The double bass quartet “BASSOMANIA” recently returned from a highly successful tour across the region. I can confidently say that the success was truly remarkable, from the audience turnout (packed venues) to the reception and reactions to the performances. The highlight of the tour was the concerts at Banski Dvor Hall in Banja Luka and the Bosnian Cultural Center in Sarajevo. In May, we have concerts scheduled in Ljubljana and Trieste. Plans are underway for tours in China and other Far Eastern countries, as well as participation in festivals in the region (BEMUS, Ohrid Summer Festival), and other European festivals.

The idea behind the double bass quartet “BASSOMANIA” is to bring together the best double bassists from the region and beyond, with outstanding interpretations of various arrangements for this unique ensemble. Additionally, the quartet has performed and recorded several newly composed compositions for this ensemble by renowned composers Ivan Brkljačić, Tatjana Milošević, and Branka Popović. Some of the recordings are included in the double compact disc edition and monograph released for the 30th anniversary of Bassomania.

The members of the double bass quartet “BASSOMANIA” are Zoran Marković (Ljubljana Academy of Music), Ljubinko Lazić (Faculty of Arts in Niš, Belgrade Philharmonic), Fahrudin Strojil (Sarajevo Academy of Music, Sarajevo Philharmonic), and myself. Other colleagues join us in certain performances featuring more than four double basses. As guests with the quartet, some of the world’s greatest double bass virtuosos, such as Roman Patkolo, Petru Iuga, and Rik Stotijn, have performed. Our usual program combines arrangements (Mokranjac, Tanasković, Žebeljan, Hopkins, Garcia, Mancini, Strauss…) and original compositions for the double bass quartet.