Kotor is the center of the European and world festival scene this week

This week, Kotor will host representatives of the European Festival Association (EFA), one of the most influential networks of arts festivals in Europe, while at the same time, a new international success of the Kotor 1842 City Music was confirmed, a performance at the prestigious China Shanghai International Arts Festival (CSIAF), which will be held in October this year.

The arrival of the Chinese festival delegation in Kotor will be marked by a concert by the Simple Neo-Classical Electric Band, which will be held on May 19th at the Museum Square, starting at 20 p.m. The concert will also bring together some of the EFA delegates, who will be in Montenegro during those days for the annual EFA Summit, organized by the Budva City Theatre Public Institution.

During their stay in Kotor, EFA and CSIAF representatives will meet with the Mayor of Kotor Municipality Vladimir Jokić, as well as with representatives of the city's cultural institutions, with the aim of strengthening international cooperation in the field of culture and art.

President of the Kotor City Music 1842 Vladimir Begović He assessed that the invitation to perform in Shanghai was a great recognition for the orchestra and confirmation of the quality of its many years of work.

"Future performances in China represent an exceptional recognition for the Kotor City Music and confirmation of the quality of our many years of work. Guest appearances at the CSIAF open new doors for Montenegrin culture on the Asian continent," said Begović.

Orchestra conductor Dario Krivokapic He pointed out that the Kotor City Music will carefully prepare a repertoire that will best present the rich musical tradition of Kotor and Montenegro to an international audience.

Along with the orchestra, a delegation from the Municipality of Kotor, led by the president, will travel to Shanghai. Vladimir Jokić, together with representatives of the cultural and tourism sectors. The visit is a continuation of the cooperation that began last year, when Kotor hosted a delegation from Shanghai led by the city's Deputy Prime Minister Liu Duo.

The President of the Municipality of Kotor said that the upcoming visit to China will also be used to strengthen institutional ties between the two cities.

"We want to use the trip to China and the important performance of the City Music to strengthen institutional cooperation between Kotor and Shanghai in the areas of culture, tourism and sustainable development. We believe that such exchanges bring long-term benefits to both cities," said Jokić.

The arrival of leading festival actors in Kotor, as well as the performance of the Kotor 1842 City Music Group at one of the largest art festivals in Asia, further confirm Kotor's position on the contemporary European and world cultural map.

Visits by foreign delegations and a concert by a Chinese ensemble are part of the official program marking the 20th anniversary of the restoration of Montenegrin independence in Kotor. KV