The tenth anniversary festival “Guitar Days in Podgorica” will once again bring a diverse program for lovers of this stringed instrument. From November 27 to December 15, three concerts will be held in the Great Hall of the KiC “Budo Tomović”, but this year, as part of the event, an educational part is also planned, which will be held at the Music School “Vasa Pavić”. Thus, the festival will open on November 27 at 8 pm with Duo Brillante Corde from the Czech Republic, followed by the MP Trio (Montenegro) with a guest at 8:45 pm Božidar Bol Martinović on keyboards. The next concert is scheduled for December 9th, when the young hope of the guitar scene will play in front of the citizens. Petar Nikolic, while after it the audience will hear Huana Lorenza & Anu Sinel from Spain. The last concert, which will also close the festival, is announced for December 15th and the audience will have a unique opportunity to hear Javiera Garcu Morena from Spain, and after him the duo that consists of Lucio Matarazo i Giovanni Massi from Italy.
As part of the educational part, master classes and lectures will be held at the Vasa Pavić Music School. The first in the series is planned for November 28th at 1:00 PM with Vladislav Bláh i Taniom DrobyshThe next workshops on December 3rd include a lecture Sergey and Rusakova on the development of the classical guitar, Juan Lorenzo will also give a lecture on December 9th, while on December 15th guitarists will be able to enjoy a workshop with Javier, Luo and Giovanni who will be performing on the same evening.
"I always try to ensure that every guitarist we invite to the festival brings something truly specific, whether it's expressed musicality, technical virtuosity or an authentic artistic expression that sets them apart. Equally important to me is the kind of program the performer brings to the audience, because in an era when almost all music is available with one click, it's necessary to offer something that will truly motivate listeners to come to the concert and dedicate their precious time to live performance," festival director Srđan Bulatović reveals in an interview with "Vijesti" how difficult it is to create a program that brings something new year after year.
“Today, it is a greater challenge than ever to attract a wider audience to concerts of art music, so I try to select performers in a way that interests both professionals and those who are just discovering the guitar. At the same time, I often choose musicians with a strong pedagogical dimension, because in Montenegro we have exceptionally gifted young guitarists and students. Meetings with experienced professors from abroad give them the opportunity to connect, improve and find their place on the wider international scene. In this way, the festival contributes to their artistic development, which I consider one of its most important tasks,” adds Bulatović.
This year, the festival received support from the Ministry of Culture and Media of Montenegro, the Secretariat for Culture of the Capital City of Podgorica, the Music School "Vasa Pavić", as well as the Embassies of Italy and Spain.
From the very first festival, in addition to the guitar, there has also been a concert of an instrument from the guitar family, and the "Vijesti" interviewee points out that it is very important that the audience is introduced to other variations of the guitar through concerts, and on the very first day, a duo from the Czech Republic will bring the sound of the domra and mandolin.
“It is extremely important for us that the audience gets to know the guitar in all its musical expressions, so we try to present it in the widest possible spectrum - from the classical guitar as a foundation, through flamenco, to the guitar in jazz music. During previous editions of the festival, the audience enjoyed very interesting duets and unusual combinations of instruments in chamber music. So, among other things, we were able to hear how the classical guitar sounds in combination with the marimba and theremin, get to know the sound of the fretless classical guitar, which is also very unusual and characteristic, and we also had the opportunity to see the baroque guitar. And at this jubilee edition of the festival, we continue to explore unusual combinations, and the audience will have the opportunity to get to know the traditional Russian instrument domra in combination with the classical guitar. I can't wait to hear how this unique combination will sound. Our goal is not only to introduce the audience to the diversity of the guitar, but also to give professionals and music lovers the opportunity to discover unusual instruments and interesting combinations that combine tradition with modern musical times,” recalls Bulatović, who does not forget performers from Montenegro, and this time he included a young guitarist in the program Petar Nikolic who has won significant awards at numerous competitions in the region and around the world. As a professor, he believes that supporting young people is very important, as well as ensuring that they start performing independently as soon as possible.
"From the very beginning of the festival, it has been important to us that Montenegrin performers and artists are represented. We strive to ensure that the festival nurtures, year after year, primarily domestic artists, especially young and promising guitarists, because support at this moment means a lot to them. I remember my beginnings, when as a young man I would perform in a professional concert hall, such as the large hall of the KIC "Budo Tomović", that motivated me immensely to continue working and for music and guitar to become my professional commitment. Likewise, young guitarists must feel what it means to perform in a large hall, have a solo concert, feel the stage lights, the audience's reaction and, simply, to temper and train themselves for the job they will do. That is why I am particularly pleased that at this festival we will have the opportunity to hear our most promising young guitarists. That is, I can freely say, one of the most important missions of the festival - the affirmation of Montenegrin artists and providing young people with the opportunity to develop and grow through performances in front of an audience", promises Bulatović.
The world of guitar building is interesting and diverse.
What makes the festival unique is the educational section intended for younger guitarists.
"The educational segment of the festival is extremely important, especially for young guitarists. They have the opportunity to meet experienced professors who come from major music centers, which allows them to connect, exchange experiences and continue their education. This is truly important for the development of our young and talented guitarists, because it gives them the opportunity to develop professionally and build a career," he believes.
This year, there will also be a guitar builder, and Bulatović reveals how much the modern era of industrialization values this craft, and whether unique guitars made in small workshops are valued exclusively by collectors:
"Making a guitar is a very long and demanding process. For a quality instrument, you need top-quality wood, which must stand for at least 15 to 20 years to dry properly before being made. The process of making a guitar itself, when we talk about handmade instruments, takes at least six months. Every detail, from shaping the body to varnishing, requires patience and precision, so it is clear how complex a craft it is. In the world of guitar building, there were famous Spanish families who made instruments of their names famous, but today many of those masters are no longer working. New names are coming with their own models and designs, which makes the world of building very interesting and diverse. Personally, I am more of a supporter of old, traditional classical guitars from the 70s and 80s, which have a special sound and character," he admits, adding that professional instruments are very expensive today.
"Classical guitar prices start at around 4.000 euros. A quality instrument contributes to the performer and inspires him to express himself as best as possible," Bulatović concludes.
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