Education
From 1901 until 1903 he studied composition at the Rossini Conservatory in Pesaro with Pietro Mascagni.
From 1901 until 1903 he studied composition at the Rossini Conservatory in Pesaro with Pietro Mascagni.
A native of Plovdiv, Atanasov began formal musical studies in Bucharest at the age of 14. Upon receiving his diploma with the title of "maestro", he adopted the word as his formal style of address. He returned to Bulgaria soon after, becoming well known as a leader of military bands.
He conducted the Sofia National Opera for the 1922/23 season.
Atanasov was the first professional Bulgarian opera composer. His style is Italianate, melodic and bearing the influence of folk idioms.