One of the world’s most renowned conductors, Zubin Mehta, met today with the Serbian President Vucic, to discuss his upcoming regional tour as part of the Open Balkans initiative. One of the topics was also the construction of a new concert hall for the Belgrade Philharmonic in Belgrade.
Serbian President expressed his gratitude to Maestro Mehta for the magnificent performance at the Kolarac Hall, which marked the momentous occasion of the Belgrade Philharmonic – a grand jubilee: the Orchestra’s centenary. The President emphasized the symbolic significance and importance of this concert in fostering cultural cooperation within the region, as it served as the opening of the tour within the Open Balkans initiative, where Zubin Mehta and the Philharmonic will also perform in Tirana and Skopje.
As a true friend of our country, Maestro Mehta has always held Belgrade dear to his heart, returning to it with memorable concerts that captivate the local audience and establish our city as a cultural hub, stated the President. He also commended Zubin Mehta for his longstanding support of the Belgrade Philharmonic, dating back to his first performance in Belgrade over six decades ago.
My deep affinity for your capital and the Belgrade Philharmonic Orchestra, which I keep coming back to, has long surpassed the boundaries of music, emphasized Maestro Mehta. He added that he has seized every opportunity to advocate for a new concert hall, which would not only become a symbol of the Belgrade Philharmonic, one of the best European orchestras, but also a symbol of Belgrade.
The architectural design by Amanda Levit’s London-based studio envisions the concert hall, with a total area of 57,911 square meters, to be the region’s most significant cultural investment in recent decades. Zubin Mehta described this project as ambitious and aesthetically stunning, suggesting that the main hall be named after Ivan Tasovac, who made an enduring impact on the Philharmonic’s history and whose vision was for this facility to be a symbol of a brighter and more sustainable future for the city.
With four halls for performances, rehearsals, and creative work, including a symphonic concert hall with a seating capacity of 1,600 seats, the hall will not only serve as the new home of the Belgrade Philharmonic Orchestra, but also be the first of its kind in the Balkans, recognised internationally for its world-class music performance and contributing to the social, economic, and ecological development of Serbia.
Mr. President expressed his heartfelt appreciation once again for Mehta’s spectacular concert, reaffirming that Belgrade and Serbia would always be a second home to the esteemed Zubin Mehta.
Photo: Instagram.com/buducnostsrbijeav
