The Zagreb Philharmonic Orchestra, the top orchestra in Croatia, is coming to visit Israel, with a special and diverse program. The orchestra’s visit is supported by the Croatian government. Among the many works that the orchestra will play, the Symphony in B minor by the French composer César Franck.
The first part of the concert will be dedicated to an Israeli piece Hora from the symphonic poem “Emek” by Mark LaBri. and a selection of works by Croatian composers. Works for orchestra and soprano singer and orchestra. Among them a piece by the composer Ivo Josipovic, one of the most prominent composers in Croatia who served for several years as the country’s president.
About the Zagreb Philharmonic Orchestra
The Zagreb Philharmonic Orchestra has been operating for 150 years and brings fine music to the capital Zagreb and all over Croatia. A long line of world-renowned conductors have performed with the orchestra over the years including: Leopold Stokowski, Stronisky, Penderecki, Sir Malcolm Sargent, Lorin Maazel, Valery Gergiev and more. The best soloists also performed with the orchestra, including the violinist Yehudi Menuhin, the cellist Rostropovitz, Ivo Pogrolich, the singer Monsara Kabiya, Shlomo Mintz and Misha Maisky. The orchestra has performed in most European countries as well as in the United States, Russia, Japan, China and South America. The orchestra took part in the New Year event in Salzburg and performed in the morning concert four years in a row. The orchestra holds special programs for children and teenagers. The orchestra has many recordings released by Croatian and international companies, including Virgin and Deutsche Grammophon.
In 2017 and 2018, the Zagreb Philharmonic won a special certificate of appreciation from the Municipality of Zagreb for its special contribution to culture in the city and in the country.
Musical management and chief conductor – David Rontz Dawid Runtz
Maestro David Rontz began his service with the Zagreb Philharmonic in 2021 and was appointed for three years. He is also the principal conductor of the Royal Polish Opera House since 2017. He is world-renowned for his elegant technique, precision and sensitivity. The Warsaw-based conductor began his career after graduating from the Frederic Chopin University in his city. Already in 2016 he conducted the Warsaw Philharmonic. He is in great demand by many orchestras in Poland. He also works in the world of cinema when he scored music written by the well-known Polish composer Zvgeniev Friesner for several films.
In 2018, he won the crowd favorite award in a conducting competition held in Hong Kong, and he also won a large number of awards in conducting competitions in his country. Serves as a lecturer at Frederik Chopin University in Warsaw, and was recently awarded a doctorate in music and conducting.
Soprano singer Maria Wadwich Marija Vidovic
She began her studies at the Borashdin Academy, Croatia, and completed her master’s studies in Vienna and Stuttgart, appearing on the most prominent stages in the world and at prestigious festivals in the United States and South America.
Her voice is a combination of elegance with great intelligence. She played the prominent roles in the operatic repertoire, and began teaching singing in various institutions. Performs in recitals and concerts and sings music by a selection of Croatian artists. In 2021 she performed for the first time with the Zagreb Philharmonic Orchestra, and since then she has appeared with them as a guest singer several times.
about the works in the program
In the first part of the concert, after the playing of the two anthems, a variety of works will be played. Among them: Mark LeBry – “Parent” from the symphonic poem “Valley” Opus 45. Croatian folk song arranged by Alex Pashkov, love is not for sale. Ivo Yosifovich Samba de Camera, for orchestra.
Josipović, one of Croatia’s best-known composers and a legal expert, also served as the country’s president, music professor and law lecturer at the University of Zagreb. Serves as secretary of the Croatian Composers Union. He created a large number of musical works. His music is said to be rich in beauty and joy.
In the piece that will be played by the orchestra, Samba da Camera, these things are reflected. This is a rhythmic piece written in 1985 and won many awards and many performances. A piece that combines elements from the mountains.
Two songs in the concert are works by Dora Piasevich. Metamorphosis for female singer and orchestra (originally written for female alto) Opus 37
And a love song for a singer and orchestra (originally written for an alto singer) Opus 39
Dora Paisevic, one of the most prominent composers in Croatian music, whose “lead” (song) is one of her innovations, is not only accompanied by a piano, but by a full orchestra.
Piasevich was born in 1885 and died at the young age of only 38. In her short years she composed many songs. Metamorphosis was composed to the words of the Austrian writer Karl Kraus. who wrote the poem in 1915 after four years of a writing barrier. It was written as a response to his relationship with a Czech baroness who was a friend of Dora Piasevich. She wrote it to be played at the wedding of that baroness to an Italian count. But the wedding did not take place and the song was probably not played. The premiere performance of the song for singer and orchestra took place in 1917 in Zagreb.
During her friendship with the Czech baroness, Piasevitz met the German poet Rainer Maria Rickle, fell in love with his poetry and composed a “love song” from his pen, while creating a lyrical and harmonious melody.
Link to Dora Paisevich’s poetry:
Ivan Pel. Zarich – Jelena’s aria and recitative from the opera Nikolay Zovich Zarinsky
This is the most beloved opera written by the Croatian composer, Ivan Pell. Zarich, born in 1832 and died in 1914. He was a leading composer and teacher. The opera house of the city of Rijeka, where he was born, bears his name. He came to Zagreb to conduct the local opera in 1870 and wrote the opera that became the most popular. The lion is the lion of Jelena, the daughter of the hero of the opera, the Hungarian commissioner who fought the Turks.
In the center of the second part of the concert, the orchestra will play the Symphony in A minor by the composer César Franck. This is an orchestral piece that is considered the most famous of the composer’s works, he completed writing it after two years of work and it was played for the first time in Paris in 1888.
The piece consists of three chapters: Lento – Allegro ma non troppo (Lento; Allegro ma non troppo) is based on a theme that appears in the opening and appears throughout the piece. Allegretto – most famous for the melody played by the English horn accompanied by the harp and strings. Allegro non troppo (Allegro non troppo) which begins with a major and happy melody.
The concert program
The anthems of Croatia and Israel, Croatian folk song: Love is not for sale, arranged by Alges Pashkov. Mark LeBry, Hora from the symphonic poem “Valley” Opus 45. Ivo Yosifovich – Samba de Camera. Dora Piasevich – two songs: Metamorphosis Opus 37 and Love Song Opus 39. Ivan Pel. Zarich – Yelena’s lion from the opera Nikolai Zusits Zarinsky. Cesar Franck Symphony in B minor.