“Music Preserves Memories” at Madlenianum: 25 Years of Diplomatic Relations between Serbia and Azerbaijan

At a gala concert at Madlenianum marking 25 years of diplomatic relations between Serbia and Azerbaijan, Mina Ristić Jonić performed Azer Rzayev’s Sonata for Violin and Piano with Marko Josifoski, Dževdat Hadžijev’s Ballade as a soloist, and Milan Prebanda’s song “Mila nane” with Jasmina Trumbetaš Petrović.

On 13 December 2022, the Embassy of Azerbaijan and the Azerbaijani Cultural Centre presented the gala concert “Music Preserves Memories” at the Madlenianum Opera and Theatre, marking 25 years of diplomatic relations between the Republic of Azerbaijan and the Republic of Serbia. The concert brought together Serbian and Azerbaijani artists, and pianist Mina Ristić Jonić appeared three times in three roles: as a chamber musician, as a soloist and as a piano collaborator.

With violinist Marko Josifoski she performed Azer Rzayev’s Sonata for Violin and Piano, a work from her doctoral art project. As a soloist she played the Ballade for piano by Dževdat Hadžijev, and with soprano Jasmina Trumbetaš Petrović she performed Milan Prebanda’s song “Mila nane”.

The concert also featured Honoured Artists of the Republic of Azerbaijan Elnur Suleymanov and Gunel Allahyarova, who performed traditional Azerbaijani dances, pianist Fagan Hasanli from Baku, the Brass Ensemble and conductor Đorđe Stanković. The programme combined Verdi, Shostakovich and Puccini with works by Azerbaijani composers, among them Fikret Amirov, whose centenary was celebrated that year.

“I had the great honour and privilege of performing with two of our outstanding artists, Jasmina Trumbetaš and Marko Josifoski, alongside guests and artists from Azerbaijan,” Mina Ristić Jonić wrote after the concert.

A concert of the same name had been held in February of the same year in the Atrium of the National Museum. The full programme and the performers’ biographies are published on the Madlenianum website.