Tsvetan Radoslavov

Tsvetan Radoslavov Hadzhidenkov (; 1863–1931) was a Bulgarian educator, psychologist, public figure and the author of the song Gorda Stara Planina, which later became the current national anthem of Bulgaria, "Mila Rodino".

Biography

Radoslavov was born in Svishtov in 1863. He came from families connected with the Bulgarian National Revival; his mother was related to the Pavlovich family, and he grew up in the household of Tsvyatko Radoslavov, whose surname he later used. He studied in Bulgaria before continuing his education abroad, including in Vienna and Leipzig.

In 1885, while travelling back to Bulgaria to volunteer in the Serbo-Bulgarian War, Radoslavov wrote the song Gorda Stara Planina ("Proud Old Mountain"). Bulgarian National Radio states that he composed it spontaneously in 1885 aboard the Austrian ship Maria Theresia, while travelling from Vienna to Bulgaria to take part in the war.

In 2004, a new digital recording of Mila Rodino was made at Bulgaria Hall in Sofia. The recording featured the Sofia Philharmonic Orchestra, the Choral Chapel "Svetoslav Obretenov" and soloists Raina Kabaivanska, Nikola Ghiuselev, Roberta and Orlin Goranov, conducted by Nayden Todorov. The arrangement was by composer Tsenko Minkin. According to Bulgarian National Radio, the recording took place on 29 September 2004 and involved nearly 200 performers.

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