# 2008-February-29: Zagreb (Croatia), Croatian Composers Society, Berislavićeva 9, 7 pm. Concert for Croatian-Austrian Society (Kroatisch-österreichische Gesselschaft zur Förderung kultureller und wirtschaftlicher Beziehungen)
# 2008-March-12: Zagreb (Croatia), Croatian Passion Heritage Celebrations (Pasionska baština), Church of St Catherine, 8 pm.
Program: Ave Crux, spes unica!
Georg Friedrich Händel: Suite No. 5 in E-major, HWV 430 (Prélude-Allemande-Courante-Air)
Jean-Philippe Rameau: Gavotte et 6 doubles
Johann Sebastian Bach:
Contrapuncti 1 & 4 from Die Kunst der Fuge, BWV 1080
Preludes and Fugues: G-minor BWV 578, C-major BWV 531, G-major BWV 541, G-major BWV 550
The Passion Heritage Celebrations is a cultural association formed in 1992 which promotes good values as the basis of European and Croatian culture. It is held before Easter and the program includes many musical and theatre shows, as well as fine art exhibitions (info phone 242 15 37).
Apart form those mentioned already, my personal favourites include the Zagreb Guitar Quartet. They seems to have captured the holy trinity of ingredients here (arrangement, performance and recording).
Youjustdontget.us with a short video clip from the quartet’s concert in Chicago.
in the evening had a chance to hear a guitar concert by Zagreb Guitar Quartet.. a young croatian team.. they played pieces from Bach and other classical stuff. It was terrific. They had a wonderful synchoronization and their sound was good too.
The Zagreb Guitar Quartet will perform a selection of contrapuncti from Bach’s The Art of the Fugue; two works dedicated to the ensemble by contemporary Croatian composers Miroslav Miletic and Tomislav Uhlik; Five Gypsy Dances by Spanish impressionist Joaquín Turina; Jewish songs originating from diverse areas such as Bosnia and Uzbekistan which bring a unique flavor to the Quartet’s repertoire; and pieces from two among the greatest jazz pianists of all time: Scott Joplin and Oscar Peterson. All of these compositions (except for the Croatian compositions) were arranged for four guitars by the Quartet’s founder, Ante Cagalj.
Ante Cagalj is one of the most renowned European guitar teachers; his work has influenced the careers of several generations of Croatian guitarists, among whom are the members of the Quartet and soloist Robert Belinic who is famous as the first guitarist to win the prestigious Young Concert Artists International Auditions in New York in 2002. Čagalj’s students have won more than 20 international and 50 national awards. Čagalj, a guitar composer himself, has transcribed a lot of music originally composed for organ, piano, harpsichord, violin and orchestra for guitar solo and guitar ensembles. All of these have assisted in creating and maintaining the unique image of the Croatian guitar school which is considered among Europe’s finest.
Zagreb Guitar Quartet is an experienced ensemble of young musicians - Tomislav Vasilj, Krunoslav Pehar, Melita Ivković and Mak Grgić - whose work has greatly contributed to the recognition of the quality of the Croatian guitar scene within the European framework. The Quartet has given a multitude of concerts in Croatia and in other countries, from Canada to India and from Russia to South Africa. It has successfully appeared at several prestigious international competitions, enriched the guitar quartet repertoire by premiering ten works dedicated to it by contemporary Croatian composers, and gave the world premiere of Johann Sebastian Bach’s The Art of the Fugue arranged for four guitars, receiving a rave review from the well-known magazine Classical Guitar editor, Colin Cooper: “one of the most extraordinary and vivid guitar experiences I can remember”.
Listen to the Zagreb Guitar Quartet at Last.FM or CdBaby
Zagreb Guitar Quartet will perform three concerts in Canada:
1. Montreal, Tuesday January 16, 2007 at 19:30 - Chapelle historique du Bon-Pasteur, 100 rue Sherbrooke Est
2. Ottawa, Wednesday January 17, 2007 at 19:30 - National Library and Archives Canada, 395 Wellington Street
3. Toronto, Saturday January 20, 2007 at 20:00 - Church of the Redeemer, 162 Bloor Street West
Program /Programme:
Johann Sebastian Bach (1685-1750) The Art of the Fugue /L’Art de la Fugue BWV 1080 (selection /sélection)*
Contrapunctus 1, Contrapunctus 2, Contrapunctus 3, Contrapunctus 4
Tomislav Uhlik (1956) Quartetto concertante
Allegro alla marcia, Larghetto, Allegro
Miroslav Miletić (1925) Suite du bourdon
Preludium, Aria, Danza, Dialog, Finale
***
Adalbert Marković (1929) Three Impressions of Osor /Trois impressions d’Osor
Morning /Matin, Cypresses at Noon /Cyprès à midi, Mistral
Joaquín Turina (1882-1949) Cinq danses gitanes /Five Gypsy Dances, op. 84*
Fiesta de las calderas, Circulos ritmicos, Invocación, Danza ritmica, Seguiriya
Jewish Songs /Pièces Juives*
Hakotsrim (Harvesters /Moissonneurs)
Hora Ali (Round Dance /Danse)
Simhat Tora (Rejoicing of the Torah /Réjouissance de la Tora)
Shir hanoded (Wanderer’s Song /Chanson du vagabond)
Oscar Peterson* (1925) Canadiana suite /Suite canadienne (selection /sélection)
The Laurentide Waltz
Land of the Misty Giants
Place St. Henri
Zagreb, Preradovićev trg (Cvjetni trg)
September 22nd - October 1st
All concerts begin at 7.30 pm. Movies begin at 8.30 pm
Program:
Friday, September 22
Concert: Sebastian Quartet
Movie: Vienna Opera Gala Concerto from 2005
Saturday, September 23
Concert: Zagreb Guitar Quartet
Movie: The Magic Flute Story (Royal Winnipeg Ballet)
Sunday, September 24
Concert: Zagreb Bassoon Quartet
Movie: Vienna Philharmonic in Salzburg (Riccardo Muti)
Monday, September 25
Concert: Tuba XXL Quartet
Movie: Die Entführung aus dem Serail (Opera Zürich, Christoph König)
Tuesday, September 26
Concert: Donna Lee Saxophone Quartet
Movie: Lang Lang in Beijing
Wednesday, September 27
Concert: Borna Barišić (spinet), Ana Domančić (flute)
Movie: Spirits of Mozart (2006)
Thursday, September 28
Concert: Nives Andrijašević (flute), Biserka Krčelić (harp)
Movie: New Year Concert from Berlin (2005, Simon Rattle, Berlin Philharmonic Orchestra)
Friday, September 29
Concert: Karlo Slobodan Fio (violin), Milan Čunko (viola)
Movie: Don Giovanni (Peter Sellars; Craig Smith, Vienna Symphony Orchestra)
