Sarajevo Music Evenings begin on May 13 with a concert by pianist Simon Trpčeski

SARAJEVO, (Patria) - From May 13 to 23, the Bosnian-Herzegovinian audience will have the opportunity to enjoy the sounds of the most famous classical music works performed by world-class artists of today, pianist Simon Trpčeski and clarinetist of today Andreas Ottensamer, at the Sarajevo Music Evenings festival.

The President of the Music Arts Foundation (MAF) and Artistic Director of SVEM, Ninoslav Verber, the Director of the Sarajevo Philharmonic, Vedran Tuce, the Dean of the Music Academy of the University of Sarajevo, Ališer Sijarić, and soloist Simon Trpčeski, presented the rich program of the 29th SVEM at a press conference today.

According to Verber, some of the world's greatest artists always perform at the festival, and their performances in world halls are always met with ovations from the audience.

"Many of these world artists who come to SVEM are not known in our region, but thanks to them and their performances, Sarajevo is known on the world stage," Verber said, among other things, emphasizing that classical music lovers will surely enjoy the program.

In the ambiance of the concert hall of the National Theatre Sarajevo, at the opening concert of this year's Festival, pianist Simon Trpčeski will perform with the Sarajevo Philharmonic under the baton of maestro Ivo Lipanović, presenting a popular work from the opus of Sergei Rachmaninoff.

"I am overjoyed like a child to be in Sarajevo for the first time with a concert in a professional capacity. But I can't believe I'm here again after 30 years and my performance at the Mali šlager in Zetra. I am not surprised by the warmth and hospitality of the people of BiH, and that can always be an additional motivation for every artist, as well as for every person," recalled Trpčeski, an artist, a pianist who has played in the greatest halls in the world.

Although he started with the accordion, and given that Macedonian music has exceptional power, he believed that if approached professionally and sophisticatedly from a compositional standpoint, any composition could stand shoulder to shoulder with classical music.

This was demonstrated by his project "Makedonisimo" with sophisticated arrangements of Macedonian folk dances and several songs. They had the opportunity to present the project through concerts in 15 countries around the world, as well as in our region.

Sijarić and Tuce stated that at the opening concert, the Sarajevo Philharmonic will first perform Ludwig van Beethoven's most popular symphony, followed by a composition for symphony orchestra by the internationally acclaimed contemporary Bosnian-Herzegovinian composer Ališer Sijarić.

In addition to concerts for soloists and orchestra, SVEM will also feature a series of chamber music concerts by top performers in the concert hall "Cvjetko Rihtman", starting with a concert by violist Etleva Karadža and pianist Sonja Radojković, followed by a journey through the history of baroque, neoclassical, and contemporary compositions performed by the Sarajevo string quartet SA Sinfonieta, consisting of Tamara Arsovski – violin, Alma Dizdar – violin, Aida Deljkić – viola, and Belma Alić – cello.

The musical journey through history will conclude with a concert titled Music of the World by the internationally renowned RomAn Duo – oboist Sanja Romić and guitarist Zoran Anić, who will announce the summer with traditional sounds of Spain, Brazil, and Cuba through a specially selected program and arrangements.

The closing concert will be held on May 23, in honor of the 100th anniversary of the Sarajevo Philharmonic, featuring one of the greatest clarinetists of today – Andreas Ottensamer, who has remained at the very top of the world's clarinetists list for years, and who has recently begun to display virtuosity and musical professionalism in the role of conductor.

Andreas Ottensamer will perform as a sensation of this year's festival at the National Theatre Sarajevo with the Sarajevo Philharmonic and SVEM's resident conductor Samra Gulamović.

He will offer the wider public one of the most beautiful compositions for clarinet – the Sonata for Clarinet and Orchestra by composer Johannes Brahms in the orchestration by Luciano Berio.