Performers
Zefira Valova – baroque violin
About the artist
Bulgarian violinist Zefira Valova is a leading specialist in early music, who performs as a soloist, leader, concertmaster, and chamber musician. Graduating from Sofia’s National Academy of Music where she studied under Yosif Radinov, and the Conservatorium van Amsterdam under Lucy van Dael, Zefira has gone on to collaborate with such ensembles as the Arcangelo, Helsinki Baroque Orchestra, Sofia Philharmonic Orchestra, and the European Union Baroque Orchestra. She has been artistic director of the Sofia Baroque Arts Festival since 2006.
Zefira has been concertmaster of il Pomo d’Oro since 2015 working under Maxim Emelyanychev and Francesco Corti. Recordings for il Pomo d’Oro include multiple collaborations with mezzo-soprano Joyce DiDonato, and countertenors Jakub Józef Orliński and Franco Fagioli (performing as conductor). 2022 saw the release of a solo album, a collection of violin concertos from the late 18th century for Aparté. She has previously recorded Vivaldi and Telemann concertos with Les Ambassadeurs, Schubert sonatas with Aapo Hakkinen, Bach violin concertos with Shunske Sato, and concertos with Erik Bosgraaf.
Awards have included first prize in the José Herrando Baroque Violin Competition (2020), the Golden Quill award for input in culture (2021), and Musician of the Year for artistic activity awarded by the Bulgarian National Radio (2017).
