30 November 2007, Friday

Superstar Rihanna arrived Friday in Sofia for a free concert at Alexander Batenberg Square. Photo by Yuliana Nikolova (Sofia Photo Agency)

R&B princess Rihanna arrived Friday in Sofia for a concert, which is part of the European tour of the star.

Rihanna is accompanied by a team of 37 people, 11 of whom will join her on the open-air stage at Alexander Batenberg Square Friday night.

The organizers from Bulgaria's third mobile operator Vivatel announced the event is free for all who want to see the pop idol.

The 19-year-old star is expected to sing her top hit Umbrella and other fan favourites in an one-hour glamour show.

About 300 guards are protecting the singer, who is the biggest contemporary pop star visiting Bulgaria according to music industry experts.

Rihanna received her big break at the age of 15 when one of her friends introduced her to music producer Evan Rogers, who was vacationing in singer's home Barbados.

Rogers, along with his partner, Carl Sturken, helped Rihanna record material in the US, which was sent to various recording companies. One copy of Rihanna's work was sent to Jay-Z, who eventually signed her to Def Jam Records.

Currently, the singer is working with great stars such as Justin Timberlake and the hit producer Timbaland.

By: www.novinite.com