Opening on July 13th: The 25th KotorArt Festival begins with the Duration program

The twenty-fifth edition of the International KotorArt Festival will be officially opened on Monday, July 13, on the Statehood Day of Montenegro, on the Square in front of the Cathedral of St. Tryphon, starting at 21:30 p.m., with an event symbolically called Duration.

This was announced today by KotorArt.

"In the year when the Festival celebrates a quarter of a century of existence, the grand opening brings a program that connects cultural heritage, contemporary creativity and the culture of memory, confirming the values ​​on which KotorArt has been based for 25 years. The concert will feature the Boka Symphony Orchestra, the Academic Choir Ivan Goran Kovačić, Mihaela Kristina Mlinarić, soprano, Reza Fekri, tenor and Krešimir Stražanac, baritone-bass, under the conductorship of the prominent Croatian composer and conductor Mladen Tarbuk," the statement states.

KotorArt added that this year's grand opening is dedicated to two significant anniversaries.

"The festival marks the 120th anniversary of the birth of Ivan Brkanović, a native of Kotor and a significant Croatian and regional composer, whose monumental work Triptych will be performed. At the same time, KotorArt pays tribute to Don Branko Sbutega, one of the founders of the Festival, on the occasion of the 20th anniversary of his death, recalling the man whose vision left an indelible mark on the cultural life of Montenegro. A special event of the evening will be the world premiere of the composition Songs to Music, which, commissioned by KotorArt, was written by maestro Mladen Tarbuk to the verses of Don Branko Sbutega," the statement reads.

Speaking about the creation of the work, Tarbuk points out: "Don Branko's poems outline the distant horizons of his thoughts, traveling from warm birthday greetings to reflections on the spiritual mystery of the world. A special place is occupied by poems that stem from his understanding of music as what sound hides beneath. Don Branko started from music to build a poetic arc, and I close that arc by returning his verses to music again."

The composer adds that he has chosen songs of different character, from reflective and meditative to strongly rhythmic, building a cycle that begins with Etude 3, continues with a song inspired by Beethoven, then with poetic reflections on the piano and creation, while the final Toccata, inspired by Bach's famous composition, develops into a celebration of music and life.

The KotorArt statement states that the host of this year's opening ceremony is the Boka Bay Symphony Orchestra, an ensemble founded with the mission to unite musicians from Boka Bay and contribute to the development of symphonic art in Boka Bay.

"Under the artistic leadership of Mladen Tarbuk, the orchestra is developing into a recognizable cultural symbol of Kotor, Boka Bay and Montenegro. The concert will be given a special dimension by the participation of the Ivan Goran Kovačić Academic Choir, one of the most respected and awarded Croatian choirs, which has been synonymous with artistic excellence for almost eight decades. Throughout its rich history, the choir has collaborated with the world's greatest conductors and artists, including Zubin Mehta, Yehudi Menuhin, Krzysztof Penderecki, Ennio Morricone and Valery Gergiev, performing on the most important European and world stages," the statement reads.

KotorArt said that the solo parts will be performed by three exceptional artists of the younger and middle generation.

"Soprano Mihaela Kristina Mlinarić, one of the most promising Croatian artists, has already distinguished herself with notable performances in opera and concert projects. Tenor Reza Fekri, a member of the Croatian National Theatre Opera in Zagreb and a guest soloist of the Mariinsky Theatre in St. Petersburg, has achieved an international career performing with numerous orchestras across Europe and Asia. Baritone-bass Krešimir Stražanac is one of the most successful Croatian opera artists of today, performing with leading world orchestras and in prestigious concert halls in Europe and the USA. The conductor of the evening, Mladen Tarbuk, one of the most significant Croatian composers and conductors, has achieved a rich international career, collaborating with leading European orchestras and opera houses. His compositions have been performed at the world's most important contemporary music festivals, and as a conductor and artistic director he has left a deep mark on numerous cultural institutions in the region," the statement reads.

KotorArt said that the grand opening of KotorArt has been one of the most important cultural events in Montenegro for years, bringing together a large number of art lovers, representatives of the diplomatic corps, state institutions, international organizations, cultural institutions, partners, sponsors and a loyal festival audience.

"In the setting of one of the most beautiful squares in the Mediterranean, the Duration concert will be a worthy start to the jubilee with which the Festival celebrates its past, but also confirms its vision for the future – through art that connects people, preserves memories and creates new values. Tickets for the event are available through the GigsTix network, via their website. www.gigstix.me as well as at certain Tobacco S Press kiosks throughout Montenegro," the statement concludes.