Orchestra calls off Europe tour ‘due to turbulent conditions’
OrchestrasMessage received:
The Belgrade Philharmonic Orchestra regrets to announce its withdrawal from a planned Austrian-German tour project, which was to include concerts in Vienna, Viersen, Stuttgart, and Wiesbaden from November 5th to 9th, together with Chief Conductor Gabriel Feltz and violinist Nemanja Radulovic – violinist. These concerts were the result of significant work invested by the Belgrade Philharmonic in preparation for its centenary celebration in 2023, with notable efforts made by the concert promoters striving to present the Serbian ensemble in as many European centres as possible during this significant jubilee year.
However, the ongoing global instability and its impact on the classical music market, and particularly on travel of large symphonic ensembles, has painfully hit the Serbian orchestra as well. Despite its many efforts, the Belgrade Philharmonic Orchestra assessed that it would not be able to deliver the tour as planned without endangering the viability of the institution. Therefore, it is with great reluctance and a heavy heart that the management of the Belgrade Philharmonic Orchestra made the difficult decision to withdraw from the tour [featuring our Chief Conductor Gabriel Feltz and soloist Nemanja Radulović.]
The Belgrade Philharmonic Orchestra is well aware of the challenges and difficulties this decision poses to the tour promoters, and we wish to thank each one for its understanding. The entire Belgrade Philharmonic Orchestra organisation extends its deepest apologies to them, and especially to their valued audiences, as well as to Gabriel Feltz, Nemanja Radulović, Opus3 Artists, and IMG Artists. Having experienced numerous unforeseen challenges in recent seasons due to turbulent developments in the world of classical music, the Belgrade Philharmonic hopes that better conditions, as well as a more stable and secure environment in the classical music market, will allow the Orchestra to present itself in the future to music enthusiasts in the cities of Austria and Germany.
Sorry, but I call shenanigans on that. What “global instability” could possibly affect travel between Serbia, Germany and Austria? Just admit that ticket sales were disappointing.
Are you aware of what’s going on between Serbia and Kosovo currently? Though with Serbia as the aggressor. Might have something to do with that.
No.Money was the issue.
No politics is involved.
None of what is going on with Kosovo affects travel to Germany or Austria. And the Belgrade Philharmonic was just in Germany last season.
This cancellation is highly regrettable.
In recent years, the Belgrade Philharmonic has established itself as the premier symphony orchestra in the Balkans sans pareil.
Its recent mini-tour to Tirana and Skopje under Zubin Mehta provided ample evidence of the orchestra’s overall excellence and was rightly received by both audiences and critics with stupendous acclaim.
Despite having Bogdan Roščić as Intendant of the Wiener Staatsoper, the large Serbian population in Vienna is not always regarded with unalloyed affection by the self-approving, subtly xenophobic locals.
This tour would have been a wonderful opportunity to show the Viennese that they are not the only musicians around who can produce a silken sonorous string sound within an absolutely first-rate ensemble.
One hopes that this tour project will not suffer the fate of so many worthwhile endeavours in the Balkans which have faded and disappeared due to fainéant disinterest or an endemic expectation of failure.
“…with notable efforts made by the concert promoters striving to present the Serbian ensemble in as many European centres…” I count only one, Vienna.
Yes. Most of these cities are neither “European centres”, nor do they have a meaningful Serbian diaspora that could have turned out in droves to to hear the orchestra.
Hello MK. I beg to differ.
Vienna is most definitely a ‘European Centre’ (especially in terms of classical music) and the Serbian community there numbers over 100,000 – which in a city of under 2 million is most definitely a ‘meaningful’ figure.
I said “most”, not “all”. Please read more carefully. Viersen and Wiesbaden miss the biggest centers of the Serbian diaspora in Germany by a long shot. And even Stuttgart with under 6,000 is weak.
You missed the point.
We as orchestra have had many tours in the past, audience was always full….
What a pity! I was looking forward to visiting one of their concerts since they do not go on tour often. Nemanja Radulovic was excellent choice of soloist, I’m sad, this event will not take place!
The tragic decision is understandable in our tragic world. Great music is a precious gift to humanity. No one has the right to deny it from us.
Logistically this seems not such a tough tour, with a pantechnicon requiring a single day to travel from Belgrade to Stuttgart. Other factors are at play.