In anticipation of the guest appearance in Moscow on 6 September and the concerts in Belgrade planned for 2 and 3 September, today’s rehearsal was open to the media. Conductor Daniel Raiskin and violinist Nemanja Radulović addressed journalists from numerous media outlets.
 
“I feel as if we were preparing to land on the Moon”, said conductor Raiskin just before the rehearsal with the Philharmonic and Radulović.
 
In his statement to the media, he highlighted that he felt privileged and honoured to have a fantastic relationship with the excellent Belgrade Philharmonic Orchestra, with which he had enjoyed working in recent years, and noted that the opportunity to appear with them in his own home country was a special privilege.
 
“It feels wonderful to be with the Belgrade Philharmonic again and appear on one of Russia’s two or three key scenes – and on top of that, to open the Moscow Philharmonic’s concert season. Russian composers’ works comprise half of our programme, we have an outstanding soloist and a wonderful orchestra, and I can hardly wait for the concert at the Tchaikovsky Concert Hall”, said Raiskin, expressing his hope that the Moscow concert would attract at least the same level of interest as the Belgrade ones.
 
Radulović, who is set to make his Moscow debut on 6 September, said that he was thrilled to be invited to participate in “the beautiful project in Belgrade and Moscow”.
 
The world-famous violinist recalled that he had performed with the Philharmonic musicians at Kolarac in April, for the first time in 17 years, adding that he was excited about continuing this cooperation.
 
“We have joined forces and we will do our best”, said the virtuoso.
 
“I have not had any links to Russia so far, except for the fact that my CDs are sold there. I look forward to getting to know that country and I think that, while I am there, I will be thinking about all the artists who performed there, who came from a Russian background and who were my idols”, reflected the renowned violinist. Tomorrow and the day after, the Belgrade audience will be the first to hear the programme to be performed a few days later at the Tchaikovsky Concert Hall.
 
For its guest appearance in the music capital of the world, the Belgrade Philharmonic has prepared a Slavic repertoire, to be opened with Fantasia on Serbian Themes by Nikolai Rimsky-Korsakov and rounded off with Symphony No 9, From the New World by Antonin Dvořák. Radulović will perform one of the most popular pieces written for the violin – Concerto for violin and orchestra by Aram Khachaturian. “Khachaturian’s Concerto requires high virtuosity and ardour, yet oozes lyricism. This music always inspires me in a special way,” explained Radulović.
 
The Moscow concert is also the Belgrade Philharmonic Orchestra’s first performance in this city in over 20 years.
 
The “Pre-Moscow Nights” at Kolarac attracted immense interest and tickets for both concerts were sold out in only two days – three months ago.