Serbia – Corfu: a deep friendship that continues through music

With moving warmth and hospitality, Serbian friends welcomed the choirs of ‘Lyraia’ Arts Society and Acharavi Women’s Cultural Society, who travelled to Serbia following an official invitation from Mr. Popović, President of the Hellenic-Serbian Association, through Mrs. Boriana Vasileva Andrioti, a member of the Association, in cooperation with the Municipality of Ćuprija, the City of Paraćin, and the Metropolis of Serbia.

The visit took place with the approval and support of the Mayor, Ms. Jelena Djulinac, in the presence of the Deputy Mayor, Mr. Vladimir Vasiljević, the Artistic Director of the Municipal Cultural Foundation, Mr. Stefan Stamenković, and representatives of the local authorities.

That same evening, at the Municipal Theatre of Ćuprija, the first concert was held under the artistic direction and instruction of the conductor–performer Agathi Koskina, in collaboration with Mr. Stamenković.

Smaragda Papatsakona accompanied on the piano, and on the guitar Alekos Stogiannos.

The concert included a joint performance with a Serbian string quartet and the participation of a Serbian choir, with the highlight being the collaboration of all the performers on stage for the emblematic song “Tamo daleko”, which marked a moving finale.

The following day, the choirs had the rare honour of chanting inside the Church of Saint Sava in Belgrade, the largest church in the Balkans and one of the largest in the world. The church’s exceptional acoustics and the magnificence of its interior offered an unforgettable experience for all participants. After the performance, a warm welcome and traditional refreshments followed.

The event received wide coverage from the Serbian press and the state television channel, and it was also broadcast live on the radio, further strengthening the cultural bridge between the two peoples.

The audience’s warm reception, their emotional responses, and the way the Serbians spoke about Corfu show how deep their love and respect for our island remain — they hold it in their hearts as a second homeland.

The experience was a unique cultural exchange, filled with music, emotion, and human connection.

The choirs performed their programme excellently, including songs not only from Corfu but also from all regions of Hellenism — Cypriot, Epirote, Macedonian, and island songs — offering the audience a colourful musical journey through Greece.

The audience responded enthusiastically, resulting in an immediate proposal to repeat the same concert with the same choirs next year.

The hospitality was exceptional in every aspect, leaving everyone with the best impressions and further strengthening the bonds of friendship between Serbia and Corfu.

ELENI KORONAKI