Skopje, 3 April 2026 (MIA) — The Philharmonic will perform Sergei Rachmaninoff’s choral symphony "The Bells" for its Easter concert on April 8 at 8 pm. The concert program also includes Franz Liszt’s symphonic poem "Les préludes."

According to the Philharmonic in a press release, Bulgarian conductor Nayden Todorov will lead the orchestra, featuring the Pro Ars choir and soloists Katerina Stojanovska (soprano), Ismet Vejseli (tenor) and Ivan Naumovski (baritone/bass). 

Rachmaninoff composed "The Bells" in 1907 while staying in Rome, inspired by an anonymous letter containing Konstantin Balmont's Russian adaptation of Edgar Allan Poe’s poem of the same name. The Philharmonic noted that the composer considered the choral symphony one of his most personal works.

The symphony follows the four stanzas of Poe’s poem, tracing the stages of human life: from the joy of youth and love to maturity, old age and death.

"In the Russian spiritual tradition, bells have an almost living presence; their sound accompanies a person from birth to the last moment. 

"Rachmaninoff has created a deeply poetic and symbolic musical vision in which the sound of the bells becomes a metaphor for human life," the release said. mr/