Ivan Goran Kovačić’s verses were a great inspiration for the young Croatian composer Dubravko Palanović for his Symphony Clear Day (Jasan dan) that thrilled the Rijeka Theatre audience last night. It was a number of times that the audience by their clapping loudly and shouting «Bravo» invited to bow the composer, conductor, soloist Ivana Srbljan, orchestra and chorus of the Rijeka Opera, as well as the Academic Mixed Chorus of the Music Academy, Pula University of Juraj Dobrila. The Symphony written for the CNT Ivan pl. Zajc Opera started its life quite successfully.
Before its performance, the Opera orchestra under the baton of Maestro Ville Matvejeff performed first the masterpiece of the classical literature, the Peer Gynt Suite No.1, the most popular passages of Edvard Grieg’s incidental music Peer Gynt, composed for the renowned classical work of world dramatic literature of the same name by Henrik Ibsen, and then the Symphony No.1 by Ludwig van Beethoven, which concluded the two-year mini-cycle of performing Beethoven’s odd numbered symphonies.
It was also this time that a few spectators shared their impressions of the concert with us: «We knew what to expect from Grieg and Beethoven, also from this phenomenal orchestra and conductor, but the world premiere has surprised us positively a great deal so that our congratulations go to the composer», «I don’t know the work of this young composer, however, this emotional and powerful piece has made me very intrigued as I like the Symphony that he has written for Rijeka», «A great honour of our composer expressed to our poet», «Ville Matvejeff and the orchestra are exceptional, their efforts and quality always fascinating me», «An excellent concert, three great pieces and the brilliant Opera ensemble», «The two hours of the concert passed in no time; we really enjoyed it».
The next concert will be performed on the CNT Ivan pl. Zajc stage already on Wednesday 28th March at 19:30 hours. Approaching Easter, do not miss Rossini’s Stabat Mater and the great guest performance from Slovenia: 116 members of the Slovenian Philharmonic Orchestra and Choir with Vinko Vodopivec Music School Choir from Ajdovščina, the conductor Borut Smrekar and soloists Kristina Kolar, Jadranka Juras, Kirlianit Cortés Gálvez and Dario Bercich!
