Q: With this being your debut with the Colorado Symphony, what excites you most about working with our musicians and performing for Denver audiences?
Delyana Lazarova (DL): I’m truly looking forward to meeting and collaborating with the wonderful musicians of the Colorado Symphony for the first time. It’s a special privilege to share the music of Unsuk Chin alongside the powerful and beloved Tchaikovsky Symphony No. 4, and I’m excited to explore both the freshness and the depth these works bring. I’m also especially delighted to be joined by the fantastic Martin Helmchen, an artist whose artistry will make this debut all the more memorable.
Q: What first drew you to conducting, and what excites you most about stepping onto the podium today?
DL: My musical journey began with the violin, an instrument I deeply love, but over time I realized that my true passion lies in music itself. That passion is what continues to inspire me. What excites me most about conducting is the opportunity to share that love of music with both the orchestra and the audience. I see my role as helping the musicians sound their very best and bringing the composer’s vision to life as authentically and vividly as possible.
Q: Every conductor brings a unique perspective to the music. How would you describe your artistic approach and the qualities you strive to bring out in an orchestra?
DL: As a conductor, I believe curiosity is essential — I often describe myself as a professional student. I approach each work with the desire to learn as much as possible: about the composer, the piece itself, the historical and social context in which it was created, and, of course, the score in all its detail. To me, a score is like a deeply personal letter from the composer, and my responsibility is to study every note and marking with care so I can truly understand what he or she is asking of us and ultimately bring it to life in the concert.
Q: Tchaikovsky’s Symphony No. 4 is often described as a journey through fate itself. How do you aim to balance its technical demands with its deeply emotional narrative arc?
DL: Tchaikovsky’s Fourth is a piece where the technical and the emotional are inseparable — the precision of the writing is what allows the music’s raw power and vulnerability to emerge. For me, the challenge is to honor both sides equally: giving the orchestra the clarity and structure it needs to navigate the technical demands, while at the same time encouraging them to play with complete emotional freedom. The symphony is a journey through struggle, despair, and ultimately a kind of triumph, and I see my role as guiding that arc so the audience experiences not just a performance of notes, but a deeply human story.
Q: You’ll be collaborating with soloist Martin Helmchen here on Mozart’s Concerto No. 24. Have you worked together before and what can audiences expect from this performance?
DL: This will be my first collaboration with Martin, and I’m very much looking forward to it. I’ve admired his interpretations of Mozart for a long time—especially this remarkable C-minor concerto. It’s such a profound and dramatic work, and I can’t imagine a more inspiring partner to bring it to life. I’m certain it will be a truly memorable experience for both us and the audience.
Delyana Lazarova Leads the Colorado Symphony
See Delyana Lazarova take the podium October 3-5, 2025, for a weekend of musical magic.
UNSUK CHIN subito con forza
MOZART Piano Concerto No. 24 in C minor, K. 491
TCHAIKOVSKY Symphony No. 4 in F minor, Op. 36
