Founded in 1948, the Bulgarian National Radio Symphony Orchestra (BNRSO) is a leading institution in Bulgarian musical culture and important part of the community of European radio orchestras. Many chief conductors have contributed to the development of the BNRSO: Vasil Stefanov, Alexander Vladigerov, Vasil Kazandjiev, Milen Nachev, Rossen Milanov, Emil Tabakov, Mark Kadin, and, at present, Konstantin Ilievski.

Although its main activity consists in recording and preserving the Bulgarian national musical heritage, the BNRSO also has an enormous repertoire of rarely performed pieces, symphonies, cantatas, oratorios, and ballet music. It also participates in commissioned recordings for foreign producers and labels such as Harmonia Mundi, Forlane, Pyramid Records, BMG Ariola, to name a few.

The BNRSO gives regular concerts at “Bulgaria” Hall in Sofia and it has realized numerous tours in France, Germany, Belgium, Italy, the Vatican, Spain, Netherlands, South Korea, Greece, and many other countries. Among the world famous performers that have collaborated with the BNRSO are: Alexis Weissenberg, Jean-Pierre Rampal, Ghena Dimitrova, Leonid Kogan, Renata Scotto, Margarita Lilowa, Rudolf Kehrer, Georgi Badev, Mincho Minchev, Daniil Shafran, Mikhail Khomitzer, etc.