Dramatic Egmontat the Philharmonic

The Belgrade Philharmonic and Chief Conductor Gabriel Feltz are preparing two performances: the official closing of the NOMUS Festival in Novi Sad, on Thursday, April 18, and a day later a concert as part of the regular season at Kolarac Hall, on Friday, 8:00 p.m. For the first time, they will be joined by renowned actor Slobodan Beštić and soprano Vesna Đurković in Beethoven’s famous Egmont, as well as Michael Martin Kofler, the Munich Philharmonic’s principal flutist, in Nielsen’s Flute Concerto.

The focus of this program is Beethoven’s incidental music pieces for the play Egmont by Johann Wolfgang Goethe, which gives the audience a rare opportunity to hear the whole music written for this play. Actor Slobodan Beštić will assume the role of narrator, who will convey the story of the heroism of this 16th century Flemish nobleman in the fight against the Spanish invaders, while soprano Vesna Đurković will invoke the lyrical moments. The work shows Beethoven’s penchant for drama and stage, and especially his fascination with Goethe. However, his creativity did not capture the poet’s affections immediately. After the composer’s death, Goethe, a true worshiper of Mozart, wrote that Beethoven would be better known to future generations for his music than he for his poetry.

The program opens with Finlandia by Jean Sibelius. The Belgrade Philharmonic is honored to perform for the first time with Michael Martin Kofler, solo flutist of the Munich Philharmonic, who will perform the attractive Concerto for Flute and Orchestraby Scandinavian composer Carl Nielsen. Also, this distinguished musician will hold a master class for students of the flute from all over Serbia, at the Belgrade Philharmonic, on Wednesday, April 17.