Through new ideas, contemporary approaches and connections with different artistic forms, young people are helping to keep classical music alive, accessible and relevant to new generations.
This is precisely the idea behind “Classics Now!”, a series created to take classical music beyond its traditional boundaries and bring it closer to a wider, particularly younger, audience. And young performers are the ones who can help take it there.
In addition to concerts, the series also creates space for discussions about audiences, culture and its place in society, as well as Serbia’s connection with the European cultural scene.
The first day of the series opened at Europe House with a panel discussion bringing together representatives of the music sector and cultural policy experts, with a particular focus on the European framework.
The discussion, “What Is Classical Music For?”, put audiences at the centre of the conversation. Who listens to classical music in Serbia today, and who is it intended for? Is it still perceived as something elitist and inaccessible, and what can be done to make it closer and more accessible to different generations and social groups?
The discussion featured music critic Mirko Jeremić, as well as Natalija Ivić and Katarina Čolaković of the KaNa Piano Duo.
The audience also had an opportunity to hear first-hand about the importance of understanding the contemporary creative landscape and the fact that it encompasses far more than composing and performing. Artists must also take into account a range of other aspects in order to participate fully in contemporary cultural life.
“What Is Classical Music For?” opened a critical conversation about the place of classical music in contemporary Serbian society: who makes up its audience, who is missing from it, and where the line lies between accessibility and compromise.
The second discussion, “Are We in Tune? 442 for Belgrade”, posed a simple question: are we “in tune” as a cultural community and as a society moving towards Europe?
The discussion, moderated by Bojan Milosavljević from the Creative Europe Desk at the Ministry of Culture, Daliborka Nikolić, Culture and Public Diplomacy Manager at Europe House, and Ana Blagojević, a master’s student in cultural policy and management at the University of Arts, focused on understanding EU support, the ways in which young artists in Serbia can make use of these opportunities, and the expectations that need to be aligned at both the local and European levels.
The conversation also explored the experiences and challenges faced by young artists and cultural professionals, as well as opportunities for stronger connections with the European cultural scene.
Both discussions were moderated by Filip Babić, a classical guitarist and cultural manager.
Classics Now! is a concert series taking place from 18 to 20 August at the Czech House in Belgrade and Europe House, dedicated to young performers of contemporary classical music.
Over three days, audiences will have the opportunity to attend four concerts and two public panel discussions addressing the place of classical music in contemporary society, its audiences and the role of young artists in shaping its future.
Admission to all programmes is free.