Concert: Dialogue of Tastes
Monday, February 3, 2025, 8:00 PM
Little Bay Restaurant, Belgrade
This concert, blending music and gastronomy, offers a truly synesthetic experience. Titled Dialogue of Tastes, the event is designed to unite music, ambiance, and flavors through a unique setting.
Renowned French harpsichordist of Serbian origin, Željko Drion-Manić, will perform a selection of Bach’s Fantasias for harpsichord, delivering an unforgettable experience through the timeless beauty of this great composer’s work. With carefully chosen musical pieces and a menu paired to complement each interpretation, the audience will be inspired to engage in dialogue and share impressions during intermissions.
What to Expect:
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An intimate restaurant setting with a thoughtfully curated selection of culinary specialties.
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Performances of Bach’s works by a world-class artist.
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Audience interaction and inspired conversation in a creative and welcoming atmosphere.
Tonight’s theme: An Interplay of Senses
(Dialogue of Tastes: Bach’s Reflection)
Reservations and tickets for this event are available at the restaurant, Dositejeva 9a. The reservation fee, which includes the concert and a set menu of two appetizers, a main course, and dessert, is 4,000 dinars.
Join us for an evening of intertwined senses and timeless music!
Program:
Johann Sebastian Bach
Željko Drion-Manić (Serbia/France)
Fantasy with Two Themes in G Minor, BWV 917
Fantasy and Unfinished Fugue in C Minor, BWV 906
Fantasy in C Minor – Johann Bernhard Bach (mistakenly attributed to J.S. Bach, BWV 919)
Fantasy/Prelude in A Minor, BWV 922
Fantasy and Fugue in A Minor, BWV 904
Fantasy and Fugue in A Minor, BWV 944
Adagio in G Major, BWV 968
Chromatic Fantasy and Fugue in D Minor, BWV 903
Fantasy in G Minor, BWV 920
Željko Drion-Manić, harpsichord
Željko Drion-Manić, a celebrated French-Serbian harpsichordist, has been recognized with numerous musical awards, including 3rd Prize at the International Harpsichord Competition Conde de Oeiras (2018, Lisbon, Portugal) and the ABA Prize (2011, Gmunden, Austria). He regularly performs as a soloist and chamber musician across Europe, with appearances at renowned festivals and venues such as Festival d’Ambronay, Händel-Festspiele Göttingen, Festival Musiq3, MAfestival Brugge, OudeMuziek Utrecht, Music Chapel Festival, BOZAR, Flagey, and Chapelle Royale de Versailles, among others.
He has collaborated with esteemed baroque musicians and ensembles such as François Fernandez, Julien Chauvin, Jaap Schröder, Valentin Tournet, Les Muffatti, La Chapelle Harmonique, and Harmonia Sacra.
Born in Belgrade, Željko began studying accordion at the age of six, later expanding his training to piano, harpsichord, vocal performance, and vocal coaching. He won multiple first prizes in competitions, including the Kornelije Stanković Piano Competition (2008), the Serbian National Solo Singing Competition (2011), and the 10th International Petar Stojanović Festival in the solo singing category (2012).
Focusing on harpsichord and early music, Željko pursued studies with Frédérick Haas at the Royal Conservatory of Brussels, where he earned a bachelor's degree in 2015 and a master's degree with high distinction in 2017. He further honed his skills in masterclasses with renowned musicians such as Pierre Hantaï, Skip Sempé, Amandine Beyer, Mira Glodeanu, and Paolo Zanzu.
In 2012, shortly after moving to Belgium, Željko was invited by BOZAR Brussels to open the retrospective exhibition “Antoine Watteau” with a harpsichord recital. That same season, he performed Bach's harpsichord concertos across Belgium, France, and Serbia. He was selected for the Emerging program in 2016 with the ensemble BarrocoTout and performed as a soloist and continuo player under Rinaldo Alessandrini with the OFJ Baroque Orchestra in 2017.
Željko also studied operatic singing at the Royal Conservatory of The Hague and specialized in baroque vocal performance with Pascal Bertin, Robin Blaze, and Peter Kooij. As one of the rare classical musicians who sings while accompanying himself on harpsichord or organ, Željko performs both standard baroque repertoire and roles created specifically for him. In 2017, he portrayed the title role in Monteverdi’s L’Orfeo at deSingel (Antwerp, Belgium) under the direction of Luigi De Angelis and conductor Hernán Schvartzman. In 2020, he created the theatrical recital Ceux qui savent pleurer ont les plus beaux yeux du monde, performed in France and Belgium. In 2025, Željko will continue to perform lead roles in Charivari at the Avignon Festival and at Studio Lyrique de Tourcoing with the ensemble Il Buranello, directed by Denis Mignien. A CD version of the production will be recorded in the summer of 2025.
Željko’s concerts have been broadcast by France Musique, Culturbox, Musiq3, Klara Radio, ORF Radio, and Radio Belgrade. He has recorded albums with Les Muffatti and Musæ Jovis and contributed to Sanda Majurec’s original album. Composers Jug K. Marković and Sanda Majurec have dedicated harpsichord solo pieces to him.
Željko works as a vocal coach, accompanist, and vocal instructor with countertenor Xavier Sabata and ensembles such as Les Ombres, B-Rock, and Harmonia Sacra. He collaborates with organizations like Musiektheater Transparant and teaches harpsichord at the Hoofdstedelijke Kunstacademie Brussel (2023–2024).
