On November 11, 2025, an emotional event took place at the residence of the Brazilian ambassador in Sofia.

The renowned Bulgarian cellist, Prof. Anatoli Krastev, received the Order of "Rio Branco" – Commander grade, one of Brazil’s highest state distinctions. The award was presented by H. E. Mr. Paulo Roberto Campos Tarrisse da Fontoura, Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of the Federative Republic of Brazil to the Republic of Bulgaria, in the presence of a select group of guests from Bulgaria’s musical elite, as well as members of his family and friends.

The award recognizes Prof. Anatoli Krastev’s exceptional contribution to the development of cultural relations between Brazil and Bulgaria, as well as his long-standing work in the field of music and cultural exchange.

Prof. Anatoli Krastev has indeed done a great deal toward this goal.

As an instrumentalist, with thousands of concert performances across Europe, America, Asia, and Africa over the years, he has performed many times in Brazil.

As a cello professor, the largest number of masterclasses he has conducted -among the many he has led in dozens of countries such as Belgium, France, Greece, North Macedonia, Vietnam, Serbia, Denmark, the USA, and others -seems to have been in Brazil. For example:
1996, Federal University, São Paulo, Brazil;
1997, 1999, Federal University "Musicalistas," Salvador, Brazil;
2001–2004, Meeting of Cellists, Porto Alegre, Brazil;
2002–2004, "UNISINOS" University, São Leopoldo, Porto Alegre, Brazil;
2004, International Music Festival – Petropolis and Rio de Janeiro, Brazil;
2004, Federal University "João Pessoa," Brazil;
2003, 2006, International Summer Course "CIVEBRA" – Brasília, Brazil;
1995, 1996, 1997, 1999, 2002–2009, Rio de Janeiro "International Meeting of Cellists"
(information taken from the website of the National Music Academy "Prof. Pancho Vladigerov").

As a jury member in dozens of Bulgarian and international competitions, he has also served on juries in Brazil:
1993, Fourth National Competition for Young Concert Artists – Bauru (São Paulo State), Brazil;
1995, International Cello Competition, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil;
and others.

In nearly every interview he gives to the Bulgarian media, Prof. Anatoli Krastev speaks with deep affection about Brazil, its music, and its culture. And Brazil loves him in return.

The first person to announce the professor’s distinguished award - emotionally and proudly - was his son, cellist Atanas Krastev, who shared a message on social media:
"I am extremely proud of my father, Prof. Anatoli Krastev, who today received the ‘Rio Branco’ Order from the Embassy of Brazil in Bulgaria, in recognition of his remarkable contribution to strengthening cultural relations between Brazil and Bulgaria."

The photos were provided by the Embassy of the Federative Republic of Brazil in the Republic of Bulgaria.