The
“ZAGREB BOYS'
CHOIR” was established 15 years ago. It
was inspired by the famous European boys’ choirs, and as such it is unique in
the Republic of Croatia. The choir regularly performs in various annual
cultural programmes such as festivals, charity concerts, radio and TV shows,
and gives full-length concerts in Zagreb and other parts of Croatia. Programme
orientation is mostly classical, but
Choir also sings modern, folk, jazz and spiritual music.
In
addition to the choir singing, boys attend solfeggio and vocal technique
courses, as well as separate classes for ones that are showing predisposition
for solo singing. The most talented ones have opportunities to learn from
eminent professionals in the field of vocal pedagogy.
During these 15 years “ZAGREB BOYS'
CHOIR” and its vocal solo/singers participated in large projects with Croatian
Symphonic Orchestra and Choir, Music Academy Orchestra and Choir, Zagreb
Philharmonic Orchestra, and Croatian National Theater Opera.
The
Choir performed at the Youth Spiritual Music Days “Cro Patria” in
In
2001, we participated in opera “Turandot” by G. Puccini, under the conduct of
maestro Vladimir Benić and in the opera “Carmina
Burana” by C. Orff, under the conduct of maestro Saša Britvić.
In
2002, we successfully continued our collaboration with Music Academy Orchestra
and Choir performing A. Honegger’s oratorio “Jean d’Arc” under the conduct of
maestro Pavle Dešpalj. The Choir also participated in Musorgski’s opera “Boris
Godunov”, under the conduct of maestro Vladimir Kranjčević in
Croatian National Theatre.
As
a solo singers, we participated in A. Lloyd Weber’s “Requiem”, L. Bernstein’s
“Chichester psalms”, and in Mozart’s opera “The Magic Flute” in Croatian
National Theatre.
We have been awarded golden medals at Music
Ceremonies of Croatian Youth in Varaždin in 1996, 1997, 1998 and 1999. At
the Varazdin Baroque Evenings in 1999, we were among winners of the “Ivan
Lukačić” prize for our performance in J. Bajamonti’s oratorio
“Prijenos Sv. Dujma” directed by Petar Selem and under the conduct of maestro Pavle Dešpalj.
The Zagreb boys’
male choir was formed in 1999, mainly around older Zagreb boys. This choir adds
another perspective to the unique color of the boy sound.
We
are particularly proud of the fruitful collaboration with composers creating
compositions for the choir: Adalbert
Marković’s “Ave Marija” and “Et adorabunt”, Pero Gotovac’s “Bog se javlja”
and Boško Petrović’s “Zima”.
Jasenka Ostojić Radiković has been the
conductor of The “Zagreb Boys’ Choir since 1994.