Neva Krysteva

Professor Dr. Neva Krysteva, the most important Bulgarian organist, graduated the Moscow Tchaikovsky Conservatoire, majoring in musicology and organ. Her organ teacher was Prof. Leonid Roisman. She worked also with Prof. Rheinberger in Prague and Zurich. She is active in three professional spheres - organ, musicology and composition.

Prof. Krysteva has given hundreds of concerts throughout Europe (Italy, the Netherlands, Switzerland, Germany, Austria, Russia, Hungary, the Czech Republic, Slovakia, Romania) and Asia. Her performing career in her native country began in 1974, after the construction of the new Schuke organ in Bulgaria Concert Hall in Sofia, Bulgaria (the old Sauer instrument was destroyed in WWII). On this instrument she made numerous appearances and recordings.She has also commisioned a large number of works for organ.

Neva Krysteva is a Professor in Polyphony at Pancho Vladiguerov Academy of Music in Sofia. Since 1978 she has also been teaching organ there. A founder of the Bulgarian organ performance school, she has many of her students, current and former, perform throughout the world.

Krysteva's compositions are mainly in the spheres of organ, chamber and choral music and include Sonata da chiesa for flute/alto flute/piccolo and organ (1989), Requiem for mixed choir and organ (1995), In memorias exire (in memory of my mother) for piano, organ and percussion (1997), To the Desert (after the vitae of St. Mary of Egypt) for church singer, countertenor, folk singer, soprano, bass, and instrumental ensemble, Seven Songs on William Blake's "The Book of Thel" for soprano, countertenor (or alto), viola d'amore and harpsichord (1999) and many others.

(Natasha Yapova)