This episode of BBNYCO features traditional Bulgarian Gypsy Music. Formerly known as Yuri Yunakov, Michael Yuri is a phenomenal saxophonist from Bulgaria with Roma (Gypsy) roots. After seeing his ensemble perform, the New York Times wrote, “They played as if Bulgaria’s national drink were rocket fuel.” A member of the famed Gypsy Caravan Tour, the ensemble has performed at Lincoln Center, The Kennedy Center, The Smithsonian Institution and throughout the United States and abroad. In this program, Yuri presents a range of wedding songs, polyrhythms, and regional genres from Bulgaria and the Balkan world of music.