7th “Horizons on the Tisa” – Days of Josif Marinković

June 3 and October 4, 1999

After two open solo-vocal competitions (1995 and 1997) and two invitational composition contests (1996 and 1998), the organizers of “Horizons on the Tisa” planned the seventh edition of the event with great ambition.

According to the established rotation, the next in line was the third vocal competition. For the first time, the invitation for participation was published as a public announcement in the Belgrade newspaper Borba, and given the festival’s rising popularity, a large number of applicants was expected.

The Days of Josif Marinković were planned for May 27–29, with the opening concert by the “Obilić” Choir from Belgrade, conducted by Darinka Matić Marović, and with Dunja Simić and Jelena Vlahović scheduled to perform at the “Horizons” Concert.

Unfortunately, this well-designed program was not realized, as the NATO alliance launched its aggression on the Federal Republic of Yugoslavia on March 24. The 7th “Horizons on the Tisa” were therefore postponed indefinitely.

The “Horizons” Concert in Belgrade

In the midst of the most intense NATO air strikes, the organizers from Novi Bečej decided to proceed with a concert in Belgrade, featuring solo songs from the second composition contest held the previous year.

In cooperation with the “Šumica” Center for Culture and Sport and the Ethnographic Museum in Belgrade, the program began on June 3 at 12 p.m. in the museum’s atrium, under the title:

“Horizons on the Tisa” – Days of Josif Marinković – To Belgrade

The audience was greeted by Vasilije Tapušković, Assistant Minister of Culture of the Republic of Serbia, and the program was hosted by Nikola Rackov.

The performers were:

• Nataša Jovića, mezzo-soprano (J. Marinković: Longing; S. Binički: If Only I Had Your Eyes)
• Dragana Radivojević, soprano (P. Konjović: Beneath the Window; J. Marinković: How Beautiful)
• Dimitrije O. Golemović, baritone (D. Golemović: Autumn Farewell)
• Aleksandra Angelov, mezzo-soprano (P. Konjović: Chanson; I. Bajić: Believe That I Love You)
• Miodrag D. Jovanović, baritone (K. Babić: The Inscription)
• Jelena Vlahović, mezzo-soprano (S. Hristić: Elegy; K. Babić: The Saturdays of My Childhood)
• Živojin Ćirić, baritone (D. Despić: The Reformer; D. Golemović: Bread)
• Dunja Simić, soprano (M. Milojević: Autumn Elegy; J. Marinković: Prayer)
• Tijana Milošević, violin (J. Marinković: Nocturne)

The concert ended with a duet by Dragana Radivojević and Aleksandra Angelov, performing As Long as Your Blue Eyes Shine by Isidor Bajić.

Piano collaborators: Ljubica Grujić, Mirjana Kršljanin, Istra Pečvari, and Tatjana Perković.

The Bombs Did Not Stop the Concert

During the concert at the Ethnographic Museum—held amidst the bombing of the FR Yugoslavia—a remarkable moment occurred. After several performances, air-raid sirens sounded, warning of an incoming attack. Despite the signal, the performance continued without interruption.

At the exact moment when baritone Miodrag D. Jovanović was performing Babić’s The Inscription (lyrics by Đoko Stojičić, The Swallow’s Nest on the Hilandar Fresco), a powerful explosion shook the building and the windows. However, the audience remained calm, and the performer continued singing as if nothing had happened. It was the 72nd day since the beginning of the NATO aggression, and Belgraders had already grown accustomed to detonations.

Poet Đoko Stojičić, then the Ambassador of Yugoslavia to the Czech Republic, inspired by the coincidence that the explosion occurred during a composition based on his poem, wrote a new poem titled Serbian Solo Songs with an Explosion.

Concert of Serbian Solo Songs – Novi Bečej

After the end of the bombing, life in the Federal Republic of Yugoslavia slowly began to return to normal. In order to preserve the continuity of the event, it was decided that the 7th Days of Josif Marinković would be held as a single concert on October 4, 1999, the Day of the Municipality of Novi Bečej.

Following the welcoming remarks of Branimir Lisičin, President of the Municipal Assembly of Novi Bečej, the program was officially opened by Radmila Bakočević, Rector of the University of Arts in Belgrade, who emphasized:

“Through your love for your town and its cultural heritage, you have found the strength to continue this already established manifestation, which preserves the name and work of the composer Josif Marinković… Wishing you endurance, and with deep gratitude from young artists and us teachers, I open this evening of Serbian solo songs, which continues the tradition of ‘Horizons on the Tisa’.”

The concert was a retrospective of previous editions of “Horizons.” The performers were:

• Vladimir Andrić, baritone (J. Marinković: From Town to Town)
• Danijela Jovanović, soprano (S. S. Kovačević: Hourglass, Alone)
• Radmilo Petrović, tenor (P. Konjović: Oh, Look)
• Snežana Savičić, soprano (P. Krstić: Nymph; J. Marinković: Through the Garden Walked Gold)
• Živojin Ćirić, baritone (D. Golemović: Bread; D. Despić: The Reformer)
• Dimitrije O. Golemović, baritone (S. Binički: My Tear; D. Golemović: Autumn Farewell)
• Aleksandra Angelov, mezzo-soprano (I. Bajić: Believe That I Love You; P. Konjović: Beneath the Window)
• Miodrag D. Jovanović, baritone (I. Bajić: You Are Wonderful; S. Binički: If You Only Knew, Fair Stana)
• Milica Stojadinović, soprano (J. Marinković: How Beautiful This World Is; K. Babić: Summer Serenade, In My Homeland)
• Vladimir Andrić, baritone (Z. Hristić: Festive Bread)

Piano accompaniment: Maja Grujić, Mirjana Kršljanin, Ljubica Grujić, and Svetozar Saša Kovačević.

The Compact Disc Award

The general sponsor of “Horizons on the Tisa,” AD “Polet” IGK of Novi Bečej, awarded copies of a compact disc containing the recording (by sound engineer Zoran Jerković) of the June 3, 1999 Belgrade concert to:

• Ministry of Culture of the Republic of Serbia
• Radmila Bakočević
• Biserka Cvejić
• Dejan Despić
• Konstantin Babić
• Dimitrije O. Golemović
• Dr. Ivan Valčić, grandson of composer Josif Marinković