Mediterranean Brilliance

Melodies drenched in the Mediterranean sun, fiery rhythms, the blue of the sea, irresistible charm and temperament that emerge from every beat are the cornerstones of the HRT Symphony Orchestra and Choir concert under the guidance of one of the most prominent conductors of the younger European generation, Gergely Dubóczki. Educated at the Franz Liszt Academy in Budapest, distinguished as the creator of a number of contemporary and multi genre productions, he is now teaming up with the HRT ensembles and excellent Croatian soloists who are building great international careers. Violinist Sara Domjanić arrives from Germany, where she acts as the second concertmaster of the Düsseldorf Symphony Orchestra, Split tenor Tomislav Jukić has recently worked with Cecilia Bartoli on the main stage of the Zurich Opera, and bass-baritone Benjamin Šuran recently performed in the production of the opera Madame Butterfly at the Baden-Baden Festival with the Berlin Philharmonic and Kirill Petrenko.  

The program takes us from Spain and Italy to Dalmatia, starting with the Andalusia-inspired rhapsody España by Emmanuel Chabrier, through orchestral masterpieces such as the virtuosic Introduction and Rondo capriccioso by Camille Saint-Saëns and the enchanting Idyll by Blagoje Bersa to the passionate suite Capriccio espagnol by Nikolai Rimsky-Korsakov. Some of the most beautiful melodies for the human voice belong to the Italian repertoire, so we can look forward to arias, duets and choir performances from the operas Cavalleria rusticana by Pietro Mascagni, The Elixir of Love by Gaetano Donizetti and I Pagliacci by Rugger Leoncavallo, as well as from the operetta Spli'ski akvarel by Croatia's own Ivo Tijardović. With beloved Neapolitan canzonas – Non t'ammo più and Funiculì, funiculà – they bring us the warm, sunny embrace of southern Italy. The cathartic finale of Ero the Joker by Jakov Gotovac brings us back to that masterpiece of Croatian and Slavic opera repertoire, this year marking the 90th anniversary of its premiere.

E. Chabrier: España
C. Saint-Saëns: Introduction and Rondo capriccioso, for violin and orchestra
F. Paolo Tosti: Non t'amo più
B. Bersa: Idyll, Op. 25b
J. Hatze: Da me hoće draga, Adel's serenade from the opera Adel i Mara
N. Rimsky-Korsakov: Capriccio espagnol, Op. 34
P. Mascagni: Gli aranci olezzano, choir from the opera Cavalleria rusticana
G. Donizetti: Obbligato, obbligato, Dulcamara and Nemorino duet from the opera The Elixir of Love
R. Leoncavallo: Din, don, suona vespero, from the opera I Pagliacci
L. Denza: Funiculì, funiculà
I. Tijardović: O kućo mala, song by Barba Toma from Spli'ski akvarel
J. Gotovac: The final dance from the opera Ero the Joker

Note:
In case of unfavorable weather conditions, the event will take place the following day.