Aug. 29 – “A hundred years from the beginning of the Great War, the massacres bring us together, to build a future of peace, freedom and democracy, in the name of knowledge, dialogue, solidarity and respect for human rights.” Says Sira Miori, director of the Italian Cultural Institute in Belgrade and Area Coordinator, as she presents the Concert for Europe that will take place tomorrow with the Orchestra of the “Cento Ragazzi.” The concert is part of the World War I centenary celebrations, and will take place tomorrow (at 8pm) at the headquarters of the “Ilija M.Kolarac” Foundation in Belgrade. The next day, on August 31, the Orchestra will perform in Novi Sad (Synagogue, 8.30pm). The 100 young musicians will be directed by Maestro Alberto Cabbages (Italy), Maestro Goran Uzelac (Serbia) and Maestro Primož Kerštanj (Slovenia). The Orchestra of the Cento Ragazzi is composed of the best music students, aged between 12 and 20, in Italy, Austria, Slovenia, Serbia and Macedonia. These countries a hundred years ago were fighting on opposite sides in the war, but the young performers did not bear witnesses to the bloodshed and slaughter of the two world wars. “Their great grandparents fought, under the mindless call of nationalism and dictatorships – explains a note from the IIC – Today, these hundred performers share common ideals of learning, mutual understanding and artistic collaboration in the context of constructive knowledge, intercultural dialogue and exchange.” Thanks to the collaboration and support of the Italian Cultural Institute and the City of Belgrade, the young musicians are also attending a series of seminars held by musicologists and specialists on individual musical instruments, in order to deepen their education and acquire new knowledge about Europe’s musical traditions. At the end of the workshops, the performers themselves will prepare the two concerts.
