AMSTERDAM, THE NETHERLANDS. The choir `Children of Orpheus` from Kotel, Bulgaria performed on 29 and 30 October in a fully packed Gelredome stadium, Arnhem (NL.) and on 6 November in the Ethias Arena (B.) in the new show of the world famous DJ Tiësto. They opened with the song `Open your heart, let the music begin`, in Bulgarian which was directly followed by voice improvisations on Tiesto's famous `Suburban Train`. Their live performaces at 04:30 local time was -according to many spectators and critics- one of the best moments of this dance event that last from 23:00 until 07:00 in the morning. A double DVD with their performances will be released internationally on December 3 this year.


Tiësto`s own words after the show:
`Then at 4 AM I moved on with another highlight of the show, the girls from the Bulgarian choir `The Children of Orpheus`. My man Geert Huinink came with this idea to me 3 months ago. He played me a demo of them and I was immediately blown away.
These are all highly trained top-class singers which will all be individual stars in the future in musicals or other theatre pieces. I met the girls before I went on. They brought me two presents; a handmade Bulgarian violin (Gadulka), and a perfect copy of the painting called `Sunflower` by Vincent van Gogh. One of the girls is also a very good painter and that’s what she does in her free time. After that they sang a special song for me in the skybox of the Gelredome. The choir song beautifully live a special intro called `Open Your Heart For The Music` and had special vocals on top of my track `Suburban Train`.

Background information:
Children of Orpheus appearing in Tiësto in Concert The idea to have a Bulgarian choir in the new show of Tiësto came from the Dutch composer Dick Berg, who was inspired by a recording of the song `Kaval Sviri`, which he had at home for some ten years. Together with DJ-Tiësto`s composer Geert Huinink, he proposed this idea to Tiesto and his management. Never before has a choir appeared at a DJ show. So now Tiesto is again opening up new horizons in the world of DJ performances. As Dick and Geert themselves did not have any contact with the Bulgarian music scene, they contacted Jaap van Beelen and his wife, the well know Bulgarian singer Galina Durmushliyska. With his Etnic foundation, Jaap van Beelen has a considerable knowledge of and experience with the Bulgarian folklore scene. On the recommendation of several professional insiders, they invited the choir of the Kotel National School for Folk Arts. Over the last few years, this choir, which consists of 36 young talented girls, has achieved an exceptionally high level under the direction of the very professional and inspired conductor Katia Barulova. In the beginning of October Dick, Geert, Jaap and Galina left for Kotel to work with the 32 most gifted singers of the choir and to record tracks for the DVD, which will be released in an edition of 300.000 copies. They were thrilled by the artistic quality, `drive` and discipline of these young girls, aging 14-18 years. The show that will be on from midnight 24:00 until 07:00 in the morning is divided in three chapters: Modern Magic, Eastern Magic and Magic Circus. The choir of the National School for Folk Arts `Filip Kutev` from Kotel was performing on prime time at 04:00 in chapter Eastern Magic. During their performances, huge live portraits more than 10x3 metres were projected in the stadium.
Jaap van Beelen is very enthusiastic about this project, because it may popularize Bulgarian folk music among young people all over the world, since millions of young people will see the appearance of the `Children of Orpheus` live at the concerts, on DVD and on the Internet. For the Bulgarians it will be a token that the world has recognized the exceptional beauty and power of Bulgarian songs once more.