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Emil Tchakarov was born on June 29, 1948 in Bourgas, Bulgaria. He began playing violin at age six and entered the Conservatoire de Sofia in 1962, directing its youth orchestra from 1965 to 1972. In 1971, Tchakarov won third prize in the Herbert von Karajan International Conducting Competition. He assisted Herbert von Karajan at Berlin and the Salzburg Festival, and studied at Hilversum and Tanglewood. From 1975 to 1978, he served as chief conductor of the Plovdiv Philharmonic Orchestra. Tchakarov made his debut at the Metropolitan Opera in New York in 1979, conducting notable operas such as "Eugene Onegin" (1979–1980) and "Boris Godunov" (1990). He led orchestras worldwide, including the Leningrad Philharmonic Orchestra. In 1986, Tchakarov founded the Sofia Festival Orchestra, which he conducted until his death on August 4, 1991.