This summer, audiences in Bulgaria will witness the world premiere of Vivarium Nocturnalis, an upcoming musical work by celebrated Bulgarian composer Petar Kerkelov. Commissioned for the Off the Beaten Path Festival, this immersive, hour-long “midnight concert” is scored for two violins and chamber ensemble.

The piece developed following Kerkelov’s creative residency in the scenic village of Kovachevitsa, where he was invited by the festival’s director, Lora Tchekoratova, to exchange ideas and draw inspiration from the local environment. Known for his musical sincerity and his ability to blend deep philosophical themes with other art forms, Kerkelov created this work in close collaboration with media artist Petko Tanchev, who will provide a dynamic live light design for the performances.

The Stellar ensemble features Georgi Valchev and Nikola Takov on violins, Lora Tchekoratova on piano, Boris Tonkov on viola, Alexander Somov on cello, Mark Sparks on flute, and Karin Dornbusch on clarinet.