On Friday, January 17, the Belgrade Philharmonic Orchestra kicks off 2025 with a stunning performance under the baton of Moritz Gnann, joined by renowned violinist Vadim Gluzman (Kolarac Concert Hall, 8 PM). The program includes Shostakovich’s Violin Concerto No. 2, featured by one of the world’s most sought-after violinists Gluzman, as well as works by Mussorgsky and Nielsen.

Hailed as one of the most accomplished violinists and most distinguished artists of our time, Vadim Gluzman returns to the Belgrade Philharmonic for his third collaboration with the orchestra. Known for his expansive repertoire and performances in the world’s most prestigious concert halls, Gluzman is also celebrated for his impressive catalog of award-winning recordings for major labels. Showcasing his artistry on the legendary 1690 Stradivarius violin, Gluzman will perform Shostakovich’s Violin Concerto No. 2—an often-overlooked and rarely heard masterpiece, originally composed as a 60th birthday gift for David Oistrakh, who premiered the work himself.

The Belgrade Philharmonic Orchestra opens the Friday night concert with Mussorgsky’s romantic gem, Night on Bald Mountain, and concludes with Carl Nielsen’s Symphony No.4. About the symphony, also subtitled The Inextinguishable, the Danish composer famously said: Music is life, and like life, it is inextinguishable. While Nielsen never explicitly confirmed it, the piece is widely regarded as a powerful artistic response to the devastation of World War I.

A limited number of tickets are still available at the Belgrade Philharmonic Orchestra’s box office and online.