Koperativa produces the video for the Balkan-style arrangement of “Ode to Joy”, an innovative reinterpretation of a timeless European anthem.
In a time of division and uncertainty, the power of shared heritage can be a bridge that reconnects us. That’s the message behind the “Ode to Joy” project, an ambitious pan-European musical collaboration that reinterprets the renowned anthem to address today’s challenges. Koperativa, in cooperation with the WeBalkans team, has developed the creative approach and production of an emotional video that brought together artists from the Balkans and the European Union.
Koperativa produces the video for the Balkan-style arrangement of “Ode to Joy”, an innovative reinterpretation of a timeless European anthem.
The modern rendition, featured under the One Song - One Europe initiative, brings together twelve accomplished musicians hailing from both the EU and the Western Balkans, each contributing with distinct instruments ranging from classical to regional folk. From the Albanian harmonica and accordion to the Kosovo çifteli, from the Bulgarian gadulka to the didgeridoo from Germany, the fusion is unexpected, yet remarkably cohesive.
By weaving together diverse musical traditions, the performance reinforces that unity is harmony in diversity, and the only thing that will carry us through challenging times. As one artist reflected, “music always connects us, without borders and without words.”
This project reminds us that in a fractured world, culture remains a glue that binds us. In giving a new voice to “Ode to Joy”, the collaboration illustrates how European values of solidarity, harmony, and cooperation still resonate, particularly when reinterpreted by voices from all parts of the continent.
