“WHEN I WAS A GIRL” – MIMI AT 80

A living timeline of Bulgarian pop: Mimi Ivanova’s voice carried the country from late‑70s disco sparkle through 80s radio gold and into the present day. Long before the stadium choruses, she was sharpening her craft with the Bulgarian National Radio Big Band led by Vili Kazasyan (early 1970s), then, in 1976, she and composer Razvigor Popov formed the band Start—plugging modern rock energy into an unmistakable vocal style. Her first LP arrived via Balkanton in 1975, preceded by a 1972 single released by the USSR label Melodiya. Awards followed, including “Melody of the Year” for Sun’s in My Hair (1976) and distinctions from the Golden Orpheus festival later that decade.

For audiences, that history translates into melodies you can hum on the way home. Signature songs associated with Mimi include Sun’s in My Hair (music by Zornitsa Popova), Hey, momche, Proleten dŭzhd (Spring Rain), Hora i ulitsi (with Boris Gudzhunov), Veche svŭrshi hubavoto vreme, Zelenata stara cheshma and the beloved children’s piece The Wolf and the Seven Little Kids. The creative tandem with Razvigor Popov remains the spine of this repertoire—he wrote a large part of it, tailored to her range and phrasing.

Recent years brought a new chapter: the album Nie i pesenta (We and the Song), issued at the end of 2023, gathers 22 tracks—fresh material alongside renewed arrangements of classics. Among the standouts is Na tyakh, bashtite, a dedication to fathers that quickly resonated with fans. It’s a reminder that Mimi and Razvigor are not a nostalgia act; they still write, record and mentor young performers through their long‑running music school in Sofia.

The stage is Hall 1 of the National Palace of Culture—Sofia’s flagship room, with comfortable sightlines and acoustics built for voices. With 3,380 fixed seats (configurable for different productions) and direct access to the NDK metro area, it’s the natural home for a career‑spanning celebration that mixes polished production with the warmth of songs people grew up with.

If this fits your playlist, you might also enjoy

• Orlin Goranov and Edelina Kaneva – Concert – two emblematic voices in duet.
• Miro 2026 – contemporary pop with a soulful bend.
• Lubo Kirov 2026 – big hooks and a modern live sound.
• Concert of B.T.R. – for those who like their Bulgarian hits with guitars turned up.