“Jubilees” at the St Sava Centre - a gala evening dedicated to the work of Academician Svetislav Božić

On 17 November 2024, in the packed Great Hall of the St Sava Centre in Niš, a gala concert entitled “Jubilees” was held, dedicated to the work of one of the most important contemporary Serbian composers, Academician Svetislav Božić. This exceptional musical evening marked three significant jubilees - Svetislav Božić's 70th birthday and 45 years of artistic work, and 30 years of the Serbian Chamber Orchestra - bringing together distinguished musicians and many lovers of the Serbian musical heritage.

With the blessing of His Eminence Archbishop and Metropolitan Arsenije of Niš, the concert was organised by the Cathedral administration and the Niš Church Choral Society “Branko”, offering the audience an extraordinary encounter with music deeply rooted in the Serbian spiritual tradition, history and national musical heritage.

Svetislav Božić, composer and full member of the Serbian Academy of Sciences and Arts, holds a prominent place in contemporary Serbian music through his rich body of work. His works, imbued with spirituality, historical memory and a strong reliance on the tradition of the Serbian people, represent a unique blend of ancient musical heritage and contemporary compositional expression. It was precisely this connection of faith, art and national identity that gave special meaning to the concert held at the St Sava Centre.

The gala evening began with the composition “Vjeruju” (The Creed), performed by the Niš Church Choral Society “Branko” under the baton of Sara Cincarević. The strong spiritual message and expressiveness of the choral sound created a festive atmosphere and from the very beginning announced the artistic character of a programme dedicated to a composer whose work connects music and Orthodox spirituality in a distinctive way.

In the rest of the concert the audience had the opportunity to hear a series of significant works from Svetislav Božić's rich output. A special place belonged to “Chants of Bagrdan”, a concerto for piano and string orchestra, in which the distinguished pianist Aleksandar Sinčuk performed as soloist. His interpretation, together with the Serbian Chamber Orchestra, presented the lavish sonority and deep expressiveness of Božić's musical language.

The works “Raška Mosaic” and “Chants of Metohija” gave the audience a powerful experience of the Serbian spiritual and historical heritage. Through rich melodic lines and choral and instrumental sound, these works recalled the deep roots of the Serbian musical tradition and its unbroken connection with the cultural and spiritual identity of the people.

One of the most striking moments of the evening was the performance of “From the Carpathians”, in which Aleksandar Sinčuk and Andrej Cincarević played piano four hands, with the participation of the women's choir of the Niš Church Choral Society “Branko”, the Women's Academic Choir of the Student Cultural Centre Niš and the Serbian Chamber Orchestra. This unusual combination of piano, choral and orchestral sound gave special artistic power to the finale of the programme.

Taking part in this significant musical event were the Serbian Chamber Orchestra from Belgrade, the Academic Choir of the Student Cultural Centre Niš and the Niš Church Choral Society “Branko”. The choirs were prepared by conductors Ivana Mirović, MA, and Mila Pužić, while the entire concert was conducted by Đorđe Pavlović. The joint performance of many musicians and ensembles showed the importance of artistic cooperation and dedication to preserving and presenting Serbian music.

The audience followed the performances with exceptional attention, and the strong applause and ovations at the end of the concert were the finest confirmation of the artistic reach and significance of this gala event. In an atmosphere filled with respect for the work of Svetislav Božić, music lovers in Niš had the opportunity to experience works that bear special witness to the richness of Serbian spirituality and culture.

For the Niš Church Choral Society “Branko”, the “Jubilees” concert also had a special symbolic value. The Society, which since 1887 has nurtured church chant and preserved the precious heritage of Serbian choral music, once again confirmed with this event its commitment to presenting the works of contemporary Serbian composers whose music is deeply connected with the Orthodox faith, tradition and the spiritual identity of the people.

With the support of the City of Niš and the cooperation of distinguished musicians, the St Sava Centre once again became a meeting place of tradition and contemporary artistic creation, confirming its important role in the cultural life of the city.

The “Jubilees” concert will be remembered as a festive musical testimony to the work of Svetislav Božić, in which spiritual depth, artistic excellence and love for the Serbian musical heritage merged into a unique experience. It was an evening that, while celebrating significant anniversaries, also reminded us that the true values of musical art outlive time and remain a lasting treasure of a people's culture.