Goran Bregović and his “Tales and Songs for Weddings and Funerals” small ensemble (there were just 10 on the stage) played the Fortezza di Montalfonzo above Castelnuovo Garfagnana this evening. A perfect summer evening in the castle grounds for thousands of his fans, many of whom had left their cars behind and walked up the steep hill to the castle to see Goran Bregović and his famous brass band.
One or two long faces in the crowd when it became clear that there was some use of backing tracks to pump up the overall sound and impact of the band but overall an enjoyable evening. Not so if you happened to be one of the dancers in the audience. Goran actually stopped the show at one point and said in his quiet voice… “please sit down, this is a concert – not rock and roll”
Goran Bregović is a musician from Bosnia and Herzegovina and one of the most recognizable modern composers of the Balkans.
Composer and guitarist Goran Bregović has been a household name in the Balkans for over three decades. Born in Sarajevo, Bosnia and Herzegovina (then Yugoslavia), Bregović has composed for such varied artists as Iggy Pop and Cesaria Evora. He earned his fame wielding a guitar with his rock band Bijelo dugme, a group that rose to stardom and set the groundwork for the Yugoslav rock scene. Known internationally for his scores for Emir Kusturica’s films (Time of the Gypsies, Arizona Dream, Underground), Bregović commands an ensemble that matches his larger-than-life persona. A rowdy brass band, bagpipes, a string ensemble, a tuxedo-clad all-male choir from Belgrade, and traditional Bulgarian and Roma singers make up his dynamic 40-piece band and orchestra. Bregović’s compositions, extending Balkan musical inspirations to innovative extremes, draw upon European classicism and Balkan rhythms, evoking rock’s searing power as well as the repose of sacred sounds–all fueled by the insistent drive of brass.
Click on the link below to hear Goran Bregović in concert this evening
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