Having marked its centenary back in 2023, the Belgrade Philharmonic stands today as one of the leading orchestras in the region. International media have described it as a cult Serbian orchestra (The Financial Times), one of Europe’s leading orchestras (The Independent), an orchestra that is boldly taking steps forward (The Washington Post), and an ensemble that demonstrates a strong sense of heritage and pride (The New York Times).

The orchestra reached a new level of artistic excellence under its most recent Chief Conductor Gabriel Feltz, who led the Belgrade Philharmonic from 2017 to 2025, and with whom it undertook numerous ambitious projects that redefined its artistic boundaries.

Over the past two decades, through distinctive and imaginative artistic programming, combined with innovative and creative marketing, the Belgrade Philharmonic Orchestra has built a strong reputation and public recognition. During this time, it has attracted many of the world’s leading figures from classical music. Among them, Zubin Mehta holds a particularly significant place, having maintained a decades-long friendship with the orchestra since their first collaboration back in 1958. Following the political changes in October 2000, Mehta became a frequent guest, a close friend, and a major supporter of the Belgrade Philharmonic, helping raise awareness of the need to improve working conditions for the region’s leading orchestra – from acquiring new instruments to advocating for the construction of a long-awaited new concert hall. During this period, he led numerous gala concerts with the orchestra in Belgrade and abroad, including the Open Balkan regional tour in 2023 marking the orchestra’s centenary. He also initiated the orchestra’s tour in major concert venues in China – Xi’an, Weifang, Beijing, and Shanghai –­ conducted that same year under the baton of Neeme Järvi. In January 2026, the Belgrade Philharmonic Orchestra was honored to perform at the opening of the celebratory season Zubin at 90, marking Maestro Mehta’s 90th birthday in Mumbai, in exclusive appearances alongside Lang Lang and Pinchas Zukerman.

Through its projects, the Belgrade Philharmonic initiates, implements, and supports activities that contribute to social progress, the promotion of tolerance, and regional and international cooperation. Its original concept of New Year’s concerts, celebrating ethnic and religious diversity through music, has attracted significant attention both at home and internationally, and has been recognized and supported by the European Union. Under Zubin Mehta’s baton, the orchestra also gave its first concert in Croatia (Dubrovnik) after the wars in former Yugoslavia. Building on this milestone, the Belgrade Philharmonic initiated and realized a unique regional collaboration among the national philharmonic orchestras of Serbia, Croatia, and Slovenia through the multi-season project titled Pika-Točka-Tačka.

Among the most significant artistic achievements in the orchestra’s recent history are two concert marathons co-produced with the Dortmund Philharmonic, under the joint leadership of Chief Conductor Gabriel Feltz. The Beethoven Marathon took place in June 2022, when the two orchestras alternated in performing all nine Beethoven symphonies in a single day. In June 2025, they reunited in Dortmund for the Rachmaninoff Marathon, performing – once again in a single day – the composer’s first three piano concertos and all three symphonies.

Over the previous period, the orchestra has toured extensively, with acclaimed performances across Italy, Germany, Austria, Switzerland, Sweden, France, Slovenia, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Croatia, North Macedonia, Albania, Hungary, Russia, Oman, and beyond. Among its most significant international highlights include its first tour of the United States, with concerts in Carnegie Hall, Severance Hall, Chicago Symphony Hall and Strathmore Hall (Muhai Tang, 2014), as well as its 2023 tour of China and 2026 tour to India.

In 2017, the Belgrade Philharmonic launched its open-air concert series. More than 30,000 people attended the inaugural event, which made history as the largest open-air classical music concert ever held in the Balkans. Тhe performance was conducted by Gabriel Feltz, with Zubin Mehta as a special guest. The following year, the orchestra broke its own record, attracting audiences counting over 40,000 people to an open-air concert featuring NASA video productions accompanied by live orchestral music. With its performance of Disney’s Fantasia, the orchestra made history as the first ensemble in the world to present this iconic animated production live before tens of thousands of people in an open-air concert setting.

The Belgrade Philharmonic’s programming is further enriched by original educational initiatives for all age groups, including open rehearsals for preschool children and concerts for babies, which remain among the audience’s most popular activities.