Emil Tabakov
graduated from the Bulgarian State Music Academy in conducting and double-bass in 1974 and received his diploma in composition in 1978. He worked as conductor of the Ruse Philharmonic between the years 1976 and 1979. From 1979 to 1987 he was the music director and conductor of the Sofia Soloists Chamber Orchestra. He was appointed conductor of the Sofia Philharmonic in 1985 where he continued until 2000 first as principal conductor then as music director and conductor. During the same period Tabakov worked as the music director and conductor of the Belgrade Philharmonic. Starting in 1999, he was the artistic director of the New Year’s Music Festival in Sofia for six years. Tabakov served as Minister of Culture for Bulgaria in 1997. Emil Tabakov was music director of the Bilkent Symphony Orchestra between 2002 and 2008.

Emil Tabakov is a standing guest conductor of the Orchestre National de France, Orchestre de Avignon, Orchestre de Metz, and the Moscow Radio Symphony Orchestra. He has conducted orchestras in Russia, America, Australia, Japan and Israel, as well as all over Europe.

Emil Tabakov has composed works of different genres, ranging from chamber music to ballet. He has been awarded prizes by the Union of Bulgarian Composers for many of his compositions. Albums recorded under his baton exceed forty. He has conducted the Sofia Philharmonic Orchestra in numerous recordings in a variety of styles, such as all the symphonies of Mahler and Scriabin, the complete orchestral works of Brahms and the piano concertos of Beethoven. He has recorded a total of eleven albums with the Sofia Soloists Chamber Orchestra covering many composers from Handel to Schoenberg. Tabakov has won many prizes in international competitions in double-bass and conducting and furthermore was honoured as “Man of the Year” by the International Biographical Center in England in 1991.