:: News

18.04.2009.

Laura Vadjon at the London Handel Festival

Laura Vadjon, the artistic director and concertmaster of the Croatian Baroque Ensemble (HRBA) has returned to Zagreb after having performed music at the prestigious London Handel Festival for 5 weeks, where she was involved in the finest performances of Handel’s operas, oratorios, and orchestral works, cooperating with the London Handel Orchestra and the London Handel Players led by Laurence Cummings. Most inspiring were the concerts in Wigmore Hall – opera “Alessandro” and oratorio “Jephtha” – given exactly on the day of Handel’s death. We are most certain that Laura’s impressions and experience, gathered at this unique festival, will also largely contribute to HRBA, which is awaiting an important anniversary – its jubilee 10^th season, with exceptional guests and a splendid and demanding programme

07.03.2009.

HRBA’s first concert in Rijeka

On Friday, March 6, in the Church of St. Vid, which was completely full, HRBA gave its first performance in Rijeka. Led by Laura Vadjon Zagreb musicians performed works of Handel, Purcell, Vivaldi, Corelli and Marini. Alongside brilliant Laura Vadjon, remarkable soloist performances were given by Lada Magdalenić Morpurgo, Tanja Tortić, Lea Sušanj and Pavao Mašić. This exceptionally successful and well-attended concert was organized by the Croatian National Theatre in Rijeka “Ivan pl Zajc” (Noble Ivan Zajc).

07.02.2009.

HRBA in Kuba

On Thursday, February 5, 2009, Basilica of St. Francis of Assissi in Old Havana was filled to its utmost capacity with audience attending HRBA’s last concert of its tour of the South America. After having achieved a great success in Argentina and Bolivia last year, on January 28, 2009 HRBA set out on its first visiting performance this year – the Seventh Festival of Baroque Music “Esteban Salas”, which traditionally takes place in the beautiful authentic Baroque setting of Old Havana (in the Baroque heart of the city, protected by UNESCO).

Under the artistic leadership of Laura Vadjon Croatian musicians performed works of Croatian Baroque composers as well as some of the masterpieces by Handel, Purcell, Vivaldi and Corelli.

Concerts were scheduled as follows: January 30  - Alejandro García Caturla Conservatory, February 1 - Iglesia de San Francisco de Paula (the seat of the worldwide renowned Cuban ensemble Ars Longa), February 5 – Iglesia de San Francisco de Asis (the most prominent concert site in Havana). Following standing ovations Croatian musicians received an invitation for the festival next year, during which they will give a master course in Baroque interpretation.

09.10.2008.

Sensational start of HRBA’s season

The Croatian Baroque Ensemble opened its ninth concert season with programme titled “Les Fętes Françaises” (French celebrations) in the Croatian Music Institute last night. Further in the text we are bringing extracts from flattering but well deserved reviews by some notable music critics:

“Audience, who completely filled the hall, enjoyed a real Baroque celebration… It offered an exquisite opportunity for demonstrating the vast capabilities of the Baroque ensemble in performing a selection of works by French Baroque masters Boismortier, Clerambault, Rameau and Francoeur. To realize the fact that audience have recognised the growing quality of Croatian Baroque Ensemble is more than delightful. This has been confirmed by the significant number of subscribers for this season – the tickets for concerts have been almost sold out as early as in subscription. Judging by the opening concert of the season, we can nothing but strongly recommend the remaining subscriber tickets at the ticket office of the Croatian Music Institute”.

“Music of Baroque in Zagreb has definitely raised above the level of academic and museum-like sightseeing of fossil remains of music of the past. Quite the opposite, it has become a real luxurious festivity with very vivid, humorous and surprising music forms, as was shown to us last night by maestro Niquet and the Croatian Baroque Ensemble. Having afforded the audience such a grand opening of the season it can doubtlessly be termed one of the best Zagreb ensembles”. - Branimir Pofuk, Jutarnji list

 “During the fantastic playing of the absolutely absorbed ensemble even some strings were torn, however, this did not hinder the most gallant music festivity in which the audience could daydream or even feel one of the courtiers”. - Maja Stanetti, Večernji list

The complete review, as well as the video recording of the enthusiastic concert finale, can be downloaded here (Jutarnji list) and here (Večernji list).

 

25.08.2008.

HRBA’s great success in Dubrovnik

In Dubrovnik Summer Festival, on August 23 and 24, under the guidance of the legendary Philip Pickett, the Croatian Baroque Ensemble performed Händel's opera "Acis and Galatea" in the impressive surroundings of the Fort of St. Lawrence (Lovrjenac Fort). Both performances won standing ovations by a completely sold out audience. The leading roles were brilliantly interpreted by Ivana Kladarin, Ed Lyon, Marija Kuhar  Šoša and Berislav Puškarić.

18.06.2008.

Sensational L’Orfeo in Zagreb HNK

The last performance of Monteverdi's L'Orfeo brought the audience to a standing ovation yesterday. It was under the direction of Herve Niquet, a frequent and delightful guest of the Croatian Baroque Ensemble. The highest compliments were paid, apart from the conductor, to Krešimir Špicer interpreting the leading role and to the Croatian Baroque Ensemble, which once again managed to meet the requests and nuances of a historically determined performance. Maestro Niquet will next time appear in public in the very opening of HRBA’s new season on October 8, 2008.

06.05.2008.

Ovations to HRBA in South America

The Croatian Baroque Ensemble returned last night from its farthest tour so far. In the most prestigious concert halls of Buenos Aires (San Benito, the Museum of Latin American Art), La Plata and unique missionary churches of the Chiquitania in Bolivia, with all the seats completely sold out, HRBA received standing ovations. Our most renowned ensemble in the field of Early music gave seven performances in total, playing Croatian, Italian and French Baroque masters. In the “Misiones de Chiquitos” festival, HRBA performed together with some of the world’s best ensembles (Café Zimmerman, Accademia Daniel, Philadelphia Brass, Ensemble travertino, etc.) and received an invitation for the following festival in 2010. The sponsors of this tour were in part the Ministry of Culture of the Republic of Croatia, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Croatia and the City of Zagreb. In order to take a look at the tour gallery go to the tour photos.

02.03.2008.

Nordic Delirium-March 27

This season's HRBA' concert titled Nordic Delirium, with a prominent Finnish conductor and cellist Aap Häkkinnen, originally scheduled for March 9, will be held on Thursday, March 27 (also in the Croatian Music Institute), due to conductor's commitments. The repertoire consists of works by Roman, Agrell and Händel and soloists are Ivana Kladarin, soprano and Ana Benić, the flute. We apologize for the inconvenience and the change of date.
Looking forward to your visit,           
Yours truly,

HRBA

20.02.2008.

HRBA in Paris

In one of the most prestigious concert halls in Paris – in the Grand Salon of Louis XIV, inside the monumental building complex Les Invalides, the Croatian Baroque Ensemble introduced Parisian audience to the most supreme Croatian baroque music. On Tuesday, February 19 at 8:00 p.m., the Ensemble took the audience for a ride through the representative choice of works by some of the leading Croatian composers: Vinko Jelić, Gabriello Puliti, Francesco and Gabriel Usper and finally Tomas Cecchini, along with works by Scarlatti, Rameau and Leclair. Apart from the Croatian ambassador in France, Mr. Mirko Galić and his guests, members of the diplomatic body, the concert was attended by numerous intellectuals and distinguished persons, among whom composer Ivo Malec and writer Radovan Ivšić were also present.

 

Concert was realized with the support of the Ministry of Culture and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Croatia.