As part of its weekly online program, the Belgrade Philharmonic is paying special attention this week to the fusion of music and drama. Our listeners will have the opportunity to hear the various projects that the orchestra has performed together with actors Slobodan Beštić, Vladica Milosavljević, and Tamara Krcunović.

In Beethoven’s Egmont, a set of incidental music pieces written for the play of the same name by Goethe, Slobodan Beštić narrates the dramatic story of the life and heroism of the 16th century nobleman Lamoral, Count of Egmont. Together with soprano Vesna Đurković and under the direction of Chief Conductor Gabriel Feltz, the Belgrade Philharmonic performed this work on April 18, 2019 at Kolarac Hall and previously at the closing ceremony of the NOMUS festival in Novi Sad. Now it is on our website as part of our Wednesday audio selection.

Friday’s online program on YouTube presents the intriguing and still groundbreaking Soldier’s Tale by Igor Stravinsky. This masterpiece of chamber music was conceived to combine dance, music and drama. Actresses Vladica Milosavljević and Tamara Krcunović and visual artist Vojislav Klačar, were on the stage together with the musicians. The story of a soldier, who trades his fiddle (soul) to the devil in return for unlimited economic gain, was directed by Vlatko Ilić. The premiere of this piece on YouTube is scheduled for Friday, May 1, at 8:00 p.m.

As part of this week’s program, the Belgrade Philharmonic has published a blog by Gabriel Feltz, in which our chief conductor reveals that through his volunteer work he befriended a Serbian-Croatian family in Germany. From Amsterdam, cellist Maja Bogdanovic greeted the audience and her fellow musicians, sharing her experiences in lockdown. Also this week, the Belgrade Philharmonic remembers its appearance at the Belgrade Marathon, and sends a special birthday greeting to world famous conductor Zubin Mehta, sharing memories of his appearance at our 2017 outdoor concert.