With a grand concert by leading Macedonian pianist Simon Trpceski and the Philharmonic Orchestra conducted Vladimir Ashkenazi, the new building of the Philharmonic Orchestra was inaugurated on Sunday evening. President Gjorge Ivanov, Prime Minister Emil Dimitriev and Culture Minister Elizabeta Kanceska Milevska cut the ribbon at the opening ceremony, while VMRO-DPMNE leader Nikola Gruevski, under whose premiership the construction was initiated, was welcomed with applause when he arrived for the concert.
The orchestra improvised its work in different locations and got a stately and modern Philharmony building at the 73rd anniversary of its founding. “As of today, our musicians will create in the same surroundings they were used to seeing across Europe and the world”, said Kanceska Milevska. According to the Minister, the architecture of the new building, easily recognizable by the large spheric body, will allow the musicians to bring out the best from them.
Kanceska Milevska said that the Trpceski-Ashkenazi concert is the first of a series of exclusive events that will inaugurate the building, which a grand hall with 1.000 seats and a smaller hall with 310 adjustable seats for various types of events. The grand hall features the latest in technology and acoustics.