Grammy-Winning Bulgarian Women’s Choir Le Mystère des Voix Bulgares to Perform at Pohoda

Le Mystère des Voix Bulgares is a global phenomenon with a captivating history. Their work and international success are often seen as a milestone in the development of world music. At Pohoda, they will perform under the baton of conductor and composer Georgi Andreev, accompanied by the string ensemble Quarto Quartet, presenting both new as well as their most well-known songs.

06. May 2025

The choir was established in the 1950s with the aim of preserving and reviving Bulgarian folk music and traditions, as a way to counteract anti-communist musical influences. A turning point came in 1975 when Swiss musicologist Marcel Cellier discovered them, recorded their singing, and released it on the album Le Mystère des Voix Bulgares (Volume 1). The album was later reissued by the 4AD label. Their second album, Le Mystère des Voix Bulgares 2 (1988), earned them a Grammy Award. 

It was at the 4AD record label that they first met the legendary duo Dead Can Dance and their singer Lisa Gerrard. She drew inspiration from their distinctive vocal style, something especially evident in their most famous track “The Host of Seraphim”. In 2018, they went on to record a full collaborative album with Lisa,  titled BooCheeMish. 

The unique voices of Le Mystère des Voix Bulgares have captured the hearts of many musical legends. Kate Bush featured them on three tracks from her 1989 album The Sensual World, they have worked with Bobby McFerrin, and one of their songs was even played at David Bowie’s wedding, replacing the traditional “Here Comes the Bride”.

At Pohoda, they will perform under the baton of Georgi Andreev, one of the most successful and versatile contemporary Bulgarian composers. His gift for blending classical choral-orchestral music with traditional rhythms and folk styles makes him an ideal fit for a group like Le Mystère des Voix Bulgares. Together with the Bulgarian string quartet Quarto Quartet, they are sure to deliver a spine-tingling performance at Trenčín Airport.

“Trying to describe the rush of emotion I felt hearing the Bulgarian polyphony live is like trying to dance to architecture. In that moment, it doesn’t matter that they’ve won a Grammy, played on KEXP, or recorded with Kate Bush and Bobby McFerrin. You just need to listen, let yourself be swept away, and be moved,” says František Malík from the Literary Club. 

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