Samarica is a lonely village near the mount of Moslavačka gora East of the city of Zagreb. We present its traditional Christmas carols and customs. We also enclose a Christmas message written by rev. Nikola Radić from the largest Croatian island of Krk, as well as two very nice Catholic calendars (the general one and the one representing the island of Krk) created by him in 2016. Rev. Radić is at the age of 80 and he is one day older than Pope Francis.
Category: Music
Miran Vaupotic Croatian conductor winner of the 2016 "Haydn Award" in Yerevan in Armenia
In 2016 Miran Vaupotić won First Prize and special “Haydn Award” at the 12th International Aram Khachaturian Conducting Competition in Yerevan, Armenia. He conducted many symphony orchestras and ensembles including London Symphony Orchestra, St. Petersburg State Symphony Orchestra, Slovak Radio Symphony Orchestra, Budapest Symphony Orchestra MÁV, Cairo Symphony Orchestra, Belarusian National Philharmonic, Pannon Philharmonic Orchestra, Orquesta Sinfónica Nacional Argentina, Orquesta Sinfónica UNCuyo, Malta Philharmonic Orchestra, Moravian Philharmonic Orchestra, North Czech Philharmonic Orchestra, State Youth Orchestra of Armenia, Zagreb Philharmonic Orchestra, Zagreb Soloists.
Ivana Marija Vidovic had exciting pianist concert tour in China in October 2016
Very successful and interesting pianist tour of Ivana Marija Vidović (on the photo, right, with Carrie Ren) throughout China, during several weeks, jointly with Albanian clarinetist Fatos Qerimaj ( Duo cLAVinet ), included the following cities: Beijing, Baoding, Liuzhou, Nanning, Fuzhou, Wuxi. This tour was her first encounter with ancient and friendly civilisation, which has left her in the state of total euphoria.
Vukovar 1991 – 2016 and music inspired by the destiny of the Baroque city on Danube river
Twenty five years have passed since the 1991 Vukovar tragedy. We provide several music expressions inspired by the events which marked Croatian contemporary history, as well as that of contemporary Europe. Among others, we provide music by Nenad Bach, Tomislav Ivčić (on the photo), Veritas aeterna, Dalmatino, Klapa Adriaticum, Buco, Miroslav Štivčić and others.
Zagreb AdvEnt Days among the most interesting in Europe
The Zagreb Advent Days are among the most beautiful events of this kind in Europe, accompanied with a peaceful mood, specific music, domastic food, and unusual sceneries in richly decorated Croatia’s capital. In the recent years, Zagreb was voted the best Christmas place in Europe. On the photo the advent wreath created by members of the OZANA Association for persons in need.
Astrid Kuljanic participating A Concert Benefiting the Syrian American Medical Society in NY Nov 29th 2016
Featured performance, of which Astrid Kuljanić will be a part of: “He Will Be Our Brother,” A Concert Benefiting the Syrian American Medical Society (SAMS) Tuesday, November 29th, 2016, Saint Peter’s Church at 619 Lexington Ave, New York, NY. Special performances by renowned New York City musicians, including Edmar Castańeda, Jeff ‘Tain’ Watts, Kevin Hays, Gregoire Maret, John Ellis, Matt Clohesy, Magos Herrera, Vitor Gonçalves, Rogerio Boccato and Asaran Earth Trio. The admission is free and open to public. Hope you can join us in helping this extremely important fundraiser!
Hrvojka Mihanovic Salopek presenting Croatian Mariological Heritage of the Sisak Bishopric
Veneration of Mary, Mother of Mercy, in the city of Sisak near Croatia’s capital Zagreb is the ninth film in the series Digital Recording of the Croatian Mariological Heritage, under the auspices of the Committee for Education, Science and Culture of the Croatian Parliament and the Council for Culture of the Croatian Conference of Bishops. The project leader, scenarist and director is Hrvojka Mihanović-Salopek, Ph.D, who deserves our deep gratitude for her excellent work, as well as the producers, Alojzije Prosoli and Krešimir Renzo Prosoli. On the photo two angels from the Sisak bishopric.
Vinkovci Automns – Vinkovacke jeseni 2016 Croatian folklore manifestation presented by Yoko Nishii
Vinkovačke jeseni (Vinkovci Automns) is a Croatian folklore manifestation organized each year in the city of Vinkovci since 1966. The impetus to prepare this presentation of Vinkovačke jeseni came from Yoko Nishii, Japanese pianist. She is a well known guest in Vinkovci, where she already had several concerts organized by Matrix Croatica, promoting, among others, Dora Pejačević, the first internationally known Croatian woman composer. In September 2016 she had a concert just during the Vinkovačke jeseni manifestation, and offered us her beautiful photos, a selection of which we are happy and proud to present for the readers of the CROWN.
Goran Filipec of Croatia awarded by the prestigious Grand Prix du disque F. Liszt in Budapest in 2016
The Ferenc Liszt Society from Budapest announced the results of the 39th International Grand Prix du Disque, awarded to the world best recordings of the music of Liszt. Goran Filipec is this year’s recipient of this prestigious award with his album Paganini Studies, published by Naxos. The Liszt Society inscribed his name in the illustrious line of past winners, such as Vladimir Horowitz, Claudio Arrau, Zoltan Kocsis or Alfred Brendel with the mention that “Liszt himself would have greatly appreciated his performance”. The ceremony award took place on October 20th 2016 in the former Academy Liszt in Budapest, during which Goran played the Reminiscences of Norma.
Robert Schenk founder and director of the Accord Case company in the city of Pula in Croatia
The best music instrument cases in the world: for Sting, Rostropovich, Yo-Yo Ma, Eddie Van Halen, …
Nenad Bach singing at the Parkinson Day Concert at the Maksimir Park in Zagreb Oct 1 2016
Nenad Bach supports the Parkinson Day at the Maksimir Park in Zagreb. Besides Nenad, some other Croatian musicians and bands are participating at the event on Saturday, Oct 1 2016, from 10-15. See You at the Maksimir Park with your friends and families! Presentations of physical therapy and possible surprise guests are predicted, organized by the “Parkinson i mi” society in Zagreb.
Katja Markotic Croatian mezzo-soprano interpreting chants by Mexican composer Manuel M. Ponce
Katja Markotić is distinguished Croatian mezzo-soprano singer and since 1996 the artistic director of the Rovinj Summer Festival in her native city of Rovinj. Except in Croatia, she is a frequent guest on concert podiums in Austria, Germany, Italy, France, United Kingdom and Mexico. She has achieved remarkable success during the evening recitals at the International Festival “Cervantino” in Mexico, with a final performance at the Palacio de Bellas Artes (Mexico City), in 1991 and in 2002. She lives and works as a freelance artist in Croatia’s capital Zagreb.
Amira Medunjanin Tour October-November 2016
In recent years, singer Amira Medunjanin (left), an outstanding successor of the Bosnian traditional music Sevdah, has become one of the most important voices of the Central Europe. Her dignified voice is as smooth as silk yet at the same time as solid as rock, and is able to interpret the strength of fearless emotions. In the form of a trio, Amira Medunjanin will be accompanied by: Ante Gelo (guitar) and Zvonimir Sestak (Upright bass). She will be touring North America for the first time from October 28 to November 20th. Read on to see the complete list of cities and dates.
Goran Filipec young and charismatic Croatian pianist of pronounced virtuosity
As laureate of several international piano competitions such as Concorso Franz Liszt – Premio Mario Zanfi, Concurso de Parnassos and José Iturbi International Music Competition, Goran performed in Europe, United States, South America and Japan. His Carnegie Hall debut took place in 2006, followed by performances in venues such as Mariinsky Theatre, Auditorium di Milano, Minato Mirai Hall or Philharmonie de Paris, among others. Musician of fiery energy and well defined artistic personality, he reveals a particular leaning towards classical and romantic repertoire and music of pronounced virtuosity.
Yoko Nishii Japanese pianist has six concerts in Croatia in Sep 2016
In September 2016 Yoko Nishii, Japanese pianist and proponent of the music of Dora Pejačević (the first Croatian women composer), arrives to Croatia again with a series of six concerts (Rovinj, Sisak, Vinkovci, Cavtat, Ludbreg, Zaprešić), as well as in Kotor and Budapest. On the photo Yoko Nishii with Vjeko Martinko, her host in Villa Astra in the town of Lovran in which she graduated piano studies in 2000. Yoko is fluent in Croatian language. In the Spring of 2015, Yoko Nishii issued an important double CD in Tokyo, containig complete pianistic works of Dora Pejačević.
Epidaurus Festival in Cavtat celebrates 10 fruitful years of existence in 2016 – congratulations!
Ivana Marija Vidović, distinugished Croatian pianist and poet from Dubrovnik, is the founder of artistic director of the Epidaurus Festival in the town of Cavtat near Dubrovnik. The Epidaurus Festival celebrates 10th anniversary in 2016. It has hosted numerous musicians and artists from Croatia and abroad. In the name of the readers of the CROWN, we express our deep gratitude to Ivana for her perserverence and hard work, and for having established numerous very interesting and fruitful music contacts between Croatia and other countries.
Natasha and Volodimir Balyk distinguished Russian-Ukrainian music duo living in Croatia
Nataša and Volodimir Balyk, better known as Duo Balyk , is a music family of Russian and Ukrainian provenance, both of them excellent musicians playing domra , a sort of mandolin, and bajan , a sort of button accordion, respectively. They live in Croatia since the 1990s, in the town of Lovran, and are performing throughout Croatia, as well as all over Europe. Their repertoire is enormous, ranging from classical pieces to traditional, folk and jazz music. Both educated at the Moscow Conservatory, they are lecturing in Croatia at the Music School of Mate Ronjgov in the town of Krk, as well as in the town of Rab, in respective departments for guitar & mandolin (Nataša), and Accordion (Volodimir).
Yoko Nishii Japanese pianist has a series of concerts throughout Croatia in Sep 2016
Yoko Nishii is known as a leading promoter of the music of Dora Pejačević, after having published the complete pianist works of the first Croatian woman composer in Tokyo in the Spring of 2016. Yoko-san is preparing her new concert tour in Croatia for September 2016, starting in the town of Rovinj on the Sep 8th. Having studied piano in Japan, Yoko-san continued her specialisation in Croatian town of Lovran. She is fluent in Croatian language, and in the past years visited as a pianist numerous Croatian towns. This time, by the courtesy of Mr. Vjeko Martinko, she will also be hosted among others by Hotel Villa Astra in Lovran, where she will meet her numerous friends.
Nenad Bach's exciting summer 2016 in Croatia and in the USA
Nenad Bach, a world renowned musician and composer, has collaborated with a number of famous musicians, did what he promised to the city Šibenik, founded in 1066 AD – a unique ambient sound greeting for King Krešimir’s city on its 950th birthday. At 9:50 every day, Bach and his students had a promenade through the streets of Šibenik, drumming and chanting 900, 900, 900 – 50. Also, Nenad has been interviewed this summer for the TV show from Nashville, Waking Up in America , hosted by Tatiana Tajči Cameron, distinguished Croatian spiritual singer.
Steve Gadd to Headline the 10th Croatia Drum Camp in Groznjan August 1-10, 2016
Steve Gadd, Clapton’s favorite drummer with whom he recorded eleven albums – along with seven with Chick Corea, seven with Paul Simon, eight with George Benson, eight with Al Di Meola, four with Al Jarreau, two with Paul McCartney as well as one with James Brown, Patti Austin, B.B. King and Charles Mingus – was announced as Headliner at this year’s 10th Annual Croatia Drum Camp in Groznjan, (left), often labeled a ‘Leading Drum & Percussion Summer Camp in Europe.This ten-day-event, dedicated to the Art of drumming and promoting drummers as musical artists, includes a series of drum-clinics, seminars, masterclasses, concerts and VIP appearances from music industry executives.