Tirana: Historic concert by Zubin Mehta and the Belgrade Philharmonic Orchestra

Source: Foto Marko Đoković/Beogradska filharmonija

Renowned conductor Zubin Mehta performed for the first time last night in Tirana, alongside the Belgrade Philharmonic Orchestra as part of the Open Balkan initiative.

As soon as he stepped onto the stage of the National Theatre of Opera and Ballet, Mehta was greeted with a standing ovation, and the legendary maestro and the Belgrade Philharmonic were met with thunderous applause after their performances of Beethoven's Symphony No. 7 and Berlioz's Symphonie Fantastique.

The concert in Tirana marked a new chapter in Zubin Mehta's illustrious career of over 65 years and in the century-long history of the Belgrade Philharmonic, coinciding with the orchestra's jubilee celebrations in the region.

"I am in Tirana for the first time, and I am very happy to be here together with the brilliant Belgrade Philharmonic Orchestra, and we hope for more encounters in the future," Maestro Mehta told Albanian media.

The National Theatre of Opera and Ballet also expressed their delight at the performance.

"We have been eagerly awaiting the arrival of the great Zubin Mehta and the fantastic Belgrade Philharmonic Orchestra. We feel extremely privileged and honored by the performance you have prepared for us because this is a historic event," Abigela Voshtina, the director of the institution, said in her welcoming remarks to the maestro and the Philharmonic before the performance.

The concert was attended by Minister of Culture Elva Margariti, as well as other ministers of the Albanian government, the Ambassador of Serbia to Albania Slobodan Vukcevic, representatives of the diplomatic corps, and figures from public and cultural life.

The concert by Mehta and the Philharmonic, within the framework of the Open Balkan Initiative, built new bridges with the powerful language of music that knows no boundaries.

The tour, which began with a gala concert at Kolarac in Belgrade, will conclude on June 24th in Skopje at the Hall of the North Macedonian Philharmonic.