On Friday, April 24 at 8 PM, at Kolarac Hall, the Belgrade Philharmonic Orchestra pays a special tribute to Isidora Žebeljan, in a concert featuring Stefan Dohr, principal horn of the Berlin Philharmonic and under the baton of Christian Reif. Alongside Žebeljan’s Dance of Wooden Sticks, the orchestra will perform Temples of Moesia, a Belgrade Philharmonic’ commission by Veljko Nenadić, inspired by the ideas and themes of Žebeljan’s unfinished Horn Concerto.

One of the most significant concerts of the Belgrade Philharmonic Orchestra’s season comes full circle by celebrating the legacy of Isidora Žebeljan, Serbia’s most prominent contemporary composer. The Belgrade Philharmonic had originally commissioned a Horn Concerto from Žebeljan for Stefan Dohr. Tragically, her untimely passing prevented her from completing the work, which was scheduled to be premiered during the 2020/21 season. Continuing to honor her legacy, the orchestra commissioned her former student, Veljko Nenadić, to create a new piece based on her musical ideas.

Starting from the idea of the temple not only as an architectural structure but as a symbol of an archetypal spiritual space, Temples of Moesia – Hymns for Horn and Orchestra draws its musical and extra-musical inspiration from the mythical, ritual, and spiritual heritage, as well as the broader historical and cultural legacy of ancient Moesia — a Roman province south of the river Danube, encompassing parts of present-day Serbia and the Balkans […] The work is dedicated to Isidora Žebeljan, and its musical fabric weaves in fragments, motifs, and themes from her unfinished Horn Concerto, originally commissioned by the Belgrade Philharmonic Orchestra, said Veljko Nenadić.

Žebeljan’s long-time collaborator Stefan Dohr returns to perform with the Belgrade Philharmonic, opening the concert on Friday with her Dance of Wooden Sticks for horn and string orchestra. The evening concludes with another remarkable work, often described as a piece composed twice – Schumann’s Symphony No. 4, conducted by Grammy Award winner Christian Reif. Already familiar to Philharmonic audiences, Reif has built a reputation as an artist of exceptional musicality, innovative programming, and outstanding technical precision.

Tickets are available at the Belgrade Philharmonic Orchestra’s box office as well as online.