International Festival DAYS OF MUSIC 2008 REVIEW OF THE SECOND PART OF FESTIVAL, by Marija Adamov

As in the previous few editions five years ago renewed "Days of Music", and just finished a ten-day festival awarded definitely shaped chamber concept, and as could be seen by the reaction to proposed programs, each is well communicated with the listeners, professional musicians and educated music lovers. Atmosphere of full concert area in Herceg Novi, a town of renowned artists, painters, poets and musicians, who still seeking the optimal sale and appropriate acoustic conditions, explore new indoor and outdoor environment, marked all the concerts, and to the satisfaction of the host of this interesting and valuable artworks meeting, it already been found some new ideas for future festivals and the development of musical life in Montenegro. We also expect suggestions, or requests for its better media coverage, especially Radio Television Montenegro.

Summary of interpretative achievements realized in the second half of the "Days of Music" start bold and successful, primarily rare programming effort of guitar duo Giuseppe Coats-Luciano Pompilio, that after last year's exceptional performance at the same festival, preformed "Goldberg Variations" of Johann Sebastian Bach in arrangement of Benedeto Montebela. In general, the level of large construction requires Bach’s music, artists made it sound as if it lived in natural, original environment, interpreting it as if somewhere behind the guitar "appears" harpsichord. Not even in a moment, they weren’t trying to release itself from the Baroque model, provided a wealth of rich and fullness, but the sound is very subtle, soft pizzicato and balanced balance between compatible instruments, each as a unique variation of creating music and performing the task.

A day later, in Herceg Novi, in music school’s hall performed a American-Argentine pianist Mirian Conti, whose recital enters into that magical moments when sincere and devoted musical lecture transforming into a musical event that is not easily forgotten. As he said, respected pianist and piano teacher George Lazarov, born in Herceg Novi, Mirian Conti was "a great friend with the piano, which connects his friendship with a mission to promote Piano Latin American literature, Spanish and American composers. It is original and artistic, and deeply devoted, in its Spanish story, including parts and Albenisa Granados, and Argentines Hulijana Agirea, Juan Jose Ramos, and Juan Jose Castro, at the end, of the Mexicans Manuel Maria Ponsea. Announcing to his mazurkas, two eponymous composition, also named "Mazurka" of Frederic Chopin, pianist connects them with similar  features of simple beauty, also with confessions and intimacy of dictation. Astonishing with kantilen what is rarely heard, extraordinary artist in the end, in the Chopin’s Scherzo in H minor, also showed that a completely government and powerful sound, and the skill to control, leaving the impression on the audience and these qualities of his refined personality.

Performance of Virtuosi di Praga, who, this year in "Days of Music " got the role of the festival ensemble,  also attracted on their third concert  many listeners in St. Jerome Church. And this time remitting, as well as on the first night, solo, with its members, except to concert master Oldrich Vlcek and violinist Eve Brumelov and excellent oboist Vlni Vratislav, Czech artists proved to be the specialist for Baroque era, who, insisting on the purity of style, does not neglect indigenous performing freedom, that, as in Bach’s time, replacing some of the instruments mentioned oboist with others .Thus we heard oboist also as an interpreter part of third solo violinist in the corpus of four Vivaldi’s Concert for four violins and strings in a H minor, opu3 number 10, part of which insists on a shave and changing solo and orchestra performances, which caused, as well as the entire program a great audience approval. Previous Vlnin’s solo performance of parties in concert for oboe and strings in D minor of Benedeto Marcello, captured beauty , richly decorated music, stated in the second movement of the composition, but also excellence in parts of the framework.

However, most of us liked the warm sound of  Suite for Strings of Leos Janacek, one of the most important author by 20th century, performed with great expressive wave and high sound quality, which has strongly contributed and because of  the suggestions was leading, part of violoncellist  Bledar Zajmi, and other distinguished performances of the ensemble.

Meeting with the pianist Rita Kinka, the penultimate concert of "Days of Music", was an event that was expected by the audience in Herceg Novi with big interest, and on this occasion, as well as a few years ago, at the same festival, very inspired artist gave them great pleasure. Unusual, just visible, with great energy and great expressive power, it is all part of giving new meaning and significance, and some inner voices sound and special shades of meaning. The first part of the program is selected from the project "Water Music", a theme unique origination, which is seen and titles of individual pieces (leaves, "Gondolier" and "St. Franjo walk on the waves," Ravel "Water game" and Debussy’s "Island of Joy"), Rita Kinka is interpreted as a series of miniatures, that despite the contrast of content and various musical expressions basin into a single stream, connected and finding similar sound color, with the prevailing impressionistic gama. In the second program complex, with the cycle of "Images from the exhibition" of Modest Mussorgsky, pianist, the instrument continued to find other opportunities for the presentation of program content of the complex, getting from him and dense chordal assemblies and warm dark kantilen and precise rhythmic pulsation. From the energetic entry into the world of painting remains the exhibition of Victor Hartman, Rita Kinka is following them carefully, monitoring and visualizing, presenting them with lots of contrast, with the craftsmanship, "narrative", the characterization and depth of emotion. These could only do the most able artists, which with all these creative qualities she belong to, which the audience recognized wherever successfully performed.

That the "Days of Music" became known constant cultural and tourist city and all over the Boka-Kotorska Bay, showed the presence of over four hundred visitor on the ceremonial final night, first of all interested to hear Boris Kraljevic, citizen of Herceg Novi, that thanks to his piano and pedagogical skill become a citizen of the world and a true ambassador of culture and musical art of their country, and five years ago and artistic director of Herceg Novi Festival. Kudos to close it went to the Virtuoso di Praga, whose  role as a residential ensemble was successfully  completed as a renowned soloists associates, besides Kraljevic and Russian cellist Marina Tarasova. Unfortunately, her interpretation of the parties in solo concert for cello and orchestra in B major of  Bokerinija Luidji, the great Italian classical musician, she wasplaying in light movement, beautiful and expressive tone, and she had a desire to repeat that. On the other hand, filigree ornamentation and frolic issue of framework components of the composition because of the modest possibilities of "immovable" school cellos she used, which is completely unusual, to arrived in Herceg Novi without her precious instrument.

Boris Kraljevic on the closing night for  presentation selected, Big brilliant sextet for piano, string quartet and double bass in E- major of Mikhail Glinka, in the version with string orchestra, in every sense a piece of dress appropriate for the demonstration of the value of him as a pianist. Ease of performance and the fastest light passage, rafinman special sensitivity, and optimum power and range, and much beauty in the melodies, were the features of his performance, with a peak in light movement. Sang as beautiful Serenade, with a broad introduction piano party, which would be the technical requirements and the character could compare with Chopin, Andante, and this is as fresh as Mozart’s the first movement and points out the Russian folklorist, the third, a subtle dynamic tinted a salve made of applause that the artist decides to add it as a night out once more.  Virtuosi di  Praga, to whom, we were normally so generously gave beauty to the three previous concerts, such that the finish were a bit exhausted, remaining something and soloists, and obliged us. For the previously achieved appropriate role of the festival orchestra, and successful performances in Bijelo Polje and Bar, and during the festival in Tivat, deserve praise, as well as a representative realized the "Days of Music", for which mayor Dejan Mandic, not only because of the protocol takes for their survival and development, he wished never to flat.


Marija Adamov