Belgrade Music Festival Bemus Kicks Off

Under the slogan „Siege of Belgrade“, 44th Belgrade music festival started on Thursday in Belgrade’s Sava Centar.

The EU ambassador in Serbia Vincent Degert spoke at the opening of BEMUS as envoy of EU Commissioner Stefan Fule who expressed support for the festival.

Degert pointed out unique and significant identity of No Borders Orchestra, adding that music is language that knows no borders.

Concert of No Borders Orchestra, formed out of musicians from the former Yugoslavia, played The Piano Concerto No. 5 by Ludwig van Beethoven at the opening ceremony of this year’s BEMUS.

Concept of the concert was different than usual, since the audience could step up on stage and walk, sit down or lay down among musicians.

No Borders Orchestra Conductor Premil Petrovic previously stated for press that this performance will represent deconstruction of the concept of what a classical concert is considered for centuries.

Founded in 1969, the Belgrade Music Festival – BEMUS is the oldest and the most prominent classical music festival in Serbia. Enjoying the position of a cultural event of special importance for the City of Belgrade, BEMUS has been member of the European Festivals Association since 2002.

Belgrade will be „under the music siege“ till October 20th, and concerts will take place in Kolarac foundation, Belgrade cultural centre, Belgrade youth Center, Bitef theatre, Atelje 212 and City Parliament.

Belgrade audience will be able to hear, among others, performances of Paco de Lucia, Alexandar Madzar, Les Arts Florissants and Ana Sokolovic, who has been recognized as a “national treasure” of Quebec by Canadian Parliament in April.