The 9th Edition of Rosi Fest
January 27 – February 1, 2026, Belgrade
This year’s Rosi Fest presents an exceptional repertoire and a wide range of musical themes to Belgrade audiences — from thoughtfully curated thematic concerts to the celebration of major anniversaries; from the mystical sound world of medieval vocal music to the vibrant spirit of twentieth-century opera set in postwar New York.
The festival opens on Tuesday, January 27 at 8:00 PM, in the Atrium of the National Museum, with the thematic concert Portraits and Remembrance, traditionally held to mark the International Holocaust Remembrance Day. This year’s program focuses on works by women composers whose lives and creative legacies were shaped by war, persecution, and institutional exclusion. Directed by Ana Grigorović, the song cycles will be performed by soprano Marija Jelić with pianist Nada Matijević, while the poetry will be recited by actress Brankica Sebastijanović.
On Thursday, January 29 at 7:00 PM, the Evening of Sacred Music at Sukat Shalom Synagogue marks the centenary of the synagogue’s founding. Through a rich and carefully selected repertoire, the concert highlights the role of sacred music in preserving cultural and religious identity, as well as its artistic value beyond the liturgical context. The program will be led by the Braća Baruh Choir, the world’s oldest continuously active Jewish choir, joined by soloists Ladislav Mezei (cello) and Radan Jovanović (piano/organ). The evening also celebrates twenty years of artistic leadership by conductor Stefan Zekić.
On Saturday, January 31 at 8:00 PM, again in the Atrium of the National Museum, the concert Echoes of Polyphony welcomes the internationally acclaimed Korvina Consort from Budapest, an ensemble specializing in early vocal music. The program features works from the late Middle Ages, the Renaissance, and the early Baroque, presented through historically informed performance of the highest artistic caliber.
The festival concludes on Sunday, February 1 at 8:30 PM, at the National Theatre in Belgrade, with a performance of Gian Carlo Menotti’s comic one-act opera The Telephone. This musical evening offers a witty and refined blend of operatic tradition and the urban aesthetic of the 1950s, enriched by an overture composed of arrangements of American jazz standards by composers of Jewish heritage. Directed by Ana Bunjak, the opera stars outstanding soloists Aleksandra Jovanović (soprano) and Vuk Zekić (baritone), accompanied by the festival orchestra led by jazz pianist Milovan Paunović, under the baton of Stefan Zekić.
Free tickets for the concerts are available on the festival website: www.rossifest.org.
Tickets for the closing night (Menotti’s The Telephone) can be purchased at the National Theatre box office or via the online form.
Welcome!
Symphony of the Alps – A Concert That Unites Cultures
April 25, 2025 – Belgrade
Atrium of the National Museum in Belgrade, 8:00 PM
On Thursday, April 25, the hall proved too small to accommodate everyone who wished to attend this monumental event—the concert of Symphony of Psalms, which exceeded all expectations and capacity limits. The audience was enthralled, and the presence of numerous members of the diplomatic corps further underscored the significance of the evening.
The program was ceremonially opened by Stefan Zekić, Director of Rosi Fest. The audience was also addressed by H.E. Anne Lugon-Moulin, Ambassador of Switzerland to Serbia, as well as Dr. Kristof Feldhus, Director of the Goethe-Institut in Belgrade. Their presence and words of support further enriched the evening, affirming the festival’s international standing.
The event was attended by more than ten ambassadors (Switzerland, Morocco, Albania, Portugal, Romania, Bulgaria, Korea, France, the Czech Republic, and Azerbaijan), as well as Ms. Milena Mitić (Ministry of Foreign Affairs) and Ms. Kornelija Kamencind, Deputy Head of Mission at the Embassy of Switzerland.
The 8th Edition of Rosi Fest
January 27 – February 6, 2025, Belgrade
Music as the Language of Dialogue and Unity
Music, as one of the oldest forms of dialogue that transcends cultures and generations, reminds us that despite our differences, it provides a shared space for communication at the most subtle level.
This is also the core idea of this year's edition of the international Rosi Fest, which will take place under the theme "Dialogue and Unity" from January 27 to February 6 in Belgrade.
The festival begins on Monday, January 27, at 8 PM, in the ceremonial hall of the Jewish Community of Belgrade, with the traditional concert of young composers titled "Portraits and Memories." This event also commemorates International Holocaust Remembrance Day. This year’s program will feature works by composers Kristofer Magnuson (USA), Martin Lordian (France), and Mark Wolf (Australia), with the concert moderated by Bojana Radovanović, a musicologist from the Institute of SANU.
On Monday, February 3, the festival will present a concert titled "Dialogue of Flavors" at the "Little Bay" restaurant in Belgrade. Through this unconventional concept at a unique venue, Rosi Fest aims to emphasize and recall the social role of music as a cornerstone of dialogue and unity since ancient times. The idea is to inspire the audience to engage in meaningful communication, exchange opinions, and share interpretations in the pauses between musical pieces. A carefully curated menu will symbolically accompany a recital of Bach's music performed by renowned French harpsichordist of Serbian origin, Željko Drion-Manić. Through the diverse characters of Bach's Harpsichord Fantasies, Željko will bring to life the timeless aesthetic of Bach’s music.
The final concert of this year's edition will be marked by the fiery and spirited klezmer style. It will take place on Thursday, February 6, at 8 PM at Dorćol Platz. By blending classical sounds with an unconventional club atmosphere, the audience will experience an authentic synesthetic journey that will undoubtedly push the boundaries of classical music.
The concerts will feature members of the Jewish Chamber Orchestra, the Baruch Brothers Choir, and distinguished domestic vocal and instrumental soloists. The performances will be directed by Ana Grigorović and conducted by Stefan Zekić.
Every performance, composition, and rendition at the festival symbolizes dialogue – between composers and audiences, performers and listeners, tradition and modernity. Each tone is an invitation to converse between the past and the future. This approach fosters an emotional connection with the audience and highlights the essence of Rosi Fest – music as a means of understanding and unity.
We invite you to join us in experiencing the dialogue of tones and flavors and feel the unity that only music can offer. Let us together celebrate the power of art that connects us!
Rossi Fest - winner of the "Classical Music" award in the festival of the year category!
21. 03. 2023. Belgrade
On Tuesday, March 21, at the Museum of the National Theater in Belgrade, the annual awards of the "Classical Music" revue were held for the eleventh time. Rossi Fest was declared the best festival in 2022.
The "Classical Music" award was established in 2010 when the first "Classical Music" magazine issue was published. It was designed to recognize domestic artists, festivals, publishers, critics, music institutions, and media, who have left the most significant mark on the domestic music scene within the calendar year.
ROSSI FEST
Rossi Fest is an international music festival, named by the famous Jewish-Italian composer Salomone Rossi (ca.1570-1630). Rossi was a transitional figure between the late Italian Renaissance and early Baroque. His musical style was compound between a classical Renaissance and Jewish traditional texts, written in Hebrew. This combination makes him unique among Baroque composers. One of the most well-known is a famous collection of Jewish liturgical music, Hashirim asher leShlomo (The Songs of Solomon), published in 1623.
Having in mind the nature of Rossi’s work and his contribution to music history, the main objective of the festival is to focus on an intercultural dialog by promoting the respect for diversity and embraces a unique heritage of Jewish, European and Serbian repertoire of the highest musical, artistic and poetic quality. Allowing musicians to evolve through joint musical performances, workshops, advisory sessions and the choice of venues. In these terms, Rossi fest is committed to music education for all ages, young to adult.
One of many advantages of this concept is the possibility for all singers to perform in excellent choral ensembles appropriate to their interest and abilities. Meanwhile, music professionals can benefit from resources that help them increase their musical and leadership skills toward their own pursuit of excellence. Rossi Fest, conceived as an innovative and dynamic multicultural musical event, has inspiring passion for learning in its core, and provides a necessary foundation for achievement and success.
Intended to be among future leaders of Belgrade’s cultural events and committed to musical education and implementation of quality in performance, this Festival will also be involved in the life of a wider community, both local and international. Festival will raise awareness through partnerships with various ensembles, music organizations and individuals. This in order for all people to have same, equally designed opportunities in musical learning and education.
This project among other things, offers to prepare artists and other participants for new opportunities and contemporary challenges. Hopefully, sharing together our experience and enthusiasm, Rossi Fest has a chance to become a significant contributor for all groups and individuals to meet the artistic challenges of the future.
FESTIVAL DIRECTOR
Stefan Zekić
CONDUCTOR
Founder and director of Rossi Fest. Graduated from the University of Arts, Faculty of Music in Belgrade, in two departments: conducting and solo singing. Additional education includes trainings and workshops with the most prominent european conductors, such as: Uros Lajovic (AU), Michael Sheck (BE), Andrew Parrott (UK), and Max Frey (GE). Currently, he's pursuing Phd at the University of Arts in Belgrade in the field of opera conducting. He began conducting at the age of 17 and since 2006 he’s the chief conductor of the Baruch Brothers Choir. He’s a founder and artistic director of the ensemble for early music Canticum Novum, and is the conductor of the Jewish chamber orchestra. Since the season 2009/10 he’s engaged at the National Theatre of Belgrade where his first performance was Le nozze di Figaro (W. A. Mozart). In 2014. he became the chief conductor of the Opera studio of the National Theatre and successfully performed two premieres - Die Zauberflote and Bastien und Bastienne. He also performed a notable concerts in cooperation with many different ensembles such as Madrigal Choir and Symphony Orchestra of University of Arts in Belgrade, Vocal Ensemble Oktoih, Musica (Slovenia), Vocal Ensemble Marienhain (Germany), St. George Royal Strings, Jewish Chamber Orchestra, Symphony Orchestra Stanislav Binički, Montenegro Symphony orchestra, etc. Stefan Zekic won numerous national and international rewards at the prestige festivals and competition, as well as special reward of the state of Israel for a remarkable contribution to strengthening Israel-Serbia relations. Among the prominent artists he has collaborated with are Oscar-winner Jiří Menzel, John Ramster, Martin Evans, Olga Makarina, István Székely, Eraldo Salmieri, Claudia Eder and others.
ARTISTIC COMMITTE
Zoran Erić
COMPOSER, PROFESSOR AT THE UNIVERSITY OF BELGRADE
Full-time professor of Composition at the University of Arts, Faculty of Music in Belgrade, rector of the University of Arts in Belgrade. He earned his BA and MA degrees in Composing (professor Stanojlo Rajičić) at the Faculty of Music, Belgrade, and specialized at the Orf University in Salzburg, as well as on V. Lutoslavski`s masterclass in Grožnjan. His opus includes works of different genres, ensembles and soloists, such as: balets Banović Strahinja and Jelisaveta, Slovo Siluana for baritone, women’s choir and tape, then Off, Cartoon, Talea Konzertstück, The Great Red Spot of Jupiter, Abnormalni udarci Dogona (Abnormal punches of Dogon), Helium u maloj kutiji (Helium in a small box), Nisam govorio (I didn’t speak), Oberon, Six scenes-comments, Ko je ubio galeba (Who killed seagull), Sedam pogleda u nebo (Seven looks into the sky) and more. Special place in his opus takes theater and film music that he created in collaboration with notable theater and film makers. He’s the winner of numerous rewards and recognitions. Additionally he was the artistic director and selektor of various music festivals (BEMUS and others), and currently is the president of the Executive Board of Serbian music copyright agency SOKOJ.
Ana Stefanović
MUSICOLOGIST, PROFESSOR AT THE UNIVERSITY OF BELGRADE
Full-time professor at the University of Arts, Faculty of Music in Belgrade and associate Researcher at IreMus, Paris. She earned her MA degree at the Faculty of Music in Belgrade and her PhD in musicology at the Paris-Sorbonne University (Université Paris-Sorbonne, Paris IV). Main areas of her research are: baroque opera, solo song, relation between music and text, as well as questions of musical style and stylistic analysis.
She is also the author of six volumes of The Anthology of Serbian Art Song (Belgrade, UKS, 2008-2014), books La musique comme métaphore, La relation de la musique et du texte dans l’opéra baroque français: de Lully à Rameau, (Paris, L’Harmattan, 2006), Temporality and Narrativity in Music Drama (Belgrade, FMU, 2017), along with a large number of studies and articles published in reviews for musicology and music theory. Prof. Stefanović organized various international conferences in the field of music theory and is the author of various collections of papers in the field of music theory.
Branka Cvejić-Mezei
DIRECTOR OF THE BARUH BROTHERS CHOIR, DIRECTOR OF BELGRADE PHILHARMONIC ORCHESTRA IN RETIREMENT
Most of her career her held the leading positions in cultural institutions in Serbia. She graduated Flute and Piano at the Faculty of Music, Belgrade, where she also earned her MA degree. Her specialization she did in Paris at the École Normale de Musique, where she receives a diploma Licence de concertes. Since 1971 she was a full-time member of the Belgrade Philharmonic Orchestra, firstly as a soloist (first flute), and in 1988 she’s becoming the direct where she’ll stay for 12 years. Later she’ll become a deputy director at the National Theater in Belgrade (2000-2001), and then filled the role of coordinator and counselor on cultural and humanitarian matters within Karic Foundation (2001-2006).
Ladislav Mezei
VIOLONCELLIST, PROFESSOR AT THE UNIVERSITY OF BELGRADE
Full-time professor at the Chamber Music Department of the Faculty of Music in Belgrade, where he earned his BA and MA degrees. Specialization he did at the Franz Liszt Academy of Music in Budapest. His extensive artistic biography includes two seasons playing as a solo cellist of Sarajevo Opera and Philharmonic Orchestra, full-time membership in Belgrade Philharmonic Orchestra and lead cellist position (1975–2004), then solo performances with Sarajevo Philharmonic Orchestra, Vojvodina Symphony Orchestra, RTS Symphony Orchestra, Military Orchestra of Yugoslavia and more. He was a soloist and member of baroque ensemble Muzika Florida and academic chamber ensemble Ensemble Jeunesse Musicale. Among his performances stands out the Millenium Gala Concert in NY Lincoln Center in 1999. He is a permanent associate at the orchestra Camerata Serbica, as well as the member of Pancevo string quartet (today: Arco String Quartet). He’s the founder of Jewish Chamber Orchestra, with which he has made a large number of performances. The string quartet TAJJ, whose member mr. Mezei is, became in 2005 the first quartet that earned an MA degree at the Faculty of Music, Belgrade.
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