An Evening of Ginastera, Mokranjac, and De Falla at the Ibla Grand Prize International Festival
On July 6, 2025, Serbian pianist Julija Bal performed two recitals as part of the prestigious Ibla Grand Prize International Music Festival in Italy. A distinguished artist and two-time winner of the Ibla Grand Prize (2008 and 2023), Bal returned to the festival this year not only as a performer, but also as a member of the international jury.
Her recital program featured a rich and diverse selection of works from Latin American, Balkan, and Spanish composers. The evening opened with the 12 American Preludes by renowned Argentine composer Alberto Ginastera, a set known for its rhythmic vitality and folkloric character. Bal then introduced the audience to Echoes, a piano suite by modern Serbian composer Vasilije Mokranjac, offering a deeply expressive and introspective contrast.
To close the recital, she performed El Amor Brujo — a passionate and rarely heard suite by Spanish composer Manuel de Falla, captivating listeners with its fiery Andalusian spirit.
The first performance took place in the magnificent setting of San Vincenzo Ferreri Church in Ragusa. Just a few hours later, Bal gave an encore performance under the open sky at Piazza Pola, bringing the same program to a broader audience and contributing to the vibrant atmosphere of this internationally acclaimed festival.