Sarajevo Philharmonic launches program 'Classics in the Time of Corona'

(Patria) - The Sarajevo Philharmonic will launch a unique program on social networks starting today, April 6, to alleviate the heavy burden of the times citizens are going through due to the coronavirus pandemic, under the title 'Classics in the Time of Corona'.

Director of the Sarajevo Philharmonic Samir Lokvančić states that April 6 was not chosen by chance for the start of this project, as it is a way to show once again that the Philharmonic is an inseparable part of Sarajevo's being. The program is designed for all generations, for those who love classical music, as well as for those who will step into that world for the first time.

'Circumstances are such that as an orchestra we cannot work together, but we have already started activities that will help us return to the stage as soon as possible and shine in full glory. We are working on a program for the start of the new season, anticipating the consequences we might face after the pandemic passes. We will offer a return to the audience in the style and quality that our audience deserves,' the Sarajevo Philharmonic stated.

For the project they are launching, they contacted a large number of soloists with whom they have had successful collaborations, working closely with the artistic director of the Sarajevo Music Evenings Festival, Ninoslav Verber.

In just over a month, the Sarajevo Philharmonic orchestra was supposed to host several leading soloists as part of the SVEM festival, premiere the opera 'Mala Floramy' and the ballet 'Scheherazade', organize children's concerts, and all of this has been canceled.

'The ancient Romans wisely recorded 'Inter arma musae tacent' – 'Amidst arms, the Muses are silent'. A little over a quarter of a century ago, the Sarajevo Philharmonic, like all other artists, showed the opposite; they showed that even amidst cannons, the voice of reason, the voice of universal beauty and genius must be heard. Although cannons are not heard this time, the Muses have fallen silent,' it was stated.

The Sarajevo Philharmonic orchestra, it is added, does not have the production machinery that can respond to the challenge in the way some other orchestras do, so its members have devised a program that will still be able to reach every home and, however shy and quiet it may be at first, make Euterpe, the muse of music, speak again.

'A Children's Corner has also been designed, which will reach every child in an original way with a certain interaction. For the last ten years, they have been working on children's projects with Mario Drmać, who has done his best to establish communication between the orchestra and the youngest audience.

This time, Drmać has surpassed himself and, with our help, created very fun and educational video recordings. In addition to this, we will have a Recommendation of the Day, what to listen to, what to watch. We will strive to include as many people as possible from different segments of society in this idea. When choosing recommendations, we keep in mind that classical music has been used for therapeutic purposes for a very long time, it relaxes us and motivates us to use our capacity for abstract thinking, and it is certainly one of the important instruments for overcoming these difficult times,' the Philharmonic stated.

Ultimately, the orchestra members convey - 'This is a battle in which we all participate, we are all soldiers on the front lines of defense. At this moment, we are not questioning the decisions of the authorities but are carrying out orders to win as quickly and effectively as possible. We are expected to give our best, the best we can. The Sarajevo Philharmonic is also in this fight.'