The first No Borders Orchestra concert took place at the Opening of the 44th Belgrade Music Festival (BEMUS) on 11 October 2012. After rehearsal sessions and workshops in Kanjiza which were led by musicians from distinguished German orchestras and hosted by the Regional Creative Atelier Jozsef Nagy, the inauguration concert took place on the stage of Sava Center. The stage provided space for both, the musicians and the audience, thus creating a unique creative atmosphere and close communication between usually strictly separated bodies in a standard concert performance. The inauguration concert received utmost positive reviews. The programme for 2013 and beyond is prepared and includes appearances in a series of festivals throughout Europe. “On a specially arranged stage, in a whirlpool of electricity, in the audience vibrating with different generations and sensibilities, gathered for the event as if from an unknown planet and deeply immerged in expecting miracles of sounds, we finally met the No Borders Orchestra,” wrote Zorica Kojić of the Daily Newspaper Danas. The programme included: • Sergei Prokofiev: Symphony No.1 in D major – Classical • Ludwig van Beethoven: Piano Concerto No.5 in E-flat major Op.73 – Emperor • Charles Ives: The Unanswered Question • Zoltán Kodály: Dances of Galánta Respectable speakers introduced the concert and opened the BEMUS festival. His Excellency, Vincent Degert, EU Ambassador to Serbia, expressed his greeting on behalf of the European Commission and personal support of Commissioner Štefan Fuele: “Just yesterday we published our Enlargement package about progress achieved this year by all countries on their path to the EU. You will see many references in all these documents to regional cooperation and to reconciliation. This project fully embraces on the cultural level this approach by setting an example and showing openness and dedication. The many different sounds of each of the professional musicians today will form the perfect sound of the orchestra playing Prokofiev, Beethoven, Ives and Kodaly. United in diversity, just like Europe.” Darko Brlek, EFA President, said: “I am honored to be here with you today, for two major occasions: the Gala Opening of the 44th Belgrade Music Festival, as well as the inauguration concert of the No Borders Orchestra. The Orchestra is a new initiative that unites some 50 brilliant musicians from almost all music centers in the region: Belgrade, Ljubljana, Zagreb, Sarajevo, Skopje, Priština and Novi Sad. And today is a very special moment for a third reason: the European Festivals Association is celebrating its Diamond Jubilee in 2012. I am proud to look at the achievements of the Association: for more than 60 years, it has brought together festival directors and artists, despite all sorts of challenges that we have been going through over the decades. I am grateful that the BEMUS festival dedicates its 2012 edition to the 60 years of history of the European Festivals Association.” Bojan Sudjić, conductor RTS Orchestra, spoke in the name of artists taking part in the festival programme: “This year’s 44th BEMUS will promote these universal values – both through the performance of the joint No Borders Orchestra at the opening, and through the final concert of the RTS Symphony Orchestra that will, as its last composition, play Bartók's Concerto for Orchestra. Namely, in Bartók’s own words, the final movement of the Concerto represents ‘the brotherhood of all nations, in spite of wars and conflicts… a whirling paroxysm of dance in which all the peoples of the world join hands!’” “The speech of the EU Ambassador, Vincent Degert, in a spirit of unity and the path towards the European Union, offered a political introduction to the whole festival. The gathering of young musicians in the No Borders Orchestra, with couple of veterans, their common work and time spent together are far more important than any concert programme or performance. In their communication they promote a musical and clear political message. The initiator is conductor Premil Petrović. (...) BEMUS has achieved a component of ideological message searching for dialogue and using music as good means for realisation. Would this example from the stage ‘come down to life’ – the future will show.” (Branka Radović, Daily Newspaper Politika, 13.10.2012) Red Production from Belgrade, led by Director Vladimir Djukelić, produced a special promotional film covering the NBO activities in October 2012. The next concert appearances of the No Borders Orchestra are planned for 2013 and beyond. In March 2013 concerts are to take place in Novi Sad and Belgrade, the latter in the framework of the annual European Festivals Association Collective and Afiliate Members Meeting (CAMM) and the 14th edition of the Guitar Art Festival. Later in the year, teh No Borders Orchestra performs at festivals such as the Ohrid Summer Festival, Kotor Art Festival, Dubrovnik Summer Festival, Ljubljana Festival, Belgrade Music Festival (BEMUS) and Culturescapes Festival (Basel). Furthermore auditions and workshops are planned in Ljubljana, Zagreb, Sarajevo, Podgorica, Skopje, Priština, Belgrade, Novi Sad and Kanjiža. In 2014, the No Borders Orchestra appearances are expected in Bosnia and Herzegovina. Related links: • No Borders Orchestra website • Full report on the inauguration concert No Borders Orchestra conducted by Premil Petrovic on YouTube: • Prokofiev: Symphonie Classique - Allegro - Larghetto • Prokofiev: Symphonie Classique - Gavotta - Finale • Kodaly: Dances of Galanta • Ives: The Unanswered Question • Beethoven: Piano Concerto No.5 - Allegro / Hinrich Alpers • Beethoven: Piano Concerto No.5 - Adagio / Hinrich Alpers • Beethoven: Piano Concerto No.5 - Rondo / Hinrich Alpers