On Friday night’s concert on May 17th, the Belgrade Philharmonic Orchestra will showcase the repertoire of rich tapestry of Latin Rhythms. Under the baton of Gerald Karni and joined by violist Boris Brezovac and cellist Daniel Müller–Schott, the orchestra will perform Don Quixote by Strauss, alongside Debussy’s Ibéria and Márquez’s Danzón.
The vibrant essence of Spain and Latin rhythms at the heart of this concert’s repertoire is awaiting the audience on Friday. Cervantes’ famous chivalric novel and the adventures of Don Quixote are artfully translated into music through Richard Strauss’s magnificent symphonic poem. With the cello taking center stage and the viola painting the character of Don Quixote’s faithful servant, Sancho Panza, German cellist Daniel Müller–Schott, alongside local talent violist Boris Brezovac, brings the beloved adventures to life, such as battling windmills, encountering pilgrims, or riding in the enchanted boat. Under the baton of maestro Gerald Karni, an acclaimed conductor and recipient of the 2023 Georg Solti Career Assistance Award, listeners will be transported into the fantastical sonic world of Strauss’s score.
Further exploring the Spanish landscape, the Belgrade Philharmonic Orchestra continues with Debussy’s Ibéria, an orchestral piece that captures various scenes from a Spanish town with its colorful orchestration and lively rhythms. From the hustle and bustle of the morning to the melancholic hues of dusk, the piece culminates in a vibrant finale, echoing the sounds of street musicians and entertainers.
The climax of the Philharmonic’s concert will be the renowned Danzón by Arturo Márquez, also known as the second Mexican anthem, primarily due to its fiery Latin rhythms and frenetic optimism characteristic of the ball room. This piece gained widespread popularity in Serbia thanks to the Belgrade Philharmonic Orchestra that performed it as the winning audience’s choice of the repertoire for the inaugural open-air concert held at Usce Park back in 2017.
