In today's historically difficult circumstances and challenging times in which we live, my opinion as an artist, a cultural worker and as someone who belongs to this branch, but also to this area, is that the whole art and culture must not be sufficient by themselves, but must additionally be engaged, to comment, influence and ultimately to change those for whom this art is intended - the audience.
In this sense, the entire KotorArt International Festival was conceived as a message of unity with those with whom we share the same values. This was announced by a prominent Montenegrin pianist and director of KotorArt at yesterday's press conference Ratimir Martinović.
The press conference was held on the occasion of the announcement of the official opening of the KotorArt International Festival, which will be held tonight at 21.30:XNUMX p.m. in front of the Cathedral of St. Tripuna in Kotor, when the Symphony Orchestra of the National Theater of Opera and Ballet of Albania will perform, led by the maestro Mladen Tarbuk, while the soloists will be sopranos Olivera Tičević and tenor Ermin Asceric.
"Excerpts from the opera 'Les Montenegrins' by the French-Belgian composer will be premiered Armand Limnander and 'Blackmen' by the Czech composer Karel Bendl, as the results of the work of the Research Unit of KotorArt, and some of the most popular works Bizet, Smetana i Dvorak", the KotorArt spokeswoman announced yesterday Nataša Janović.
Martinović reminded that KotorArt functions as an association of three festivals, i.e. Don Branko's Days of Music, Kotor Theater Festival for Children and Pjaca od Philosophers, and this year it will last from July 1 to August 14. Martinović did not hide the fact that he is proud of the prepared repertoire, which so far includes countless high-quality music, theater and debate programs, he pointed out.
"We have already communicated most of these programs in the previous period, and I am sure that during the festival there will be an opportunity to bring the programs and guests of this year's, very ambitiously conceived, KotorArt closer together. Ceremonial openings trace the path and provide the program framework for the entire festival, and this year is no exception in that regard. The opening itself represents the core of the program idea through the concert 'Montenegro and Europe: music of unity'. This project was worked on during the previous year, more precisely our research unit coordinated by Mrs Dobrila Popović, and she intensively collected materials, information, took photographs and prepared this score for the contemporary performance of operas written during the 19th century and inspired by Montenegro", said Martinović.
He added that a documentary film by the Radio-television of Montenegro dedicated to the two operas will be shown at the opening. The film is edited Branka Banović, and he signs the direction Senad Šahmanović...
"Nothing at our opening is a coincidence, including maestro Tarbuk, as well as our soloists... We want to send a message of true togetherness and commitment to the same values. Also, the circumstance of the rotating presidency of the Council of Europe, from France to the Czech Republic, is precisely on the first of July... The festival will traditionally be opened by the Minister of the Government of Montenegro, from the Department of Culture, Masha Vlaović, and the ambassador of the European Union in Montenegro will speak next to her Kristina Popa, Ambassador of France Christian Timonius, Czech ambassador Janina Hrebičkova, as well as the host, the mayor of Kotor Municipality Vladimir Jokić", announced Martinović.
He pointed out that maestro Mladen Tarbuk, a versatile artist, one of the most prominent composers, conductors, music pedagogues in the Balkans, and who is also active in the field of musicological research, made an immeasurable contribution to the joint project that will open the festival.
Maestro Mladen Tarbuk added at the conference that the opening of KotorArt, one of the most important music festivals in the region and Europe, is happening under a lucky star this year.
"Namely, while researching operas inspired by Montenegro and its struggle for freedom, Mrs. Dobrila Popović found two operas written in France and the Czech Republic in the 19th century, and right now France is handing over the presidency of the European Union to the Czech Republic. That's why the concert program contains clips of the two found operas, as well as the most famous works of those countries, such as the parts of Carmen and Vltava, written at the time of the aforementioned operas," he noted.
Soprano Olivera Tičević from Montenegro pointed out that it is her pleasure to sing at the opening of KotorArt and KotorArt Don Branko's Days of Music this year. The preparation of arias and duets from operas by Limnander and Bendl, inspired by Montenegro, was a unique and interesting experience through collaboration with maestro Tarbuk, the orchestra of the National Opera and Ballet Theater of Albania, as well as tenor Ermin Asćerić, she said.
"I am looking forward to the opening of this prestigious festival and believe that the authenticity of the program will be a great experience for our audience," she said.
The tenor from Bosnia and Herzegovina, Ermin Asćerić, also said that he is honored to perform at the opening of the festival as part of a large project, which is one of the most significant and largest projects in this part of Europe.
"When I got the invitation and when the organizers presented to me what should be done at the concert and what I should sing, I experienced it as a really big challenge considering that it was not popular music or something that I knew at the time. And when I looked at the sheet music and everything, it seemed very interesting to me, just like the background story presented by the maestro and Olivera that further caught my attention. I wanted to give my contribution in order to do it in the best possible way and I am truly glad that I am a part of everything and that we started a collaboration that, I believe, will continue in the future. I hope that they will be as satisfied with me as I am with them", said Asćerić and pointed out that the cooperation went well at all levels.
Festival spokeswoman Nataša Janović announced that the upcoming Don Branko Days of Music will host almost 500 artists from 16 countries in more than 200 programs, of which 42 are main and over 170 supporting, and all of this represents an extremely rich, unique, eminent and high-quality cultural event. a scene that Kotor can be proud of both during the entire KotorArt festival and in the future.
Support from institutions and foundations from all over the world, with independent efforts
The festival is held under the patronage of the Ministry of Culture and Media and the Municipality of Kotor, and with the support of the European Union through the Creative Europe program and many other partners. All this speaks in favor of the international character and importance of the festival, but also the hard work, dedication and efforts of the organizers, who independently provide 60 percent of the budget.
"The presence of 10 embassies (United States, Czech Republic, France, Germany, Hungary, Romania, Austria, China, Croatia, Italy), ministries of neighboring countries (Croatia, Serbia and Albania), universities from Montenegrin to California, international funds, from Kreativna Europe through the fund for the Western Balkans to the Open Society Fund, the Share Foundation, and ERIAC, all the way to the sponsors - the Ministry of Culture and Media and the Municipality of Kotor, speak in favor of the truly international profile of the Festival. What I want to emphasize here is that KotorArt Don Branko's days of music independently provide 60 percent of the total funds of our budget, which amount to almost half a million euros this year," said Martinović.
The program, which KotorArt will start tonight, was supported by the Delegation of the European Union in Montenegro, the embassies of France and the Czech Republic, the French Institute in Montenegro, the Ministry of Culture of Albania, RTCG and the company Valgo.
Bonus video:
