The city of Solin, near the city of Split, sends us a wonderful Easter greeting in the form of a traditional Croatian song “Puče moj” ( My People , or Populus meus in Latin). It is interpreted in a contemporary way by the choir of Veritas aeterna (Eternal Truth) in the church of sv. Obitelji (Sacred Family) in Solin. Arranged by Antonio Grkeš, the soloists are Ante Mlikota, Ana Dobrijević, Antonio Grkeš, Doruntina Qivlaku. The Croatian original verses are translated into English. We also provide a very nice traditional Croatian melody for “Psalm 51” arranged by Ivanski from Kaštel Sućurac (in the vicitnty of Split).
Zagreb Philharmonic Orchestra performing at Codagan Hall in London on 14 April 2022
The Zagreb Philharmonic Orchestra boasts 150 years of tradition of first-class musicianship in Zagreb and across Croatia. Under the baton of conductor Jan Latham-Koenig, the Orchestra performs Sibelius’ Violin Concerto, with one of Britain’s most active concerto soloists and recitalists, violinist Tamsin Waley-Cohen. Over the decades, the Zagreb Philharmonic Orchestra has stimulated Croatian musical creativity by performing, premiering and recording numerous pieces of music by Croatian composers and this concert will open with four short songs for voice and orchestra by Dora Pejačević sung by Croatian soprano Marija Vidović, on the photo.
Benefit concert of "I Medici di McGill Orchestra" in Montreal, Canada, to help Ukraine
You are cordially invited to the next concert of “I Medici di McGill Orchestra”, in collaboration with the McGill Ukrainian Students Association. Guest conductor, maestra Veronique Lussier leads the ensemble that will present the pianist and medical student Emily Oulousian in Grieg’s Piano Concerto, an MSF staff member on the ground in Ukraine will provide a 15 min presentation. The event starts with singing of the Ukrainian National anthem and three Ukrainian folks songs performed by Trio Rossa. The orchestra was founded in 1989 by Croatian-Canadian scientist and musician Dr. Ante L. Padjen (on the photo) with an aim to reinforce the study of the humanities at the faculty.
Ukraine – Croatia cultural and historical relations
This article illustrates some of deep connections between Ukraine and Croatia: White Croatians in Ukraine, Kiev Glagolitic folia (10th century), Kiev Rus, The Reims Evangel (11th century and 1395), Ivan Uževič, Ester eggs traditions in Ukraine and Croatia, Greek-Catholics in Ukraine and in Croatia, Ukrainian monuments in Croatia, Eduard Miloslavić, toponyms and hydronyms in Croatia and Ukraine of the same name, etc. On the photo: Taras Belej, a fine Ukrainean artist, living in Ivano-Frankivsk. This article was prepared in support of achieving peace in Ukraine.
Keiko Mitani Japanese expert in Croatian Glagolitic literature passed away in 2022
Keiko Mitani, professor at the University of Tokyo, one of greatest Slavists in Japan, passed away in January 2022. She earned her PhD at the University of Zagreb, under supervision of Professor Stjepan Damjanović (of the Croatian Academy of Sciences and Arts). She was president of the Japan-Croatian Friendship Society in Tokyo. In 2017, she participated at the international conference “The Phenomenon of the Glagolitic Script”, organized in the cities of Biograd and Zadar on Croatian coast. She also wrote a manual in Japanese for learning Croatian, as well as a Croatian-Japanese dictionary.
Romain Rolland's 1924 book "Mahatma Gandhi" translated into Croatian as "Naš Gandhi" (Our Gandhi!)
Romain Rolland’s book was published on the occasion of the 150th anniversary of the birth of Mahatma Gandhi (celebrated in 2019), and Stjepan Radić (honored in the year 2021). The original Croatian version of the book was published in 1924, entitled “Naš Gandhi” (Our Gandhi!). Issuing this reprint was suggested by Mr. Joginder Singh Nijjar, the president of Croatian-Indian Society in Zagreb. It appeared under the auspices of highest Croatian political, cultural and scientific institutions, as well as under the auspices of the Embassy of the Republic of India to Croatia. We provide a presentation of the reprint written by Ante Belić.
GAVRANFEST in Augsburg in Germany 17-19 March 2022 in Sensible Theater
The thirteenth GavranFest will be held 17-19 March 2022 in Senseble Theater in Augsburg, Germany. It’s an international theatre festival with plays by Miro Gavran, Croatian writer. The festival selectors and organizers Anne Schuster i Sebastian Seidel invited five theatres from three countries, Romania, Germany, Croatia with theatres from Bucharest, Augsburg Munich and Zagreb. Along with theatre performances, there will also be a presentation of Gavran’s collection of plays in German called ONE DRAMA AND FOUR COMEDIES in translations by Tihomir Glowatsky, Ljerka Orešković Herrmann and Ludwig Steindorff.
Betiana Bellofatto published her photobook “Terra Australis Aedificanda” in Ushuaia 2021
Betiana Bellofatto published her photobook published in Ushuaia in 2021: Terra Australis Aedificanda (Southern Land To Be Built) . Born in 1979 in Buenos Aires, Argentina, Betiana Bellofatto studied Audiovisual Design and Photography. She has performed as direction and production assistant in several fictional short-films and commercial spots. In 2009, in Berlin, she co-founded i Collective , a multicultural artist collective that works on multidisciplinary projects. Her activity combines photography, installation, art in the public space and internet art.
An appeal to world leaders regarding the status of Croats in Bosnia and Herzegovina
This appeal was sent by Mr. Miro Gavran, distinguished Croatian writer and the current president of Matica hrvatska (Matrix croatica), to several world leaders: Mr Joe Biden, President of the USA, Mr Emmanuel Macron, President of the French Republic; The French Presidency of the Council of the European Union, Mr Olaf Scholz, federal chancellor of the Federal Republic of Germany, His Holiness Pope Francis, Mr Antonio Guterres, Secretary-General of the United Nations. Let us help Bosnia and Herzegovina become a country of equal nations and citizens, and to help open and secure the way for the country to become a member of European and Euro-Atlantic integrations.
PingPongParkinson celebrating 5th anniversary 2017-2022
In celebration of the 5th anniversary of the global non-profit PingPongParkinson, a celebrity exhibition table tennis match will take place on Sunday, February 6th at 4:00 pm at the Westchester Table Tennis Center, 175 Tompkins Ave in Pleasantville, New York, the birthplace of PingPongParkinson and on Monday, February 7th at 6:00 pm at the CRUSH Table Tennis 255 Field Point Rd, Greenwich, Connecticut. Limited seating is available due to COVID-19 safety considerations. Bring the proof of your booster vaccination. Please send inquiries to pingpongparkinson@gmail.com or/and the club.
1143 years since the first international recognition of Croatia
The first international recognition of Croatia came in 879 from Pope John VIII, i.e., 1143 years ago! The Croatian Prince Branimir, 9th century, made important steps in strengthening the relations with Rome. 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, the first one dated on May 21, 879. This was the first time that the Croatian state was officially recognized. A special cultural program was organized on 15th January 2022 at Croatian Embassy in Tokyo on the occasion of the first diplomatic recognition of Croatia in 1992, on which occasion Yoko Nishii played her solemn pianistic concert.
Miro Gavran's theatrical play 'The Doll' shown in Russia and Turkey in 2022
Miro Gavran is the greatest Croatian contemporary playwright: his plays were translated from Croatian into as many as 41 languages worldwide. His play ‘The Doll’ will be shown in 2022 in the Russian Federationand in Turkey. Its Russian premiere will be shown on 26th Febrary 2022 in Moscow, at the famous Taganjka Theatre . The play was translated from Croatian by Sergej Girin. It was premiered already in 2011 in New York, and since then it was shown with great success throughout the world: in Los Angeles, Mumbai, Havana, Vienna, Copenhagen, Budapest, etc.
Tomislav Sikic delivered a lecture about Srinivasa Ramanujan a famous Indian mathematician
Tomislav Šikić, Assocuate Professor of Mathematics at the University of Zagreb, delivered a lecture dedicated to Srinivasa Ramanujan, the most famous Indian mathematician in history. Croatian mathematicians have contributed twelve scientific papers in The Ramanujan Journal . Also, as many as 23 Indian mathematicians are (or have been) members of specialized math journals in Croatia, published by Element co. Two Croatian mathematicians, Professors Hrvoje Šikić and Zoran Vondraček, have earned their PhD’s under the guidance of distinguished Indian mathematician Murali Rao, University of Florida. A few Croatian mathematicians were invited lecturers in Indian scientific institutions.
Tony Butala the lead singer of THE LETTERMEN is of Croatian descent
Tony Butala, of Croatian descent, is the founder (in 1960) and the lead singer of The Lettermen trio. It has existed for almost sixty years. Some of the best known songs interpreted by The Lettermen are such classics like “Put Your Head on My Shoulder”, “When I Fall in Love”, “Morning Girl”, … Tony Butala keeps in contact with Croatian community in the USA. Also, he is a passionate winemaker. When Mike Grgich, probably the most famous American wine maker (and born in Croatia) was at the age of 90 (in 2013), he participated in the program of his anniversary with several Croatian songs, like Marijana and Tri palme na otoku sreće .
Guy Mitchell American singer of Croatian origin "Singing the blues"
Guy Mitchell’s real name was Albert George Crnić, and both of his parents were from Croatia. His father Albert was born in the town of Mrkopalj in Gorski kotar (part of Croatia), who as a young man arrived to the USA, working in Detroit. Guy Mitchell’s mother Mary Dobrotinić was born in St. Louis, and both of her parents are from the town of Bribir near the Croatian coast. Albert junior was born in Detroit in 1927. In the 1950s and 1960s he registered for Columbia Records as many as 40 hits. Some of his most popular songs are My Heart Cries for You, Heartaches by the Number , and Singing the Blues , which in 1956 became the most wanted song during 10 weeks.
Marinko Marco Radakovic to appear in the film "Don't Look Up"
Marinko Marco Radakovic (left) will appear in the new film “Don’t Look Up” an upcoming American satirical science fiction black comedy film written, produced, and directed by Adam McKay. It stars Leonardo DiCaprio and Jennifer Lawrence as two low-level astronomers attempting to warn mankind, via a media tour, about an approaching comet that will destroy Earth. The film is set to receive a limited theatrical release on December 10, 2021, prior to streaming on Netflix on December 24, 2021.
PingPongParkinson photo-monograph by Warren Rosenberg with Nenad Bach, illustrated by Ignasi Blanch
This wonderful photo-monograph prepared is dedicated to every person who has Parkinson desease. It describes how playing table tennis can help each such person. Due to Nenad Bach, the PingPongParkinson has become a world-wide movement, as shown on the pages of the book. There are currently more than hundred chapters in numerous countries throughout the world.oran Primorac, Olympian and Ping Pong Parkinson advisor, said: “I’m honoured and intrigued to be part of this progressive idea that has the potential of helping millions of people diagnosed with Parkinson’s disease.”
Mirjana Bohanec Croatian opera singer, diplomat, and a film star
Her concert reportoire is very extensive: from Baroque oratorial works of Bach, Haendel, Monteverdi, Pergolesi, Cherubini, Vivaldi, to such classics like Mozart and Haydn. She sang numerous pieces of Lied, composed by Schumann, Schubert, Brahms, Grieg, Debussy, etc. She also interpreted works of Croatian authors: Antun Sorkočević, Vinko Jelić, Ivan Lukačić, Ferdo Livadić, Vatroslave Lisinski, etc. Except in Croatia, she had concerts in Austria, Germany, Italy, Swityerland, Spain, Portugal, Czech Republic, Slovakia, Poland, France, Russia, Lithuania, Latvia, Estonia, Ukraine, Australia, Canada and in the USA. However, she is best known for her role in the an anthological Croatian film Tko pjeva zlo ne misli (Who Sings – Does not Think of Evil). She was also a Croatian diplomat in Germany and Austria in 1990s.
Vesna Skulic Croatian cinderella participating in White Path humanitarian action in BiH 1993
Vesna Škulić is living in the village of Ražanac near the city of Zadar, Croatia. As an amateur radio operator, she She trasfered more than hundred thosand humanitarian messages. She actively participated in solving numerous problems related to the humanitarion action of White Path in Bosnia and Herzegovina in 1993. According to late Professor Slobodan Lang, Zagreb, who was the chief organizer of the action, this was the first ever successful joint Christian – Muslim humanitarian operation in history. Vesna Skulić, a courageos and charming Croatian woman, is a paraplegic.