With a gala concert on July 13th in the square in front of the Cathedral of St. Tryphon, KotorArt Don Branko's Days of Music will open the 24th edition of the festival, which will last until August 13th. The premiere will be performed by the newly formed Festival Orchestra of Montenegro, along with the Kotor City Music, the female singing group Đude, the Štiglići klapa and a guslar. Nikola Krivokapić, under the baton of the maestro Mladena TarbukaThe opening bears the symbolic title "Bridges of Music", on the occasion of the 200th anniversary of the birth of Johann Strauss II.
Festival framework: tradition, modernity and regional dialogue
Today's press conference presented over 80 programs, 38 of which are major, bringing together more than 500 artists from 12 countries. The program is diverse and structured around a thematic "frame" dedicated to cultural heritage - from Strauss and the music of the Cetinje court, to contemporary Montenegrin compositions and a chamber opera inspired by the story of Jacinta and the island of Our Lady of the Rocks.
"The Festival's framework, as in previous years, consists of programs dedicated to our heritage. At the beginning, we celebrate Strauss' birthday, raising awareness of his influence and the influence of the then Monarchy on the musical life of Montenegro, and at the end, through a chamber opera, we celebrate Boka, female patience and strength embodied in the life story of Jacinta, a woman who waits, and the island of Our Lady of the Rocks as one of the most beautiful symbols not only of Boka and Montenegro, but of the entire Adriatic. This framework accommodates over 500 artists from 12 countries who will present the artistic world in miniature in a total of 82 programs, 38 of which are major ones," he emphasized. Ratimir Martinović, Festival Director.
This year, the festival will once again preserve the memories of Don Branko Sbutega and Darinka Matić Marović, through an award that bears her name, which will be presented to the composer this year. Aleksandr VrebalovThe 300th anniversary of the publication of Antonio Vivaldi's "The Four Seasons" is also celebrated, with performances of the original and contemporary versions.
World-renowned artists and young cultural ambassadors
Renowned musicians such as Miloš Karadaglić, Alison Balsom, Gabriele Montero, Andrej Gugnjin, the Janoško and Karima ensemble. The premiere of the multimedia work "Walpurgis Night" and programs for children, literature, debate and jazz further expand the festival.
The Festival Orchestra of Montenegro, composed of young Montenegrin artists studying and working across Europe, will symbolically open the festival by performing the Montenegrin anthem. Orchestra Director Teodora Uskoković She pointed out that the orchestra represents the present, but also the future of the Montenegrin cultural scene.
Support, partnerships and public access
The festival enjoys the support of UNESCO, the Municipality of Kotor, the Ministry of Culture and Media, and over 80 partners, including Coca-Cola HBC, Erste Bank, Porto Montenegro, Luštica Bay, EU Creative Europe, Mastercard, the Austrian and Italian embassies and others. Erste Bank, as a long-standing partner, pointed to the symbolism of its connection with Strauss - a shared Austrian tradition spanning two centuries.
KotorArt firmly holds the position of the most important cultural event in the country, and the Mayor of the Municipality of Kotor Vladimir Jokic He pointed out that, if he could, he would leave the organization of all cultural events during the year to the KotorArt team.
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