(Bulgaria)

“Camea” quartet is founded in 1997 in Sofia by four young ladies: Lada Kantardjieva (soprano), Elena Ginina (soprano), Elitsa Dankova (mezzosoprano), Irina Gotcheva (alto). The first steps in their musical career they make with the Children’s choir of the Bulgarian National Radio, performing on world famous stages like the Suntory Hall (Tokyo) and the Royal Albert Hall (London). Later, already as singers of the Sofia Female Choir “Vassil Arnaoudov” they create “Camea” as their own chamber musical formation. The quartet becomes popular with its excellent performances, artistic and lovely presence on the scene.

“Camea” quartet’s musical repertoire includes Bulgarian traditional songs (mostly worked by contemporary Bulgarian composers), Renaissance and Orthodox music. The singers are often invited to participate in cultural events of different kinds in various towns of Bulgaria, including performances in the country’s most famous hall – the National Palace of Culture, Sofia. In 2001 they realize their first successful concert abroad in Torrevieha, Spain. Later in the same year they are invited and sing at Luxembourg Palace in Paris. In 2002 the quartet takes part in the ancient tragedy “Oedipus Tyrannous” on the stage of the Bulgarian National Theatre “Ivan Vazov”, where the music is written by the famous Greek composer Nikos Kypourgos. This is the beginning of a successful collaboration, which continues with the participation of the quartet in Nikos Kypourgos’s author’s concerts at “Megaron Mousikis”- Athens (2003) and Thessaloniki (2004), where they sing together with Maria Farantouri, Savina Yannatou, Alkinoos Ioannidis etc. A live CD from these concerts has been already issued. In 2003 the stage play “Oedipus Tyrannous” is also performed at the “Rialto Theatro” in Cyprus.

In the spring of 2004 the quartet starts a frequent collaboration with the famous young singer/songwriter from Cyprus - Alkinoos Ioannidis and participates in eight live performances of him at the musical club of Athens “Gyalino Musiko Theatro”, and later in the same year “Camea” takes part in another five concerts of him in the frame of his summer tour all over Greece. In November 2004 the four ladies are invited and perform at the famous Brugge Festival in Belgium.

The quartet has made records for the Bulgarian National Radio, the Bulgarian radio “Darik” and the Greek radio “Sky”.