BEMUS brings together national orchestras

Bemus, the renowned Belgrade music festival, is slated to take place from October 16 to 25, providing a ray of hope during a time when the fate of major festivals like Bitef and Fest remains uncertain.
According to Olja Jacobs, a musical artist and president of the event committee, this year’s Bemus will feature performances by almost all national orchestras in Serbia, signifying a strong symbol of unity and collaboration among institutions. There’s no specific mention of the origins or reasoning behind this diverse program, but it appears to be a creative way of maximizing the likely limited budget. Consequently, audiences will have the unique opportunity to witness multiple national orchestras under one roof, promising an enticing and culturally enriching experience.
The festival’s core activities will unfold at the Ilija M. Kolarac Foundation, kicking off on October 16 with the debut of talented young double bassist Strahinja Mitrović alongside the Belgrade Philharmonic Orchestra, conducted by renowned Italian conductor Carlo Ponti. The evening will feature performances of Giacomo Puccini’s “Symphonic Capriccio,” as well as two pieces by Nino Rota – “Divertimento concertante – concerto for double bass and symphony orchestra,” and the Suite from the ballet “La strada.”
Moving forward, on October 17, the Vojvodina Symphony Orchestra, under the baton of Aleksandar Marković, will showcase pianist Andrej Gugnin in a solo performance of Sergei Rachmaninoff’s widely celebrated “Rhapsody on a Theme of Paganini for Piano and Orchestra.” The orchestra will also present Hector Berlioz’s “Fantastic Symphony” in collaboration with the Vojvodina Symphony Orchestra and the Music Production of RTS.
The festival’s program continues to impress on October 18 with the appearance of renowned violinist Maksim Vengerov, a Grammy Award winner, who will be joined by pianist Polina Osetinskaja. The duo will perform a repertoire that includes works such as Dmitri Shostakovich’s “Sonata for violin and piano,” Franz Schubert’s “Sonatina in G minor D.408,” and Brahms’ “Sonata No. 3 in D minor.”
The cultural journey extends on October 19 with acclaimed mandolin virtuoso Avi Avital and his Trio, featuring clarinetist Ismail Lumanovski and pianist Omer Klein. Avital, known for blending various music traditions and genres, will take the audience on a Mediterranean-inspired musical voyage drawing influence from European, Asia Minor, and North African musical styles.
Concluding the Bemus festival on October 25 is the Symphony Orchestra and the RTS Male Choir, under the direction of conductor Srboljub Dinić, accompanied by tenor Kwonsu John. The evening will feature Franz Liszt’s monumental “Faust Symphony,” delivering a fitting closure to a culturally rich and diverse program curated by the executive producer, CEBEF – Center of Belgrade Festivals.