Piazza Grande Music Nights - MusiCity & Istrian Chamber Orchestra

The central square of Novigrad, the popular Piazza Grande, is once again the place to be for top live music this summer!

Music Without Borders is a unique concert project bringing together MusiCity and the Istrian Chamber Orchestra, combining the energy of an electric combo band with the elegance of a string chamber orchestra. This original musical concept blurs the boundaries between genres, uniting ethno, jazz, rock and classical music in a fresh and contemporary way.

The programme is built around MusiCity's original compositions, written in a distinctive ethno-fusion style. Inspired by Istrian landscapes, place names and local stories, the music evokes the Mediterranean spirit while incorporating elements of the traditional Istrian scale. In newly created arrangements, the strings of the Istrian Chamber Orchestra enrich these compositions with melodic depth and harmonic richness, creating an entirely new concert experience.

The repertoire is complemented by crossover arrangements of well-known classical masterpieces by Johann Sebastian Bach, Richard Strauss and Ludwig van Beethoven, specially adapted for orchestra and combo band. The dialogue between the two ensembles gives the concert its distinctive sound and originality.

The project premiered during the 30th anniversary concert of renowned flautist Samanta Stell, who created this programme to unite the two artistic paths that have shaped her career. Today, Music Without Borders stands as an authentic Istrian musical project, conceived and performed entirely by Istrian musicians. Inspired by contemporary international trends, it offers audiences a fresh, emotional and artistically compelling musical experience.

The concert features the Istrian Chamber Orchestra, conducted by Maestro Petar Matošević, author of the orchestral arrangements, together with MusiCity, led by composer and arranger Damir Vukelja and flautist Samanta Stell, co-arranger and artistic collaborator of the project.