Violinist Nigel Kennedy last night became the first Western musician to perform in Yugoslavia since the Kosovo war.
He received four standing ovations after a two-hour concert for peace at Belgrade's Sava Centre which was packed with 3,700 people.
"It was really fun and particularly emotional and atmospheric. It was the first time in a long while that so many people have been able to come together publicly to enjoy themselves," said Kennedy, who played with the Belgrade Philharmonic Orchestra.
They were led by conductor Bojan Sudjich and performed a popular programme of Bruch's Violin Concerto, the Bach double concerto with Biljana Kitanovic and some solo Bach works.
Rapturous applause greeted the violinist, who will not be receiving a fee, when he topped off the performance with a surprise rendition of Irish jigs.
His agent Mr Terri Robson said: "He pulled a base player out of the orchestra and played some Irish jigs. There were four standing ovations in all and they played Danny Boy and there was not a dry eye in the house.
"A lot of the people who turned up and were sitting in the aisles were musicians who had brought their violins with them. Nigel has invited them to a jazz club tonight where he has promised he will jam with them."
Mr Kennedy described his visit to the city as a "non-political" gesture of support to the orchestra, with whom he last performed in December 1997.
The orchestra continued to rehearse throughout the 11 weeks of Nato bombing, despite water shortages, power cuts and sirens blaring in the background.
Mr Kennedy travelled to Belgrade at his own expense, flying from Zurich because civilian flights to Belgrade have yet to resume from Britain.
The Sava centre has no connection with the Yugoslavian government and Kennedy was not worried that the concert could be used for propaganda.
Mr Kennedy said: "I'm amongst friends I know in Belgrade. They are warm and love music. I simply felt terrible when I heard that people I know were living in a country that was being bombed. "I just wanted to come over to Belgrade and share some music with them and play to an audience I have played to in the past.
"In my view it was not a controversial decision to come to this country - a country that loves classical music and is in fact highly cultured.
"I'm not a politician and certainly do not have sympathy with many politicians and I was not here to make a political point on anyone's behalf."
Concert promoter Mr George Milutinovic said: "He put a magic on the Belgrade audience. "Tickets were put on sale on Thursday and by Friday they were all gone. "He is very well known and is the first Western musician to come to our country after the bombing and everybody here is glad that he came to take our hearts with his music.
"People are very honoured that he came."
Last week Kennedy took part in the Unicef benefit event for Kosovar refugees in London.
Belgrade is on the international concert circuit, and Kennedy performed his Hendrix arrangements, Bach and Bartok there in May last year.