Konstantin Iliev was born in Sofia in 1924. In 1946 he graduated from the Bulgarian Music Academy where he had studied composition and conducting. He continued his studies in Prague (1946–7).
Following his return to Bulgaria in 1947 Iliev established the Ruse Philharmonic Orchestra and, two years later, the State Opera in Ruse, becoming its principal conductor. From 1952 to 1956 he was the principal conductor of the Varna Philharmonic Orchestra and thereafter the chief conductor of the Sofia Philharmonic Orchestra, a position he held until 1984. During his tenure he raised the standard of playing to international heights, and toured extensively with the orchestra in Europe, the Americas and Asia.
From 1967 he was professor of conducting at the academy in Sofia; as an advocate of new music, he conducted the Bulgarian premières of works by Webern, Messiaen, and Boulez.
Iliev was a prolific composer who wrote in all genres but principally chose instrumental and symphonic music. Having viewed favourably the direction contemporary music was taking, he was sharply opposed to the folk and romantic traditions, and also opposed to the ideology of socialist realism. He believed that music should be "clear, simple and logical".
In 1948–9 he made his first experiments in applying principles of 12-note serialism to the polyphonic style of Hindemith. This culminated in the Concerto grosso (1950), the third movement of which is a highly effective six-part fugue. The most significant work of this period, however, is his Second Symphony (1951) which demonstrates his mastery of serial techniques.
Of his productions:
Symphony no. 1, 1947
Symphony no. 2, for symphonic band, 1951
Symphony no. 3, 1954
Symphony no. 4, for bass voice and strings, 1958
Symphony no. 5, 1959
Symphony no. 6, 1984
Concerto grosso, for piano, strings and percussion, 1950
Symphonic Variations, 1953
Violin Concerto, 1971
String Quartet no. 1, 1948
String Quartet no. 2, 1952
String Quartet no. 3, 1955
String Quartet no. 4, 1956
Cantata "September 1923" for soloists, choir and orchestra, 1963
Following his return to Bulgaria in 1947 Iliev established the Ruse Philharmonic Orchestra and, two years later, the State Opera in Ruse, becoming its principal conductor. From 1952 to 1956 he was the principal conductor of the Varna Philharmonic Orchestra and thereafter the chief conductor of the Sofia Philharmonic Orchestra, a position he held until 1984. During his tenure he raised the standard of playing to international heights, and toured extensively with the orchestra in Europe, the Americas and Asia.
From 1967 he was professor of conducting at the academy in Sofia; as an advocate of new music, he conducted the Bulgarian premières of works by Webern, Messiaen, and Boulez.
Iliev was a prolific composer who wrote in all genres but principally chose instrumental and symphonic music. Having viewed favourably the direction contemporary music was taking, he was sharply opposed to the folk and romantic traditions, and also opposed to the ideology of socialist realism. He believed that music should be "clear, simple and logical".
In 1948–9 he made his first experiments in applying principles of 12-note serialism to the polyphonic style of Hindemith. This culminated in the Concerto grosso (1950), the third movement of which is a highly effective six-part fugue. The most significant work of this period, however, is his Second Symphony (1951) which demonstrates his mastery of serial techniques.
Of his productions:
Symphony no. 1, 1947
Symphony no. 2, for symphonic band, 1951
Symphony no. 3, 1954
Symphony no. 4, for bass voice and strings, 1958
Symphony no. 5, 1959
Symphony no. 6, 1984
Concerto grosso, for piano, strings and percussion, 1950
Symphonic Variations, 1953
Violin Concerto, 1971
String Quartet no. 1, 1948
String Quartet no. 2, 1952
String Quartet no. 3, 1955
String Quartet no. 4, 1956
Cantata "September 1923" for soloists, choir and orchestra, 1963