On 25 April to celebrate Europe Day, the green light for EU accession negotiations and the 20^th anniversary of the EU’s largest enlargement, Office of the EU in BiH and EU member states in cooperation with the National Theatre and the Sarajevo Philharmonic are hosting a Gala Concert with a performance of Beethoven’s ninth symphony conducted by renowned Belgian Beethoven specialist Jan Caeyers. The concert will be live streamed on the Susan Sontag Square in front of the National Theatre, and members of the public are warmly invited to take part in this special occasion, which begins at 19.30. The concert will also be broadcast on BHRT on 9 May, Europe Day.

The organisation of the concert serves as a good example of the principle of ‘stronger together’ and Team Europe, with the Office of the EU in BiH, EU member state embassies, the National Theatre and Sarajevo Philharmonic successfully working together. The Diplomatic Office of Belgium to BiH secured the participation of Maestro Caeyers in the concert, the Embassy of Spain the participation of soprano Rocio Faus, the Embassy of Poland the participation of mezzo-soprano Magledalena Pluta, Sarajevo Philharmonic the participation of BiH tenor Amir Saračević and the Embassy of Slovakia, the participation of baritone Daniel Čapkovič. The Mixed Choir “Camerata Slovenica” was invited by the Embassy of Slovenia. The Embassies of the Czech Republic and Hungary have made a financial contribution, with the remaining expenses covered by the Office of the EU in BiH.

Beethoven’s ninth symphony premiered in Vienna on 7 May 1824, thus the concert is also a celebration of the 200^th anniversary of this masterpiece. The ‘Ode to Joy’ in the fourth movement with its call for all men to become brothers embodies the values the European Union was founded on and was selected to be the anthem of the European Union. The EU and its member states have repeatedly underlined their commitment to supporting Bosnia and Herzegovina on the path to EU membership.

The Gala Concert in the National Theatre is the first activity of the Europe Day programme for 2024. Simultaneous live concerts in Banja Luka, Mostar, Sarajevo and Tuzla and Mostar are planned for 11 May. There will also be a number of other activities, including the European Film Days, and activities focused on youth. The full programme of activities (which will be updated closer to 9 May) can be found at https://europehouse.ba/en/.