The concert-play "Letters of the Executed" (originally performed under the title "Crystal Night") represents one of the most significant and emotional projects of the Cultural Element organization. Dedicated to the culture of remembrance and paying tribute to the victims of World War II, this project is conceived as a harrowing story about the horrors of camp prisoners, based on the real farewell letters of patriots who tragically lost their lives.
Directed by Tadija Miletić, the play has been combining exceptional classical music with powerful dramatic moments for years. The concept of the play is to invite different musical performers for each show who perform a different work. Actor Nikola Štrbac guides the audience through the emotions of the victims, while the harsh reality of the camp is portrayed by Branko Žujković in the role of an officer and prison guard.
Through several seasons, the play has evolved from the authentic and eerie space of the Banjica Camp Museum in Belgrade, to a modern interpretation with 3D mapping that had its performance in front of an international audience at the Serbian Cultural Center in Beijing. All previous performances of this significant project are presented below.
Crystal Night (2017)
Marking the memory of Kristallnacht and the pogrom, a completely different concert was created within the 3rd season of Musical Vaults. The "Anime" string quartet performed Shostakovich's String Quartet No. 8. The concert was held in a solemn and moving atmosphere that attracted a large audience who visited the Banjica Camp Museum for the first time.
Crystal Night (2018)
In the 4th season of Musical Vaults, the Cultural Element marked 80 years since the great pogrom and the day of the fight against fascism. This time, the Ensemble Quintessenza performed Shostakovich's famous Piano Quintet, while the dramatic artists continued the tradition of reading the letters of those who perished in the whirlwind of war.
Letters of the Executed (2019)
In the fifth season, the project officially gets the name "Letters of the Executed". The musical part of the program was carried by the sound of cellos (Ivan Stjepan Marinić and Marija Tadić) who performed works by Bach, Shostakovich, and Hindemith, completing the emotion of those who unfortunately did not see the end of the war.
Letters of the Executed (2024)
In the prestigious art district "798" in Beijing, the play experienced its modern interpretation. With the support of the Ministry of Culture of the Republic of Serbia, Dejan Stojanović created a fascinating 3D mapping of the camp room. Dina Miletić and Ana Spremić performed in the dual role of prisoners and musical performers, presenting this universal story of human suffering and hope to the Chinese audience. The delegation of the Cultural Element officially visited the National Museum of China and the famous Forbidden City during this visit.