Barcelona Gipsy Balkan Orchestra: Music that binds together
The Barcelona Gipsy Balkan Orchestra (BGKO) played at the Jewish Cultural Festival 2025 and spoke about the power of music that crosses borders. For the ensemble, it is not just about sound, but about community, freedom and the experience of belonging – regardless of background.
photo and text: Martin Farstad Borg
A festival with meaning
For the band, coming to Trondheim and playing in the synagogue was special. They experienced the festival as an arena where small minorities open their doors and invite the community in.
“If we get to know each other, we won’t fight. When we get to know each other, we become friends.”
In this way, they emphasize that their music is about more than entertainment – it becomes a tool for creating peace and understanding.
Roots and understanding
BGKO believes that knowing one's own roots is crucial to understanding those of others.
"We play for people who are trying to connect with their roots, and that allows us to connect the whole community. When we understand our own background, we can also respect others'."
This perspective gives music an extra dimension: it links identity and belonging to community, and builds bridges to an audience seeking meaning.
Feelings without words
The band told of moments where the audience has cried or danced without understanding the language of the lyrics.
"We've seen people cry without understanding a single word, and we've seen people dance to rhythms they've never heard before. Music goes straight to the heart – it explains something we can't put into words."
For BGKO, this is the very magic of culture: that emotions can be shared across languages and borders, which leads to respect for small traditions.
Small traditions – big importance
One of the musicians brought up his own background from a small island with 80 people.
"We had little traditions, games and food that we repeated every year. It may have been small, but it was incredibly important to our identity. I hope my children can one day continue the same traditions."
By highlighting their own roots, they remind us of how small cultural expressions gain universal value – and how they can be recognized in the festival's diversity.
An audience that welcomed
The concert in Trondheim was met with warmth and enthusiasm. The band described the atmosphere as homely – with smiles, conversations and an engaged audience.
"We felt at home. The audience was open, and we could share both the music and the atmosphere. It's a big effort to bring together musicians from all over the world, and we really appreciate being invited here."
The evening ended with a standing ovation, and the synagogue was filled with a dancing audience. For BGKO, it was a highlight that showed how music can not only unite, but also celebrate community in its most vibrant form.
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