Georgi Atanasov (composer)

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Georgi Atanasov

Georgi Atanasov (1882-1931) was a Bulgarian composer.

A native of Plovdiv, Atanasov began formal musical studies in Bucharest at the age of 14. From 1901 until 1903 he studied composition at the Pesaro Conservatory with Pietro Mascagni. Upon receiving his diploma with the title of "maestro", he adopted the word as his formal style of address. He returned to Bulgaria soon after, becoming well known as a leader of military bands. He conducted the Sofia National Opera from 1922 to 1923.

Atanasov was the first Bulgarian composer to write opera regularly; his style is Italianate, melodic and bearing the influence of folk idioms. He alternated contrasting musical numbers to achieve dramatic effect in his works.

Among Atanasov's operas is Gergana, the first Bulgarian opera in which one central character is the focus of the plot. Among his other works are comic operettas and more serious works.