Stjepan Večković on the photo is a founder of the Croatian Bagpipe Orchestra . Bagpipes are usually associated to Ireland and Scotland, but Croatian bagpipe tradition is much older. Recently an I nternational Bagpipe Festival has been organized in the village of Mihovljan near Zagreb. According to Mr. Večković, there is no country in the world that could compete Croatia in the variety of traditional national musical instruments.
Category: Music
Marie Spaemann a student of maestro Valter Despalj wins the first prize
Marie Spaemann on the left is a young German violoncellist studing at the Zagreb Academy of Music in the class of maestro Valter Dešpalj, distinguished Croatian musician and educator. She has recently won the first prize at the prestigeous 16th “Johannes Brahms” international competition for young musicians organized in Poertschach in Austria.
Zeljko Brkanovic distinguished Croatian composer
Renwned German composer Erhard Karkoschka commented on the music written by Željko Brkanović on the left: “I have already encountered and learnd to appreciate his music at the concerts of the Zagreb Biennale… What I noticed in particular is a differentiated use of instruments, which makes his orchestral works very interesting due to sudden shifts. In the same manner the formal structure and logically controlled lines always make a convincing impression.”
Croatian guitarist competes at Francisco Tarrega competition in Spain
Srdjan Bulat, (left) a 5th year guitar student at the Musical Academy in Zagreb performed at the 43rd annual Francisco Tarrega international competition that was held from August 28th – September 4th 2009 in the Spanish city of Benicassim. This year’s competition marked the 100th anniversary of the death of Francisco Tarrega, a renowned Spanish composer and guitar instructor.
Julian Rachlin and Friends festival in Dubrovnik
Pianist Yefim Bronfman, violinist Lawrence Power, clarinettist Martin Frost, cellist Torleif Thedéen, double-bassist Stacey Watton, harpsichord player Jan Jansen, along with almost “traditional” participants – cellist Mischa Maisky, pianist Itamar Golan, violinist Janine Jansen and many others – are only several world-renowned names coming to Dubrovnik this year upon the invitation by Maestro Julian Rachlin to perform at the Festival from 31 August to 12 September.
Ana Vidovic distinguished Croatian guitarist
Ana Vidović was born in Croatia in the town of Karlovac. At the age of 13 she became the youngest student to attend the National Musical Academy in Zagreb. Her international performance career includes recitals in London, Paris, Vienna, Salzburg, Rome, Budapest, Warsaw, Tel Aviv, Oslo, Copenhagen, Toronto, Baltimore, San Francisco, Houston, Austin, Dallas and St. Louis. She has a recital in Cavtat Croatia within Epiduarus Festival September 2, 2009 – 8:00 PM.
Loreta Kovacic to play at the Contemporary Arts Museum in Houston Sept 3, 2009
Croatian pianist Loreta Kovacic and her group the Texas Slavs will be performing at the Contemporary Arts Museum in Houston on September 3, 2009 starting at 7:00 p.m. The show is called Immigrants Out There, and will feature songs composed by her.
Martina Filjak clinches victory in Cleveland International Piano Competition
Two weeks of intense musical rivalry came to an end last Saturday when jurors in the 2009 Cleveland International Piano Competition crowned Martina Filjak, 30, of Croatia (left), winner of the 18th biennial contest.
Nenad Bach guest artist in Kansas City Concert for World Peace Aug 29 2009
UMKC student/alumni will perform in a Concert for World Peace, Saturday, August 29, 2009, 7:30pm, Rose Theatre, Rockhurst High School, 9301 State Line Ave., Kansas City, MO 64114. The Conservatory students and alumni will perform with guest artist Nenad Bach. Nenad Bach is a recording artist, composer, performer, and peace activist. He is originally from Croatia, but now lives in New York.
U2 conquered Zagreb Croatia
Unprecedented and original spectacle in Maksimir stadium was thrown by Bono Vox and his good Irish lads of U2. Over 60,000 people sang along with the band for over two hours. Oh beautiful, oh precious, oh sweet liberty – Bono Vox quoted 17th century Croatian author Ivan Gundulić as per Nenad Bach’s suggestion, to the delight of the sold-out stadium.
Epidaurus Festival in Cavtat Croatia Aug 28 – Sep 22 2009
CROWN invites you to attend the Third Epiduarus Festival in Cavtat, from August 28 to September 22 2009. The Festival has been founded and is directed by infatiguable Croatian pianist Ivana Marija Vidović, on the photo. Cavtat is a lovely town south of Dubrovnik, on Croatian coast. Among principal guests of the Festival this year will be a famous Croatian guitarist Ana Vidović.
Feri Sucic 91 years old Croatian musician and writer from Gradisce, Austria
Feri Sučić was born in 1918 within a Croatian branch in Austria, in the region of Gradišće – Burgenland. He composed or arranged 300 songs, and many of them are circulating as traditional songs. He is also known as prolific writer. An extensive monograph dedicated to his life and work has been issued last year on the occasion of 90th birthday.
Collegium pro musica sacra earned silver medal in Rome 2009
The 3rd International Choir Competition was organized by sacred music association Musica Mundi in the basilica of San Crisogono in Rome from June 30 to July 5 2009. Twenty choirs participated from all over the world. Croatian choir Collegium pro musica sacra , conducted by Iva Juras on the left, earned silver diploma. This excellent Croatian choir exists for 37 years.
Radojka Sverko – Croatian Diva
Radojka Šverko is one of the greatest female singers Croatia ever had. She had concerts in Rio de Janeiro, Tokyo, Seul, Athens, Puerto Rico, Caracas, Los Angeles, New York and Kopenhagen among others. Listen to her extraordinary interpretations of Croatian songs, and evergreens like The Shadow of Your Smile, Amazing Grace, The Automn Leaves, Bridge Over Troubled Water and many others.
Klapa Cambi singers from Kastel Kambelovac Croatia winning in St Petersburg
Klapa Cambi singers from the town of Kaštel Kambelovac in Croatia won the prestigeous competition Grand Prix of Peter the Great in St. Petersburg in Russia with the maximal 100 points from the jury. According to Ljubo Stipišić, one of the principal proponents of klapa singing, there are about 400 klapa’s in Croatia.
Children Festival of Klapa Singing in Zadar May 2009
Klapa singing in Croatia is a unique phenomenon of European culture. The phenomenon has been enriched in the past few years by existence of children’s klapas. The City Library in Zadar, Croatia, organizes the annual Children Festival of Klapa Singing since 2006. Each year it is becoming more and more popular and widespread. One of the principal proponents of klapa singing in Croatia is Ljubo Stipišić Delmata.
49th International Children's Festival in Sibenik Croatia June 20 – July 4 2009
49th International Children’s Festival in the city of Šibenik, Croatia, will take place in the period of June 20 – July 4 2009. It will host as many as 1100 participants from twenty countries which will offer a rich cultural program. The theatre tradition in Šibenik started 140 years ago, in 1870, when the theatre building was inaugurated. The city is famous for its Renaissance Cathedral of Sv. Jakov from 15-16th centuries, proteced by UNESCO.
Trideset godina od prvog rijeckog rock LP albuma Vrijeme i Zemlja I iz 1979
Vatru riječke glazbene scene zapalio je prvi riječki rock LP album 1979, kad se o albumima moglo samo sanjati. Četvorica mladića iz Rijeke, Nenad, Davor, Marinko i Joško ostvarili su ono što nitko do tada nije. LP Vrijeme i Zemlja I postala je rasadnikom novih glazbenih ideja. Nenad Bach i svi članovi grupe Vrijeme i Zemlja biti će na Press Party 19. lipnja 2009. u Rijeci. Davor Tolja i Nenad Bach su lijevo na slici iz 1979.
Drazen Domjanic and his wonderful musical family in Liechtenstein
Dražen Domjanić is Croatian pianist born in the town of Čakovec, living with his family in Liechtenstein. He is artistic director of Musik & Jugend (Music and Youth Foundation) which organized many master classes and concerts aiming to help young musicians from Central Europe, with emphasis on Croatia. His children Sara and Andreas are also musicians, playing violin and piano.
Ivana Vidovic performing Dora Pejacevic in the city of Zadar May 30 2009
Ivana Marija Vidović, Croatian pianist from the city of Dubrovnik, will soon be a guest of the University of Zadar. Her rectial includes compositions of Albéniz, Chopin, Liszt, Pejačević and Resta, starting at 21:00, May 30 2009. Students of the University will perform her poetry dedicated to Dora Pejačević, the first famous Croatian women composer.