The Balkanton era, a cornerstone of Bulgaria’s musical heritage, has officially come to an end.This declaration was made by the “Lagera” Association on its Facebook page, following the decision by the temporary chief architect of Sofia, Bogdana Panayotova, to order the demolition of the iconic Balkanton building. The site, located on haidushka Polyana Street, is slated to be replaced by seven five-story residential buildings.
The Balkanton building, though architecturally unremarkable and currently in a state of neglect, holds immense cultural significance. It houses tapes containing all recordings from 1952 to the present, including three copies of each record.This makes it a unique monument to Bulgaria’s musical history, as highlighted by Mediapool.
The history of Balkanton dates back to the early 1950s, when it was formed through the merger of nationalized recording companies “Simonavia” and “LIFA Record” with the state-owned Radio-Radio Gramophone Tiles. This consolidation allowed the company to control the entire production cycle—from recording to packaging—making it the sole producer of sound recordings in Bulgaria, as noted by the Webcafe.bg data portal.
Officially opened on February 4,1952,the Balkanton building became a hub of cultural production. The facility, initially a three-story structure, expanded in the mid-1970s with the addition of a new production shop, an extra floor, and two modern studios. At its peak, the company employed over 350 people and produced an remarkable 3.9 million gramophone records annually.
Despite its historical value, plans to transform the building into Bulgaria’s first Museum of Musical Art were never realized. The ”Lagera” Association lamented this missed opportunity, emphasizing the building’s potential as a cultural landmark.
Bogdana Panayotova, appointed as the temporary chief architect by vasil Terziev in July 2024, is nearing the end of her six-month tenure. Her decision to demolish the balkanton building has sparked widespread criticism, with many viewing it as one of her final and most controversial acts in office.
Key Facts About the Balkanton Building
| Aspect | Details |
|————————–|—————————————————————————–|
| Location | Haidushka Polyana Street, Sofia |
| Significance | Houses recordings from 1952 to present, including three copies of each record |
| Established | February 4, 1952 |
| Peak Production | 3.9 million gramophone records annually |
| Proposed Replacement | Seven five-story residential buildings |
The demolition of the Balkanton building marks the end of an era, leaving many to reflect on the loss of a piece of bulgaria’s cultural identity. For more updates on this story and other news,visit StandartNews.com.
