Belgrade Philharmonic

Absolutely loved having this symphonic blockbuster back on our music stands last week 💫

⭐️ On February 21st, history was made. With Milan Savić as soloist and conducted by Uroš Lajovic, Stojanović’s forgotten concerto was heard live for the very first time.

We’re beyond proud of this project—not just as the season's highlight,but also as a lasting contribution to Serbian music legacy.

With composer Jovana Stefanović reconstructing the solo part from the original manuscript and some long-overdue dusting off, the concerto was ready for its world premiere — after more than 80 years!

The score sat in the archive of the Faculty of Music in Belgrade for six decades—until now. Owing to the initiative of BPO program directors Asja Radonjić and Danica Maksimović, we decided to finally bring it to life in the 24/25 concert season.

Completed during WWII and the occupation of Belgrade, the opportunity to premiere Stojanović's singular Concerto never presented itself. In the years following the war, the composer set it aside in favor of other pursuits.

The piece blends classical form with rich harmonies, complex textures, Expressionistic idioms, folkloric dance rhythms, and jazz influences—reflecting the varied musical landscape of interwar Yugoslavia.

Written in 1942, this was Serbia’s FIRST saxophone concerto. And not only was it entirely unique on the regional music scene, it was also a global rarity—only about 10 concertos for this instrument existed at the time!

His unique style placed him outside of established movements of the time, leaving him on the margins of Serbian music history.

After his passing in 1957, his scores were divided across several institutions, and over time many works faded into obscurity—including the pioneering Saxophone Concerto.

Owing to his years spent abroad, Stojanović's music leaned toward late Romanticism of Strauss and Rachmaninoff, much more than the Romantic Nationalism of his Serbian peers.

A prolific composer, he wrote around 140 works, including 3 operas, 2 ballets, and 14 concertos.

In 1925, Stojanović moved to Belgrade, dedicating himself to music education, composition, and performance.

He taught violin, served as principal of the Stanković Music School, played as concertmaster for the Belgrade Opera, and was also a member of the Belgrade Philharmonic!

Born in Budapest in 1877, Stojanović was part of a specific generation of Serbian composers who were raised and educated abroad.

He studied in Vienna, where he built a name as a composer, conductor, and professor at the Neues Wiener Konservatorium.

Last Friday, we premiered Petar Stojanović's Concerto for Alto Saxophone — a remarkable work nearly lost to time.

Making this performance even more special, is the story behind it... 🧵

A cherished tradition by both the public and the orchestra, these concerts introduce babies to the world of classical music and the sound of a large symphony orchestra, producing a variety of reactions -- and we have to say that
👀 unblinking focus 👀 is our special favorite!

This week's adventures at the Belgrade Phil - Beethoven for babies!

In our extremely popular concert program for children ages 0-2, we present them with Beethoven's first symphony. While lending Ludwig van an ear, babies are encouraged to dance, play and mingle in our "baby pit" 👶

In addition to testing the musicians' endurance, the 5-hour concert also tested the audience's appetites for grandiose projects of this kind — showing that interest for similar concert experiences continues to steadily grow in Serbia 🙌

An international cast of experienced Wagnerians brought the DRAMA in music drama: Heiko Börner, Kelly God, Michaela Selinger, Thomas Lehman and Nicolai Elsberg.

Under the direction of BPO Chief Conductor Gabriel Feltz, the orchestra was joined by the Opera Choir of the Serbian National Theatre.

This unique operatic project in our ongoing concert season, gathered more than a 100 artists — not just on the stage of Kolarac Concert Hall, but in its hallways and galleries.

A culmination of a dizzying two weeks — last Friday, we presented Wagner's "Tristan und Isolde" in concert, for the first time in 50 years 🎉

The @bachtrack.com results are in - the most performed classical work of 2024 was Dvořák’s Ninth Symphony.

We look back on an especially electric moment from our rehearsals of the symphony's grand finale - led by Christian Schumann this past December ⚡️

On Feb 7, more than a 100 musicians will gather on the Kolarac concert stage for the 5-hour performance of this epic music drama.

A stellar international cast of singers as well as the Opera Choir of the Serbian National Theatre, will be joining the Philharmonic on this occasion. Toi toi toi!

"The opportunity to perform this masterpiece even once in their lifetime, is considered a privilege for every musician," shared BPO's Chief Conductor Gabriel Feltz who is navigating the orchestra through Wagner's seminal work this week.

This week at the Belgrade Philharmonic, the keyword is FOCUS as we prepare for the central project of this season - the concert performance of Wagner's "Tristan and Isolde".

As a veritable "who's who" of classical music in the 60s and 70s, this scrapbook represents one of the most important artifacts of the so-called "first Golden Age" of the Belgrade Philharmonic - though the artists' handwriting makes it a more difficult read today 🙃

"The time spent at rehearsals, concerts and recordings will remain in my permanent memory as magnificent and wonderful days. All my thanks," shared Olivier Messiaen after our joint recording of his Turangalîla-Symphonie in 1968, for example...

One of the greatest treasures of the BPO arhive - our star-studded scrapbook.

Mainly throughout the 60s and the 70s, this unique "guest book" was signed by remarkable artists who performed with our orchestra at the time - such as Oistrakh, Rubinstein, Menuhin, Rozhdestvensky... 👇

Everyday Philharmonic details - here are some of our recent favorites from the photo archive 📸

YouTube video by Beogradska filharmonija Te Deum Laudamus (Tosca) - Mandla Mndebele and Belgrade Philharmonic Orchestra

On this day in 1900, Tosca had its world premiere in Rome.

In honor of Tosca's great 125th birthday, we look back on our 2023 semi-staged production of Puccini's masterpiece - Mandla Mndebele as Scarpia sings "Te Deum Laudamus" 👇

The second half of Friday's program is dedicated to Carl Nielsen's Symphony No. 4, on BPO repertoire for the very first time.

Guiding the orchestra through this dramatic work which explores the elemental will to live, is rising conductor Moritz Gnann.

“You know how a tree grows roots into the ground? This is how I feel with this violin. It is basically an extension of who I am,” Gluzman shared in a 2019 interview.

This Friday, the violinist returns to the BPO for the third time for a performance of Shostakovich's Violin Concerto No. 2.

This Friday, we fan the eternal flames of Mussorgsky, Shostakovich and Nielsen in a program led by Moritz Gnann.

Joining us is renowned violinist Vadim Gluzman, playing the legendary 1690 'Leopold Auer' Stradivari.