Belgrade Philharmonic Orchestra facts for kids

The Belgrade Philharmonic Orchestra is a famous group of musicians from Belgrade, Serbia. They play classical music together. This orchestra was started a long time ago, in 1923. A very important Serbian composer and conductor named Stevan Hristić was its founder. The orchestra's very first concert was held on April 28, 1923, with Hristić leading the musicians.

A Journey Through Time

The Belgrade Philharmonic Orchestra quickly became very good. It was known as the best orchestra in Yugoslavia. By the 1960s, it was even considered one of the best orchestras in all of Europe!

However, the 1990s were a tough time. There were conflicts in the region where Yugoslavia used to be. Because of this, the orchestra could not travel and play concerts in other countries for a while. It was a difficult period for them, and many musicians left.

In 2000, Belgrade became the capital city of Serbia. The orchestra started to rebuild itself. Many new and young musicians, including some from other countries, joined the group. Their concert hall was also fixed up and made new again. Since then, they have worked with very famous musicians like Zubin Mehta, Sarah Chang, and Nigel Kennedy.

Facing New Challenges

Today, the orchestra is facing new challenges. They need more money to keep playing and growing. In 2009, they even put advertisements in the city's newspapers. The ads said they were available to play at special events like weddings, funerals, baptisms, and other celebrations.

Some people thought this was an unusual thing for a famous orchestra to do. But it actually helped them get support from many young people. This shows how dedicated they are to keeping music alive in Belgrade!

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  Belgrade Philharmonic Orchestra