The Belgrade Philharmonic Orchestra achieved great success with a concert at the famous Palace of Arts (Müpa) in Budapest, on 20 November. The interest of the public for our orchestra’s appearance, under conductor Fabrice Bollon and featuring violinist Kristof Barati, was huge and the concert was entirely sold out.
 
Conductor Bollon and the Belgrade Philharmonic demonstrated once again, in their first joint guest appearance outside of Serbia, that they are a well-rehearsed team who know each other very well and collaborate excellently.
 
“I am very satisfied with our performance; we have achieved great success. The Belgrade Philharmonic Orchestra has justified the invitation and has proven that it belongs among Europe’s leading orchestras. The fantastic energy, its trademark, fascinated the discerning audience in Müpa – a very significant musical venue”, said Fabrice Bollon, the conductor of an impressive career, internationally acclaimed both in the field of opera and within the symphonic range.
 
The Belgrade Philharmonic opened the concert by introduced the 1600 concertgoers at the prestigious Müpa to Serbian music through the rhythm of Marko Tajčević’s Severn Balkan Dances for Orchestra. Frisky and with a wide range of subtle nuances, reasonably shaped and ethnically shaded, the Balkan Dances enchanted the Hungarian audience.
 
The violinist of the younger generation, Kristof Barati, accompanied by the Belgrade Philharmonic, played Paganini’s Violin Concerto No 1 and Ravel’s passionate Tzigane. A rising star, Barati demonstrated why he has been selected as Müpa’s artist of the season.
 
The luxuriant and magical melodies of Stravinsky’s Firebird were the crown of our orchestra’s appearance in Hungary’s capital city. The orchestra was rewarded with ovations and urged to play encore, so they continued with Glinka’s spirited overture to Ruslan and Ludmila, followed by the Turtledove from the ballet The Legend of Ohrid by Stevan Hristić – the orchestra’s founder and first Chief Conductor.
 
After 36 years, the Belgrade Philharmonic Orchestra returned to Budapest, thus continuing its series of successes on the international scene. Tours and guest appearances are great opportunities for the orchestra to showcase its potential, while at the same time promoting our country and culture, which remains one of our most important commitments.