27.09.2019.

Celebrating 120th Anniversary of “Stanislav Binički” Ensemble

Art Ensemble of the Ministry of Defense, “Stanislav Binicki” held a concert – Rock Symphony at the Great Hall of Kolarac’s Endowment as part of marking the anniversary of the Ensemble.

The concert program included timeless pop and rock hits in symphonic adaptation, performed by the “Binički” Ensemble and the Mixed Choir of the Ministry of Defense and the Serbian Armed Forces, while the stars of our music scene– Jadranka Jovanović, Tijana Dapčević, Bojana Stamenov, Tanja Jovićević, Momčilo Bajagić, Bora Đorđević, Kiki Lesandrić, Dejan Najdanović Najda, Dušan Svilar and Nikola Mijić performed as soloists. The conductor of the Ensemble was maestro Vojkan Borisavljević.

The audience in the crowded auditorium of Kolarac’s Endowment enjoyed compositions such as “Sanjao sam noćas da te nema” (“Tonight I dreamed that you were not there”), “Daire” (“Tambourine”), “Zažmuri” (“Close your eyes”), “Crna dama” (“Black lady”), “Kao ptica na mom dlanu” (“Like a bird on the palm of my hand”) and others. At the end of the concert, all the performers and the audience performed together the song “Daj nam sunca” (“Let the Sunshine in”).

Before the concert began, the Head of the “Stanislav Binički” Art Ensemble, Navy Captain Svetozar Vasileski, addressed the audience and on the occasion of the anniversary, presented special thanks to his long-time associates and former members of the Ensemble.

A special Ensemble plaque was handed to the former Head of the Public Relations Department of the Ministry of Defense, Navy Captain Petar Bošković, in gratitude for numerous years of fruitful cooperation.

Acknowledgments were also presented to the Serbian Church Choir “Srbadija” from Bijeljina, BK TV, retired colonel Zoran Mrđenović and musicologist Gordana Krajačić.

The precursor to the current Art Ensemble of the Ministry of Defense was the Belgrade Military Orchestra, which was founded on 26 September 1899 by the famous Serbian composer Stanislav Binički, after whom the Ensemble is proud to be named. Binički was also the creator of the first Serbian opera “Na uranku” (“In the Morning”), as well as the celebrated “Marš na Drinu” (“March to the Drina”), as well as numerous classical music pieces that resemble and resonate the melodies from our region.

As part of marking this anniversary, an exhibition entitled “120 godina sa vama” (“120 Years with You”) was recently opened at the Small Gallery of the Central Military Club of the Serbian Armed Forces, displaying a section of the Legacy of the Binički family belonging to the Kruševac National Museum, as well as a section dedicated to the work and creations of the Artistic Ensemble.

As another element included in the marking of this important anniversary for the Serbian culture, the “Stanislav Binički” Art Ensemble of the Ministry of Defense held a series of concerts this year, some of which will be held within the framework of marking 120th anniversary of its founding.

The concert at Kolarac’s Endowment was the crown in the celebration of the anniversary of the oldest Serbian military orchestra.