in

1219: 1107:

is considered by many to be among the most influential and famous

938: 899: 685: 662: 600: 574: 436: 326: 141: 4698:["People from Oz" - long love letter with no addressee]. 4420:[Stefan Valdobrev with a national tour and a new video]. 4307:Стефан Вълдобрев - където творчеството започва и никога не вършва 1719:

New York International Film Festival award for Best Foreign Film

1712:

Grand Prix – Golden Sphinx, Best Director and Best Cinematography

1399:

and sieges of parliament. In 1990 the students caused a National

699:

Short List of The Academy Awards 2010 for a Foreign Language film

371:

better. They gave him constant tasks to listen to and write down

5142:[Stefan Valdobrev: The speed in our life is very high], 4731:[A Will to Cinema, a conversation with Vera Naydenova], 1392: 876: 329:

for quite a long time, but then decided to quit and take up the

172:

Short List of The Academy Awards 2010 for Foreign Language film

1051:

1998 was a turning point for him. When his solo album titled:

415:". Together with his fellow actors and directors Galin Stoev, 314: 1212:

and started a series of 25 club gigs and theatre hall shows.

613:

In the early 1990s Valdobrev made quite a few appearances on

4612:Стефан Вълдобрев: Всичко трябва да се прави с едно намигване 725:

Ellen Tibaud. In 2012 Valdobrev played the lead role in the

5052:Любимецът на тинейджърките е женен за ученическата си любов 3827:

The Bar by the Sea and the Sea by the Bar: Summer tour 2017

787:. Their collaboration resumed with the director’s 2009 hit 802:

provided the music for fiction and documentaries like the

3491:

Nominated - BG Radio Music Awards for Best Male Performer

701:. That same year he starred opposite the Bulgarian born 562:(a co-production with the Avignon Theatre Festival) and 3887:

Five Summer Concerts (To Say Nothing of the Winter One)

1608:

Academy Awards shortlist for Best Foreign Language Film

832:(2011). In 2013 he started to create the score for the 793:, based on the best-selling novel by the German author 235:

for Best Male performance at the National Film Awards.

4575:Стефан Вълдобрев: "Изкарвах пари като уличен музикант" 3531: