New Era Quartet, an Italy-based ensemble with ties to Bosnia and Herzegovina and Montenegro, has reached No. 1 on the World Music Charts Europe for September 2026 with its album Bridge to Sevdah.
The project presents Bosnian sevdalinka performed through a string quartet, voice, and guitar. The ensemble features Kristina Mlinar on vocals and first violin, Teodora Kaličanin on second violin, Francesca Senatore on viola, and Alessandro Dore on cello.
The album began after producer Dragi Šestić heard the quartet perform “Žute dunje,” with Mlinar on vocals. Subsequent discussions with Mlinar and Kaličanin led to a full album devoted to Bosnian sevdalinkas.
Guitarist and composer Piercarlo Favro also played a major role in the project. He created arrangements for five of the album’s nine tracks and appears as a guest guitarist on tracks 2, 6, and 8. Mlinar arranged tracks 1, 3, 4, and 5, while Favro arranged tracks 2, 6, 7, 8, and 9.
The quartet recorded Bridge to Sevdah at the Pavarotti Music Center in Mostar, Bosnia and Herzegovina, from November 23 to 27, 2025.
Photos are by Mungaba Ali, artwork is by Jasmina Zvonić, and the English translation is by Emir Tutić.
World Music Charts Europe – September 2026
- New Era Quartet (Italy/Bosnia and Herzegovina) – Bridge To Sevdah – Snail Records
- Officina Zoe (Italy) – Mari E Marenne – Linfa
- L’Alba (France (Corsica)) – Vivu – Buda Musique
- Spectrum Quartett, Ulijanky, Nogaband & Simona Hulejová (Slovakia) – Obrázky Zo Slovenska – RealMusicHouse
- Hilal Kaya (Turkey/Denmark) – Sümbül – CPL-Music
- Melinda Balogh, Erdöfü & Janusz Prusinowski Kompania (Hungary/Poland) – Miedza, Mezsgye, Balk – Fonó
- Cocanha (France) – Flame Folclore – Bongo Joe
- Mah Damba (Mali) – Taabolo Koura – One World Records
- Nana Osei Twum Barima (Ghana) – Journey To The Unknown – Zephyrus
- Paolo Angeli & Tenore de Murales Orgosolo (Italy (Sardinia)) – Vinti E Maju – AnMa
- Maria Kalaniemi & Timo Alakotila (Finland) – Morgondimma – Akerö Records
- Kareyce Fotso (Cameroon) – Gwa – Contre-jour
- Riccardo Tesi & Paolo Zampini (Italy) – Camerock – Visage Music
- Fatoumata Diawara (Mali) – Massa – No Format
- Kefaya & Elaha Soroor (UK/Afghanistan) – Our Freedoms Must Be Won – Radio International
- Hmlisto (Slovakia/Czech Republic) – Samoty – Galén
- Ana Brenes (Spain (Catalonia)) – Mientras Camino – Segell Microscopi
- Airto Moreira & Ricardo Bacelar (Brazil) – Maracanós – Jasmin Music
- Girma Woldemichael (Ethiopia) – Nafqoté – self released
- Marco Grancelli (Argentina) – Camino Trunco – self released
More about the chart: https://wmce.de
Author: World Music Central News Room
World music news from the editors at World Music Central