Bulgarian poetry abroad shines in the heart of Chicago

The premiere of the poetry collection "When you are far from me..." by Elka Berdarova turned Chicago into a scene of poetry and art

On May 17, 2025 at the Cultural Center "Bulgarica" in Chicago took place the premiere of the latest poetry collection of the poet Elka Berdarova - "When you're away from me...". The event turned into an exceptional artistic spectacle uniting poetry, music, theatre and visual art.

The event was opened by Snezhana Galcheva - deputy editor-in-chief of the newspaper. "Bulgaria NOW" and President of the Confederation of Bulgarian Cultural Organizations and Activists Abroad. She led the evening with subtlety, inspiration and personal attitude towards the author's work.

The main focus of the program were the artistic readings of selected poems from the collection, accompanied by a video installation and scenography created especially for the event by actor and director Ivan Angelov. This multimedia interpretation turned the poetry into a vivid, visual and emotional experience.

The evening was complemented by musical performances by Sonia Membrenyo, inspired by Berdarova's poetry, which added further depth to the experience and enhanced the impact of the poetry presented.

The event ended with a conversation with the author, questions from the audience and autograph signing in a warm, informal atmosphere. Attendees were able to experience the world of poetry in person and share emotions with the team behind the event.

The premiere turned into a real celebration of Bulgarian poetry abroad, leaving a deep emotional imprint in the hearts of all the guests. Thank you to all the guests who came and respected the event.