Opening ceremony of the most important Serbian music festival, 59. "Mokranjac days", organized by the Cultural Center "Stevan Mokranjac", was traditionally held in the heart of Staro Negotin, in front of the birth House of composer Stevan Stojanovic Mokranjac. The founder of Serbian choral music, the creator of the national style in music 19. in honor of the composer Stevan Mokranjac, Negotin will be from today until the 19th. September will be the capital of artistic music of Serbia and the region.
In the festive atmosphere, after the introduction of the anthem and the sound of fanfars, Welcome to numerous local and foreign participants, world-renowned musicians, prominent musical representatives, respected representatives of the spiritual and secular authorities, admirers of the timeless work of the famous composer, welcome Vladimir Veličković president of negotin municipality.
- This festival is not only a cultural event, but a deeply rooted tradition, a symbol of respect for art and a kind of celebration of the spirit that brings together artists, choirs, musical connoisseurs and lovers of art music from all over Serbia, the region and the world. Through his oeuvre, mokranjac combined folk and spiritual, past and contemporary, and left us an inexhaustible treasure that even today speaks in a universal language — clear, honest and timeless.
His music, especially "Rukoveti", is not only a work of art, but a foundation of identity — not only musical, but also cultural and national. And Negotin, his hometown, has the honor and responsibility to preserve, nurture and pass on this heritage to new generations. That is why "Mokranjac days" are much more than a festival — they are a bridge between time, a place of meeting of tradition and contemporary expression, between the local community and the world.
I would like to express special gratitude to all participants of the festival — performers, conductors, musicians, artists and experts — who with their work and dedication make Mokranjac's music not only last, but also to live a new life in each performance.
We owe great gratitude to the Ministry of culture of the Republic of Serbia, which provides valuable support in the organization of the festival, but also to numerous projects in the field of contemporary creativity and protection of cultural heritage.
I also thank the numerous friends of the ceremony who, with their support, send an important message about the nurturing and preservation of Mokranjac's creativity – said Vladimir Veličković.
Esteemed composer, ethnomusicologist, Prof. Dr. Dimitrije Golemović, Speaker 59. "Mokranjac days", he conveyed personal impressions about the contemporary creation of Stevan Mokranjac. - How, if he were alive today, would he have composed Stevan St. Mokranjac? The absence of the" legality "that once existed in music, today at the time of the" rule " of postmodern, would undoubtedly give him full freedom to express himself artistically and create works of the highest artistic value. And would this "freedom" result in works of higher quality than those he wrote? I am convinced that he would not, because Urinac did not mind the limitations of the means he used, since he found a way to outgrow the space and time in which he lived. "Laws make us free," is the gesture of Freemasons, who surely knew Stevan Mokranjac, since he belonged to them, and apparently acted accordingly.…
I do not know the reason, but in the "story" about the urination-composer something irresistibly reminded me of the one about the master who made the wooden doll. The master did so like many others, but only his puppet came to life. Whose merit? The master, or...? For those who they believethe answer is clear, while those who approach even the work of the divine urination exclusively guided by scientific principles should be left to continue doing so. Wouldn't they ever know, or remember, if they knew before, that science was created by man, and that is why it is necessary that there must be humanity even in it as an important ingredient-the orator Golemović pointed out.
Festival "Mokranjčevi Dani", 59. Milica Djurdjevic Stamenkovski, Minister of Labour, Employment, veteran and social affairs in the Government of the Republic of Serbia, announced the opening.
Danijela Marković, director of the Cultural Center "Stevan Mokranjac" presented the plaque "Mokranjac days" to the speaker of the festival, Prof. Dr Dimitrije Golemović.
Opening ceremony 59. The "mokranjac days" ended with a joint performance of the Pancevo Serbian church singing society and the negotin choirs under the leadership of Vera Carina and a thunderous performance of the sixth Mokranjac Rukoveta.