On Friday, October 10, at Kolarac Hall (8 p.m.), the Belgrade Philharmonic Orchestra will open its new concert season in grand style, featuring two special debuts – the first of an acclaimed French conductor Alexandre Bloch as well as the new cello genius Pablo Ferrández. The program begins with Lutosławski’s Concerto for Orchestra and culminates in the colorful brilliance of Stravinsky’s Firebird, while the cello soloist will perform Saint-Saëns’s famous Cello Concerto No. 1.

With world-class artists on stage, the Belgrade Philharmonic Orchestra’s new 2025/26 season, titled simply Crescendo, promises a spectacular start. Cello superstar Pablo Ferrández commands an international army of followers, all the while the critics praising him as a pop idol with magnetic stage presence, flawless technique, and electrifying musicality. Often compared to the legendary Pablo Casals and Yo-Yo Ma, Ferrández is a prizewinner of the prestigious Tchaikovsky Competition and an exclusive artist of the Sony Classical. He regularly performs with leading orchestras around the world, and at the world’s most elite music festivals, collaborating with living legends of the classical music such as Anne-Sophie Mutter and Martha Argerich.

His debut with the Belgrade Philharmonic Orchestra will be a true celebration for cello lovers, featuring Saint-Saëns’s Cello Concerto No. 1 – a jewel of the concert repertoire and a favorite among virtuoso performers. Adding to the occasion’s allure is the historic instrument Ferrández is performing on: more than three centuries old the Archinto Stradivarius cello from 1689.

The BPO 2025/26 season’s opener will be in the hands of a conductor whose name is associated with some of the world’s most prestigious orchestras and music institutions. At the podium, from the very beginnings of his career, Alexandre Bloch has stood out for his remarkable musicality, enthusiasm and energy. Today, he is bringing his dynamic artistry to Belgrade. Renowned for his musical sensitivity, infectious energy, and innovative approach, Bloch has built an impressive international career across both symphonic and operatic stages. He will begin his debut performance with Lutosławski’s Concerto for Orchestra, a work inspired by traditional Polish folk melodies, and conclude with the colourful suite from Stravinsky’s ballet The Firebird, a vivid musical masterpiece based on the Russian fairy tale about the magical bird of fire, told through dazzling imagery.

A limited number of tickets remain available at the Belgrade Philharmonic Orchestra’s box office as weak as online.