28.05.2025.
Stanislav Binički Ensemble, Austrian Guards Band hold joint concert
The Art Ensemble of the Ministry of Defence “Stanislav Binički” and the Guards Band of the Austrian Armed Forces held a joint concert at the Central Military Club in Belgrade tonight.
Acting Assistant Minister for Defence Policy Predrag Bandić said that the two bands’ joint concert was an opportunity to celebrate friendship and mutual respect between the two countries.
- Our host tonight is the Art Ensemble of the Ministry of Defence “Stanislav Binički”, a representative establishment subordinate to the Public Relations Department, whose high artistic criteria and rich diversity in musical programme make it an eminent representative of the Serbian culture and artistic tradition. The Austrian Armed Forces Guards Band is certainly captivating and comes from the capital of European music that has produced classical composers and creators whose music has been enjoyed by generations. We are happy that tonight, together with them, we will enjoy a special, rich and carefully selected programme that will fly us up on the wings of musical expression - a universal value that speaks a universal language and knows no borders - said Assistant Minister Bandić, inviting the audience to enjoy the musical programme.Addressing the audience, the Ambassador of Austria to Serbia, H.E. Christian Ebner, said he was delighted to announce a special concert and a joint performance of the Serbian and Austrian bands.
- This special musical evening is a powerful expression of the close ties between our two countries. It reflects the long-standing friendship between our institutions, firmly based on shared history and mutual interests. Let us enjoy the performance of these fantastic musicians, who represent their nations with artistic excellence and commitment – said the Austrian Ambassador.
The first part of the concert was performed by the Austrian Guards Band, conducted by Col. Bernhard Heher and Lt. Hans Gross. The band played famous marches and waltzes by Johann Strauss - the “Entrance March” from the operetta “The Gypsy Baron”, "The Viennese Waltz", "The Blue Danube Waltz", “A Night In Venice: Overture” and “The Radetzky March”. The Belgrade audience listened to the compositions performed by the big Austrian brass band with great interest.
"Stanislav Binički” members chose a refined and demanding musical programme for this occasion - from Mozart, Offenbach, Mascagni, to the "Grand Old Town Waltz" by Fedor Vrtačnik and Korsakov’s “Fantasia on Serbian Themes". Violin soloist Uroš Kovandžić performed "Meditation" by Jules Massenet, and soprano Biljana Vasiljević Mitrović performed an aria from the opera "The Czardas Queen” by E. Kalman. Under the batons of conductors Katarina Bozić and Lt. Col. Aleksandar Đurov, the orchestra concluded their performance with a famous composition "March on the Drina River", drawing huge applause and ovation from the audience.
After their first joint concert held at the Sofiensäle Concert Hall in Vienna late last year, tonight's performance was a part of an endeavour to continue and strengthen cooperation between the two countries in the field of military music and to promote international military cooperation in the field of culture.
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