Renaissance Ensemble to celebrate 45th anniversary

BELGRADE - Europe's oldest early and traditional music ensemble, the Belgrade-based Renaissance Ensemble, will on October 29 mark its 45th anniversary with a concert at the Fresco Gallery, the venue of their first public performance.

Established 45 years ago, in 1969, the Renaissance Ensemble has played more than 3,000 concerts in Europe, the Middle East and northern Africa, also performing at many festivals in the former Yugoslavia and internationally.

At the initiative of Renaissance Ensemble members, studies of medieval and Renaissance music have been introduced in Serbian music schools, making them unique in the region.

The National Museum hosted their first concert - in the acoustical Fresco Gallery, the musicians, dressed in period costumes and playing old instruments, presented Renaissance music to the Belgrade audience for the first time.

Remaining true to historically accurate and authentic interpretation, over the years, the members of the ensemble have developed a rich repertoire that includes the works of mediaeval, Renaissance and Baroque masters, as well as traditional Balkan music.

In 2004, Renaissance founded a centre for early music that bears the same name and brings together researchers and performers of early and traditional music.

Their efforts aimed at cherishing early music have earned them numerous awards in the former Yugoslavia, Serbia and internationally (Golden Plaque In the Name of Universal Art at the Mediterranean Festival in Bari, Italy, Vuk Award, Golden Ring of Belgrade, Annual Award of the City of Belgrade).