The grand tour of the Belgrade Philharmonic Orchestra in China, celebrating the international centennial of the orchestra, concluded with a spectacular performance at the Grand Theatre in Shanghai on November 17. Much like in the previous concerts, the Belgrade Philharmonic Orchestra, under the baton of Neeme Järvi and featuring the phenomenal violinist Huang Mengla, was bid farewell with long standing ovations.
The Musical Journey of the Belgrade Philharmonic Orchestra across China reached its pinnacle, marking its centenary milestone with the first-ever performance in the magnificent city of Shanghai. The tour culminated with a performance as part of the 22nd edition of the prestigious Shanghai International Arts Festival. Alongside Neeme Järvi, the orchestra showcased Verdi’s overture from The Force of Destiny and Berlioz’s Symphonie Fantastique. Another testament to the global reach of musical paths was the reunion with Huang Mengla, who had already performed with the orchestra back in 2012, during its regular season at Kolarac Concert Hall. This time, they took the stage together in the Grand Theatre of Shanghai, performing Tchaikovsky’s famous Violin Concerto.
I am in awe with the Belgrade Philharmonic Orchestra; this tour has been a fantastic experience. Besides the joy of performing, the key words that describe the Belgrade-based orchestra are absolute professionalism. Playing in an orchestra is a tough job, and Belgrade Philharmonic musicians handle it excellently because they are exceptional musicians first and foremost. More than anything, it is an orchestra that gives it all to create music, expressed conductor Neeme Järvi after the ultimate concert of the China tour.
The Shanghai International Arts Festival is a showcase of the world’s best of the best in classical music. On this occasion, the Belgrade Philharmonic Orchestra was honored with a plaque for its participation in an event that gathered grand names such as Maxim Vengerov, Valery Gergiev, Angela Georgiu, and many others. The tour finale in Shanghai followed performances in Xi’an, Weifang, and Beijing, hailed by Chinese media as a significant success for the Serbian orchestra, stirring reactions from the audience rarely seen before.
