The “Balkan route” is the route taken by desperate refugees fleeing from east to west. It crosses the sites of bloody battles fought in Europe only twenty years ago and tells a tale of never-ending human suffering. But for Christina Pluhar and her L’Arpeggiata ensemble the Balkan route also represents the history of a fascinating passage for culture and music. Appalled and moved by the humanitarian tragedy of the refugee crisis, L’Arpeggiata dedicates its new programme to those who have fled and aims to evoke the Balkan route through music. The programme tells the story of a culture rich in music: from Turkey to the Greek islands, on to Bulgaria and across Macedonia, Serbia and Bosnia, all the way to (formerly Venetian) Dalmatia. With guests including the Bosnian singer Nataša Mirković, the Bulgarian grandmasters Petar Ralchev (accordion) and Peyo Peev (gadulka) and the Greek singer Katerina Papadopoulou, L’Arpeggiata uncovers an alternative history of the Balkans that reveals close cultural ties and inspirational musical encounters.

Concert performance in various languages

Introduction to the work 30 minutes before curtain-up