Serbian Singing Society Jedinstvo has been cultivating spirituality and culture for decades under the auspices of the Serbian Orthodox Church, and spreading its music year after year, both in the cities of Srpska and in other European cities.

Although the period behind us was restrictive for many events, affecting particularly the bands performing live music, according to conductor Nemanja Savić, Jedinstvo choir ensembles were working during that period to a lesser extent and in accordance with the recommendations, and are now returning to more regular activities in full composition.

Due to the more favorable epidemiological situation and measures, they have performed several times in the past period. In addition to the Christ the Savior Cathedral, where they perform on Sundays and holidays, the choir performed in Derventa and in Lazarica church in the Banja Luka settlement of Lazarevo. In a conversation with Glas Srpske, Savić reflected on the past period of the choir’s work and activities and guest appearances planned during this year.

– We had an all-evening spiritual music concert in Lazarica. It was an excerpt from the portion of the repertoire that the choir will present in Russia in Nizhny and Moscow. The concerts were well received and attended by a large audience – said Savić.

He added that, in terms of plans, they were currently completing the recording of videos of patriotic compositions, in cooperation with the Radio-Television of the Republic of Srpska. With the songs recorded earlier, the videos were recorded this week.

– The videos will be presented on the occasion of marking the 30th anniversary of the Republic of Srpska. These are my own works, which include the compositions Sloboda (written on the text by Petar Kočić), Živjela Republiko Srpska, Za Vječnost Se Rodi, and one song about Banja Luka. Our poet Ranko Pavlović previously wrote a melancholic text about the region and Banja Luka, and that composition is certain to find its audience – Savić emphasized.

Savić adds that they are traveling to Russia today, where they will perform in Nizhny Novgorod and Moscow this week and next.

– We will perform there in Nizhny Novgorod, we will present ourselves to the public several times as part of the ceremony dedicated to the 800th anniversary of that oblast. We will have many opportunities to visit the cultural sights of this oblast and the city, including Diveyevo. It is a famous monastery near the city and we will have a short performance there, in the form of a mix of the spiritual and secular program, which will include compositions by Russian and Serbian authors. In Pervomaysky, not far from Nizhny, on 3 July, we will present an all-evening program consisting of works of art, but also folklore compositions to present musical tradition of our area. On 4 July, in the Alexander Nevsky Cathedral, we will have the opportunity to participate in liturgy together with the hosts. On the same day, in the famous Jupiter concert hall, we will present an excerpt from our compositions. One part will be spiritual, but we will also present our folklore program – Savić said and added that they would hold a concert in the Cathedral of Christ the Savior in Moscow on 5 July, which would be a special experience.

Savić added also that the event Banja Luka Choral Meetings International Choral Festival would be held in Banja Luka in October.

Source and photo: Glas Srpske