On Friday, February 8, the Belgrade Philharmonic will offer one of its most interesting programs of the season, featuring the Branko Krsmanović Academic Cultural Society’s Obilić Choir and an exclusive soloist from the Vienna Boys Choir, performing Leonard Bernstein’s Chichester Psalms, under the baton of Maestro Howard Griffiths, at Kolarac Hall, at 8:00 p.m.

The Belgrade Philharmonic’s “Ascension” series of concerts centers on religious themes and the third concert in this series brings a different twist. Although J. S. Bach was extremely spiritually engaged, the Belgrade Philharmonic will perform Suite No. 3. from his secular opus. On the other hand are the Chichester Psalms, a spiritual composition by Leonard Bernstein, one of the most important 20th century composers. Even though he is known to the wider public for his works closer to the popular music genre, Bernstein has created a religious work that celebrates life and displays spirituality in an authentic way.

The Chichester Psalms will feature Dorian, a member of the famous Vienna Boys Choir, which has a tradition of over five centuries. Today this choir has a hundred members aged nine to 14, divided into several groups that are on tour and heard by nearly half a million people around the world every year. Together with Dorian, as soloist, and the Obilić Choir, the Belgrade Philharmonic will evoke Bernstein’s unique mix of Jewish biblical verses, Christian choral tradition, and jazz.

Concluding the evening’s concert will be Symphony in D minor, a masterpiece by a highly religious composer, César Franck. His sense of spirituality has a lot of similarities with Bach’s, thus rounding off this concert thematically.

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