The Voice of Strandzha Falls Silent: Yanka Rupkina Dies After Stroke

Bulgarian folk music has lost one of its most emblematic voices. Yanka Rupkina has died at the age of 87 after weeks in hospital, where doctors fought to save her following a severe stroke suffered in early March.

Rupkina leaves behind a lasting legacy as a key figure in promoting Bulgarian folklore worldwide, particularly through her interpretations of songs from the Strandzha region. Her international recognition was closely linked to her participation in the vocal trio “Bulgarka”, which brought Bulgarian traditional music to global audiences.

In response to her passing, Bulgarian National Television announced changes to its schedule, airing Rosen Elezov’s film “The Road” as a tribute.

Born on August 15, 1938, though officially registered as August 25, Rupkina completed her education at a nursing school in Burgas in 1954. Her musical talent emerged early, and at the age of 22 she won first prize at a folklore competition in the village of Gramatikovo. This success led to an invitation to audition in Sofia, where she joined the ensemble of Bulgarian National Radio. From 1960 onward, she was a soloist there for three decades.

Over the years, she recorded extensively for the radio archives, released albums through Balkanton, and took part in numerous television productions. Her work often explored new interpretations of traditional songs, while remaining rooted in authentic folklore. She collaborated on various modern projects, including work with composer Dimitar Penev, the trio “Emergency”, and renowned musician Theodosii Spasov.

One of her most celebrated performances, “Kalimanku, Denku”, arranged by Krasimir Kyurkchiyski, gained international attention after Swiss producer Marcel Cellier included it in his acclaimed “Mystery of Bulgarian Voices” collection.

Rupkina also dedicated significant effort to collecting and preserving folk heritage, recording hundreds of authentic songs from Strandzha for national archives and record labels.

Her contribution to Bulgarian culture was formally recognized in 2012 when she received the Order of “St. Cyril and Methodius”. In 2017, she was named an honorary citizen of Burgas.

Her passing marks the end of an era for Bulgarian folklore.