On Friday, May 8 (Kolarac Concert Hall, 8 PM), the Belgrade Philharmonic Orchestra will perform under the artistic direction of violinist Julien Chauvin, joined by flutist Ana Kaličanin Radivojević,. The program is dedicated to the symphonic genre and features works by Carl Philipp Emanuel Bach and Joseph Haydn.

Under Chauvin’s artistic leadership, renowned for his expertise in 17th- and 18th-century music, the audience will experience the evolution of the symphony in this period. The orchestra will present the graceful and vibrant style of C. P. E. Bach, the most famous son of Johann Sebastian Bach, through the Hamburg Symphony and the Flute Concerto in D minor. Taking the state as a soloist is Ana Kaličanin Radivojević, who spent six years as principal flutist of the Belgrade Philharmonic Orchestra and is now holding the same position with the Vienna Tonkünstler Orchestra.

I am truly excited about my first appearance as a soloist with the Belgrade Philharmonic Orchestra. It feels very much like coming home. I spent six wonderful years with the orchestra, gaining invaluable experience, knowledge, and friendships for life. Although I have been principal flute of the Tonkünstler Orchestra in Vienna for the past two years, every return to the Belgrade Philharmonic – even just as an audience member on a Friday – is a way of recharging. Standing in front of my colleagues now is especially meaningful, as I feel their support and that unique energy only my Philharmonic carries. In the end, there’s no place like home, said Ana Kaličanin Radivojević.

With a remarkable output of 108 symphonies, Haydn is widely regarded as the undisputed father of the genre. The program includes Symphonies No. 39 and No. 45 – the latter famously known as the Farewell Symphony. The piece was inspired by a practical problem: the composer and his court orchestra were performing at Prince Esterházy’s summer residence, but their stay extended longer than expected. Unable to express their wish to leave directly, Haydn devised a subtle solution in the final movement: one by one, the musicians stop playing, extinguish their candles, and leave the stage, until only two remain. The prince understood the message, and the musicians were allowed to return home the very next day.