Far from the traditional filming of a staged performance, Alpha and Katarina Livljanic offer a genuinely cinematographic work based on the epic poem Judita of the Croatian Renaissance writer Marko Marulić. Judita has been printed in Croatian language in 1521, and Marko Marulić, one of the greatest Croatian writers, expressly stated in the title of his book that the poem was written in Croatian language. Musically, this project by Katarina Livljanić, professor at the University of Paris – Sorbonne, is a reconstruction, using Gregorian, Beneventan and Glagolitic sources of medieval Dalmatia, as well as the study of Croatian Glagolitic chant in oral tradition.
Author: Ivana Marija Vidovic and Darko Zubrinic
1134 years since the first international recognition of Croatia, more than 600 years before the discovery of America
During the solemn divine service in St. Peter’s church in Rome in 879, Pope John VIII gave his blessing to the prince and the whole Croatian people, about which he informed Branimir in his letters. In his letter dated from 881 the Pope addressed Branimir as the `glorious prince’. This was the first time that the Croatian state was officially recognized. As wee see, this happened in the 9th century, or more precisely, more than 600 years before the discover of America.
Drazen Petrovic 1964-1993 distinguished Croatian basketball player and the greatest European player of all times
Dražen Petrović initially achieved success playing professional basketball for Croatian clubs Šibenka and Cibona, and in Europe (Real Madrid in Spain) in the 1980s before joining the American NBA in 1989. In 1993 Dražen died in a car accident at the age of 28. Petrović earned two silver medals and one bronze in Olympic basketball, a gold and a bronze in the FIBA World Championship, and a gold and a bronze in the FIBA European Championship. He earned four Euroscar Awards, and was named Mr. Europa in basketball twice. At the Olympic Games in 1992, he was the leader of the Croatian basketball team, which won all games except the final against the USA.
Nikola Primorac Croatian captain of City of Ragusa craft sailing from Liverpool to New York and back in 1870
There are honored people in Croatian maritime history who contributed to the various fields of maritime affairs. One of them is Captain Nikola Primorac, born in Dubrovnik on July 27, 1840, who sailed in his small boat across the Atlantic from Liverpool to New York and back to Liverpool, England. In Liverpool he made a bet with one Englishman for 100 pound sterling that he will cross the Atlantic in a small boat. It was sensational news in Britain which the London “Times” wrote: “It is an incredible brave and crazy adventure ever made that could turn into tragedy or triumph”.
Destination CROATIA Destination CROATIA Destination CROATIA Destination CROATIA
Croatia, one of the most beautiful countries in the world, is a land which its citizens often call her Lijepa Naša , that is, Our Beautiful . It is not surprising that this is the title of Croatia’s National Anthem as well. Croatia is a southern Central European country at the crossroads between the Pannonian Plain and the Mediterranean Sea. Its southern and western flanks border the Adriatic Sea. In this article we show two fantastic films about Croatia. On the left is a photo of probably the most beautiful cape in the world, called Zlatni Rat (Golden Cape), on the island of Brač in Croatia.
GLAGOLICA a European Musical Language – project by Festival Kvarner in Opatija 25-26 June 2013 Croatia
The “GLAGOLICA – A European Musical Language” project, is an awarded EU project within the framework of the Culture Programme 2007-2013. We are speaking about Croatia, which will enter the European Union on 1st of July 2013. The central theme is the Croatian recension of Old Church Slavonic literary language with its Croatian Glagolitic Script. The program includes the concerts of Katarina Livljanić (25th June, Middle Age Music) and I.G. Kovačić Choir from Zagreb (26th June, Bruckner’s Te Deum) in the city of Opatija in Istrian peninsula, both at 21:30. Croatian Glagolitic Script will be visualized by Ars Electronica from Vienna. On the photo is the logo of Festival Kvarner in Opatija, Croatia.
Julija Vojkovic champion of International Competition in Middle Age Fencing in Pavone Canavese Italy
In 2013 a small Croatian group participated in the International Competition of Middle Age Fencing in Pavone Canavese Italy. And for the first time in the history of competition, a brand new team won to first places. Julija Vojkovic won the first place in fencing. She composed her fantastic dresses sewing them alone, based on old traditional, extremely elegant Croatian costumes from the region of Vrlika. Julija is professional graphic artist and designer living with her family in the city of Zagreb.
Miro Gavran's interviews and plays to be shown in Poland, the Czech Republic and in Belgium in June 2013
Miro Gavran, the greatest contemporary Croatin playwright, will soon have several appearances with his plays and interviews in Poland, the Czech Republic, and in Belgium. His works have been translated into 35 languages worldwide, including Chinese. His play Hotel Babilon is in some way very special: it is a monodrama in which his wife Mladena Gavran (on the photo) plays as many as ELEVEN different roles.
Branko Istvancic Croatian film-maker made a fantastic documentary film about the art of straw-girls in Backa
Croatian female artists called straw-girls (or straw-women) from the region of Bačka are named so for straw, which they weave in order to make beautiful and poetic description of their hard and lonely life. Very common motives are small Catholic churches and Christian symbols. At the 1976 international exhibition of naive art in Moscow Ana Milodanović won the gold medal, while Kata Rogić had exceptional honour to present her work to Pope Paul the 6th in the Vatican in 1964. Croatian film-maker Branko Ištvančić made a fantastic film about the art of straw-girls.
The World Festival of Animated Film in Croatia's capital Zagreb 4–9 June 2013
As many as 52 works from 16 countries submitted their applications for the 2013 Festival of Animated Film in Zagreb. The 16 selected works are characterised by the diversity of animation techniques and artistic approaches. They include abstract works like Unfettered by Canadian author Sandra Eber, Kihi-kuhi by Finn Maria Bjoerklund or Ostali tragovi by Swiss-Croatian artist Michaela Müller, as well as narrative films like Choban by Croatian filmmaker Matija Pisačić, Donijela sam kolača by another Croatian author, Ivana Pipal, and We have no tickets by Chinese artist Bao Jian. In the middle of the photo is the logo of the Festival: Z… is for Zagreb.
Don Wolf author of autobiographical photo monograph Croatian Love Story
Long before Don Wolf was born, the outline for A Croatian Love Story was formed in the 1900’s. An ethnic neighborhood was the site where determined women and men struggled to build, to educate and to become citizens. These Croatian immigrants formed the strong shoulders supporting cherished traditions as they learned to live in and to love their new country. Don’s photographs depict Croatian life both in the United States and in Croatia. His writing preserves generations of memories. This book is a tribute to those who came before and a blessing to those who are yet to come.
Luka Misetic and Tomislav Kuzmanovic presented with the 2012 Vinodol Code Award
The Croatian American Bar Association presented the 2012 Vinodol Code Award to each of Luka S. Misetic (on the photo) and Tomislav Z. Kuzmanovic, as the joint recipients, in recognition of their distinguished legal careers and outstanding contributions to the Croatian-American community. Mr. Misetic and Mr. Kuzmanovic represented General Ante Gotovina and General Mladen Markae before ICTY’s Appeals Chamber.
Ana Vidovic concerts and interviews of distinguished Croatian guitarist
Ana Vidovic is an extraordinary classical guitarirst with formidable gifts taking her place amongst the elite musicians of the world today. Ms. Vidovic has given over one thousand public performances since first taking the stage in 1988. Her international performance career includes recitals in Zagreb, Tokyo, New York, London, Paris, Vienna, Salzburg, Rome, Budapest, Warsaw, Tel Aviv, Oslo, Copenhagen, Toronto, Baltimore, San Francisco, Houston, Austin, Dallas, St. Louis and beyond.
Artur Bagdasarov author of Croatian-Russian Dictionary containing 35,000 lexemes published in Moscow 2013
A special attention in this dictionary has been payed to the phraseology. Many notion from the Croatian history, culture, faith, tradition, and their way of life have been described. The dictionary will be useful to a broad audience. It can be recommended to translators, philologists, professors, students, and all those who use it in professional level. Dr. Bagdasarov is a frequent guest in free Croatian media, author of numerous articles and books, and a recipient of the INA Awarad for international promotion of Croatian culture. We congratulate Dr. Bagadasarov on this superb work.
MARULIC DAYS 2013 in the city of Split in Croatia – COLLOQVIVM MARVLIANVM XXIII
The 2013 COLLOQVIVM MARVLIANVM XXIII, under the title The Heritage of Classical Antiquity in Renaissance Texts, has been organized by the Split Literary Circle – Marulianum, Split, Croatia, 19-20 April 2013. This international conference was held in the Institute of the Croatian Academy of Sciences and Arts in Split. It was a part of a much larger cultural event, The Marulić Days 2013, named after Marko Marulić 1450-1524 (Marcvs Marvlvs), a Croatian Renaissance writer, who was living in the city of Split.
Adam Eterovich 1931-2013 distinguished researcher of the history and culture of Croatian diaspora in the USA
Adam Eterovich’s studies of Croatian diaspora in the USA are inavoidable for understanding the contribution Croatians to the history of the USA. He has accumulated and published a list of several hundred thosanad of names of Croatian Americans. On his well known web-site www.croatians.com Mr. Eterovich has selected dozens of interesting biographies, some of which left indelible mark in the history of the USA, like Nikola Tesla (the father of three-phase system in world’s electrical engineering), Anthony Lucas (or Antun Lučić, a father of world’s petroleum engineering), Mario Puretić (Puratić, important inventor in fishing industry), etc. etc.
Croatian Academy of America celebrates its 60th anniversary in 2013
In 1953, a group of persons dedicated to promoting Croatian history, art and culture agreed that a formal organization needed to be established to introduce to an American and Canadian scholarly audience the importance of Croatia to civilization. The Croatian Academy of America (CAA) resulted from the work of these dedicated persons. The Academy’s Journal of Croatian Studies made its first appearance seven years later, in 1960, and has been publishing ever since, showcasing the articles of hundreds of prominent scholars from North America and Croatia. On the photo John Kraljić, the current president of CAA.
Margaret Thatcher 1925-2013: It is a great pleasure to speak to you here in the ancient capital of your beautiful country
Margaret Thatcher passed away on 8 April 2013. One of her greatest achievements came when she was no longer Prime Minister. She came out in support of recognising and arming Croatia in 1991 when Serbia had invaded and she did the same for Bosnia-Hercegovina when Belgrade turned its aggression onto that country. In so doing she helped focus international onto who was the aggressor. She played her role in combating the return of genocide to Europe. (Brian Gallagher, London)
Radoslav Lorkovic Croatian-American musician ranging from classical and jazz styles to blues, country and soul
Drawing from a multitude of influences ranging from elegant classical and jazz styles to the rawest, most basic blues, country and soul, Radoslav Lorkovic has taken on an unusually broad musical spectrum and refined it into his distinctive piano style. His tenure on the R&B and folk circuits has culminated in five critically acclaimed solo recordings and numerous appearances on the recordings of and performances with artists including Odetta, Jimmy LaFave, Ribbon of Highway Woody Guthrie Tribute, Greg Brown, Richard Shindell, Ellis Paul, Dave Moore, Andy White and Bo Ramsey.
Ferdinand Kulmer 1925-1998 distinguished Croatian painter author of Croatia Phoenix series in 1991
According to Mr. Ante Glibota, distinguished Art Historian, a Croatian living in Paris and Shanghai, nobody in the contemporary history of Croatian art has so successfuly and convincingly described the drama of the creation of the Republic of Croatia, as Ferdinand Kulmer. Ferdinand Kulmer was a witness of the drama, which he superbly described in his paintings, and announced the victory in a series called Croatia Phoenix already in 1991. Born in France, Kulmer was a descendant of Croatian nobility, sharing the destiny of all Croatians. His works of art are described in several representative monographs written by Ante Glibota.