Belgrade Philharmonic Promises 'Largest-Ever' Open-Air Concert

Headed by new chief conductor Gabriel Feltz, the Belgrade Philharmonic Orchestra is hoping to draw tens of thousands of people at an open-air concert featuring classical compositions selected by the public in an online vote.

The event will be held on Sunday, June 25 near the Palace of Serbia building in New Belgrade. Entrance is free of charge.

Feltz says he hopes the event, which is being billed as Serbia's largest ever open-air classical music concert, will attract new audiences from across the country.

"I am fascinated with the subscribers to the Belgrade Philharmonic, whom I meet at our regular concerts. I feel we share a special bond that I deeply care about. That is why I am especially anxious to meet the audience from all over Serbia and the region," Feltz said.

The concert venue is in New Belgrade's Block 13, which is also the site of the planned new Belgrade Philharmonic Orchestra's concert hall. The public tender for designs for the new concert hall closed in January this year, so a construction timetable has not yet been announced.

The orchestra is currently based at the Ilija M. Kolarac Endowment building in central Belgrade.

Famous Indian-born maestro Zubin Mehta, music director of the Israel Philharmonic Orchestra, will be joining the open-air concert as a special guest of the Belgrade Philharmonic Orchestra.

The Belgrade Philharmonic said it was proud to present Mehta's performance as a "special gift to the national and regional audiences".

"I am very pleased that the long-time dream of all people in Serbia who wish for a new concert hall is on the way to becoming reality. I am happy to participate in laying down its 'musical cornerstone' at the grand spectacle that the Belgrade Philharmonic is holding...