Leading the Belgrade Philharmonic at Kolarac Hall, on Friday, March 1, at 8:00 p.m. will be Former Chief Conductor Uroš Lajovic. The concert will feature Swiss cellist Christian Poltera. The concert program will also include works by Borodin, Prokofiev, and Tchaikovsky.

The Philharmonic’s audience already met Christian Poltera in the 2014-15 concert season, when he made a very fine impression. This time, the cellist will perform Prokofiev’s Sinfonia concertante, written for the legendary Mstislav Rostropovich, who performed it for the first time. This renowned soloist will play on the famous “Mara” cello, which was made by Antonio Stradivari in 1711.

The theme of the fourth concert in the Belgrade Philharmonic’s series “Freedom” is a symbol of freedom-loving ideas in the Russian style. Borodin’s Symphonic Poem In the Steppes of Central Asia, was commissioned by Emperor Alexander II with the desire to celebrate the heroism of the people. Through the vivid music, the listener can clearly hear the marching of Russian troops across the steppe.

The concert closes with the famous Symphony No. 5 by Tchaikovsky. One of the most poignant accounts in history is associated with the performance of this composition, during the siege of Leningrad, when the city authorities ordered the Leningrad Radio Orchestra to perform it regularly in order to uphold the spirit of the people. The Fifth Symphony was performed on October 20, 1941, with live broadcast, which was broadcast on Radio London. At the beginning of the second movement, the bombs began to fall, but the orchestra continued playing until the very last note.

One hundred standing tickets will be on sale at the Kolarac Box office from 7:00 p.m., one hour before the concert.