The principal hornist of the Berlin Philharmonic, Stefan Dohr will appear with the Belgrade Philharmonic Orchestra under the baton of Uroš Lajovic on Friday, 21 April (Kolarac, 8pm) as part of the series For Beginners. Besides Richard Strauss’ Concerto for French horn and Orchestra No. 2, the repertoire will also include pieces by Beethoven and Bizet. The day after the concert in Belgrade, the same team will perform the same programme in Novi Sad, at the NOMUS Festival.
 
Stefan Dohr is one of the world’s highly acclaimed French hornists. He has played with the leading orchestras around the world, and has been the principal hornist of the Berlin Philharmonic for more than two decades, contributing to its reputation as the world’s best brass section. The famous hornist, equally sought after as a soloist and a chamber musician, is praised for his interpretations and has been named “the king of his instrument”.
 
In his debut appearance with the Belgrade Philharmonic, Stefan Dohr will play Strauss’ Concerto for French horn and Orchestra No. 2. “I love Strauss’ music, especially this piece. Strauss appreciated the French horn very much and, in his compositions, he set very high demands for both the instrument and the performers”, said the famous hornist. “If you are not up to it, do not even try to play Strauss because his music will perfidiously reveal all your weaknesses. However, if you take on the challenge – it will make a hero of you.”
 
Conductor Uroš Lajovic will conduct the Belgrade Philharmonic Orchestra’s performance of Beethoven’s Leonore Overture No. 3 and Bizet’s Symphony No. 1. A day after the concert in Belgrade as part of the regular season, the orchestra will traditionally appear at the Novi Sad Music Festival at the Synagogue, on 22 April at 8pm.