Behind the poetic name «Atmospheres» stand the personalities of two young pianists – Mila Mihova and Alexandra Dicheva. Different in temperament and nature, they manage to create a harmonious musical unity on stage. Their paths to music have been different. Mila Mihova follows all the usual stages in the making of a musician – she studies at the National School of Music in Sofia and then naturally continues her education at the National Academy of Music «Prof. Pancho Vladigerov.» Alexandra Dicheva, on the other hand, graduates from the Language High School in her hometown Yambol, earning the «National Diploma» distinction from the Ministry of Education and Science. However, instead of pursuing university studies in a different field, she chooses to apply to the National Academy of Music «Prof. Pancho Vladigerov.» It is precisely there, in the class of Prof. Borislava Taneva, PhD that Mila and Alexandra meet for the first time. After successfully completing their bachelor’s and master’s degrees, the two pianists continue their development at the Academy as doctoral students – Alexandra specializing in the field of chamber music for voice and piano /Liedgestaltung/ under the supervision of Prof. Boryana Lambreva, PhD and Mila specializing Piano under the supervision of Prof. Borislava Taneva, PhD. 

Piano duo “Atmospheres” is one of Bulgaria’s leading chamber ensembles, with numerous awards, festival appearances, and an active concert schedule. The duo made its debut in 2017 at the jubilee edition of the International Festival for Contemporary Piano Music «ppIANISSIMO», performing premiere works by the internationally acclaimed Bulgarian composers Penka Kouneva (Bulgaria/ USA) and Konstantin Ilievsky (Bulgaria/ Slovakia). This was followed by a series of significant artistic encounters with renowned musicians who helped refine the talent of the two young pianists and broaden their professional horizons. A key moment in the artistic development of the duo is their participation in the International Summer Academy «isa» (2019/ 2020/ 2021) at the University of Music and Performing Arts (mdw) in Vienna, where they had the opportunity to work with the renowned Silver-Garburg Piano Duo. Mila and Alexandra also completed their master’s program in piano duos under the guidance of the Silver-Garburg Piano Duo at the University of Music and Performing Arts in Graz, Austria. 

One of the driving forces of Mila and Alexandra is discovery—the motivation to explore and perform lesser-known works by both Bulgarian and international composers. The duo has made premiere performances and recordings of Bulgarian and foreign compositions including works by Julia Tsenova and Lora Al-Ahmad at the Tchaikovsky Cultural Center in Moscow, premiere studio recordings of works by Brazilian composers as part of the festival “Musica Rara Brasileira – a series of chamber music from Brazil”, organized by the Zenon Cultural Institute and has repeatedly commissioned and premiered young Bulgarian composers’ music. At the International Festival «Sofia Music Weeks», the duo made their debut with music for two pianos by Alexander Scriabin, Alfred Schnittke, and Sergei Rachmaninoff. This recital earned them the Crystal Lyre Award for 2022 – one of the highest music distinctions awarded in Bulgaria.  

Piano duo «Atmospheres» are also recipients of a scholarship from the Cultural Perspectives Foundation. With the foundation’s support, in January 2023, they realized their large-scale project «Marginals,» which premiered in Bulgaria the complete works for piano duo by Estonian composer Jaan Rääts. The event took place at the Regional Center for Contemporary Arts in Sofia, the music was accompanied by a visual environment designed by the acknowledged stage designer Venelin Shourelov. In spring 2023, duo «Atmospheres» won the Grand Prix at the International Competition «La Musique et la Terre» in Orsay, France. They also recorded a studio version of Maurice Ravel’s suite «Ma mère l’Oye», specially created for an educational music project by the Cultural Perspectives Foundation.  

One of their most recent projects was the Bulgarian premiere of a transcription for four hands and string orchestra of Johannes Brahms’ Piano Quartet, Op. 25, arranged by Austrian composer Richard Dünser, performed during a national tour in five cities across the country. 

«Piano duo “Atmospheres“ is shaping up to be an exceptionally intriguing ensemble with a distinct affinity for contemporary music. The musical sensitivity of Mila Mihova and Alexandra Dicheva makes them captivating storytellers of musical narratives. Their delicate approach to each composition and their ability to build upon the moods in every program they perform will undoubtedly earn them a well-deserved place on the Bulgarian and international music scene. Their ensemble stands out with a musicality and aesthetic that cannot go unnoticed by true connoisseurs of classical music.» 

— Miglena Stoycheva, journalist, Bulgarian National Television  

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