From Sarajevo-born rockstar to celebrated soundtrack composer and multi-faceted master of Balkan sound, Goran Bregović is a generationally beloved giant of global music. After a string of electrifying shows over the years, Bregović is bringing his Wedding and Funeral Band back to the Sydney Opera House for a celebratory performance that’s set to be one of the year’s most jubilant parties.
Born in Sarajevo to a Serbian mother and a Croatian father, Bregović left his classical studies at 16 to form Bijelo Dugme (‘White Button’), a rock ’n’ roll band that sold millions of records and became Yugoslavia’s most popular musical act before disbanding in 1989. As a new decade dawned, Bregović took a memorable turn toward film music, embracing the Gypsy rhythms of his native Balkans on the internationally acclaimed soundtracks to Emir Kusturica’s Time of the Gypsies (1989), Arizona Dream (1993) and the Cannes-winning masterpiece Underground (1995).
With his Wedding and Funeral Band, Bregović mixes Gypsy brass musicians with percussion, Bulgarian polyphonies with a choir of vocalists, and a string section with electronic programming. His boundless talent has seen him collaborate with everyone to Greek crooner Dalaras to Turkish icon Sezen Aksu, rock icon Iggy Pop and avant garde legend Scott Walker.
Bregović’s wildly eclectic – and wildly euphoric – performances are the kinds of experiences not easily forgotten. Animated by the composer’s infectious love for music, Bregović’s shows are triumphant cross-cultural affairs, mixing traditional Balkan rhythms with Bulgarian, Georgian and Corsican chants, and the sounds of Europe’s roaming Gypsy musicians. It’s set to be a celebration – and an irresistible invitation to dance.
The event is presented by ANIMANAGEMENT INC
Event Venue & Nearby Stays
Dubai Opera, Dubai Opera - Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Boulevard - Dubai - United Arab Emirates, Dubai, United Arab Emirates
