World-renowned icons of the world music scene and beloved by local audiences alike, the famous international ensemble Barcelona Gipsy balKan Orchestra will perform a concert in Belgrade on October 17, 2025, starting at 8 PM at Sava Centar — titled “Balkan Reunion.”
This band is warmly welcomed across the globe, performing songs in multiple languages including Spanish, Serbian, Russian, Romani, Italian and more. Based in Barcelona, the current lineup features Margerita Abita (vocals, Italy), Ivan Kovačević (double bass, Serbia), Julien Chanal (guitar, France), Albert Enkaminanko (percussions, Spain), Pere Nolasc Turu (violin, Catalonia, Spain), Fernando Salinas Olkoz (accordion, Spain), and Javi Pendón (clarinet, Spain).
For our region, the most prominent member is Ivan Kovačević, a native of Belgrade who has lived in Barcelona for nearly two decades and, together with his friends, forms the Barcelona Gipsy balKan Orchestra. The band released the album „Nova Era“ in late 2020 and followed it with „7“ in 2024, featuring new vocalist Margerita Abita from Sicily. Among their releases is a remarkable rendition of the well-known song „Marijo deli bela Kumrijo” and the iconic Silvana Armenulić classic „Ciganine sviraj, sviraj.” The album „7“ also features the original track „Tisom tiše” by Iva Knežević, inspired by the landscapes of Vojvodina, with lyrics rich in traditional symbolism and a melody that conjures warm summer nights on the farm, accompanied by gentle notes of the čardaš.
This ensemble performed concerts in Barcelona and Belgrade in 2017, with special guest Bora Dugić, and in 2022 they held a sold-out show at the Botanical Garden as part of the Garden Sessions concert series. In spring 2025, they released the single „Zrejlo je žito.”
Barcelona Gipsy balKan Orchestra presents their original material, both instrumental and vocal, drawing heavily on the musical traditions of the Balkan countries as the main inspiration for their compositions. The concert at Sava Centar is organized by the Belgrade Festivals Center (CEBEF). Eager to share an unforgettable experience with Belgrade, Barcelona Gipsy balKan Orchestra calls for a new Balkan Reunion – a unique evening in a venue that has been a symbol of the city’s capital for more than half a century. Tickets are available at Ticket Vision outlets and online at tickets.rs.
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