The second edition of the Zagreb Music Spring festival will be held in Zagreb from May 8 to 11, 2025, organized by the Vatroslav Lisinski Concert Hall and the Zagreb Philharmonic Orchestra. A significant contribution to the festival’s program came from the Croatian Music Information Centre (MIC), which curated several key events: the presentation of the newly published sheet music edition of Stjepan Šulek’s Sixth Symphony, an exhibition titled Stjepan Šulek, a lecture by Dr. Dalibor Davidović on the scholarly and artistic relationship between Dr. Eva Sedak and Maestro Šulek, and a panel discussion titled Alte Schule(k) – Remembering the Master, with composer and pianist Dubravko Detoni and composer and conductor Zoran Juranić, both of whom were Šulek’s students.

The festival program was presented at a press conference on Tuesday, April 29, 2025, by Nina Čalopek, director of Lisinski Hall and author of the festival’s program concept; Filip Fak, director of the Zagreb Philharmonic; Dawid Runtz, chief conductor of the Zagreb Philharmonic and the festival’s artistic director; Prof. Goran Končar, president of the Stjepan Šulek Foundation; Slobodan Begić, director of the Dubrovnik Symphony Orchestra; and Jelena Vuković, head of the Music Information Center and the festival’s program advisor.

“Born out of a joint initiative by the Zagreb Philharmonic and Lisinski Hall, the Zagreb Music Spring once again aims to tell a story from all angles—this time, about Stjepan Šulek, who elevated composition in Croatia to a high professional level,” said Nina Čalopek.

The Festival Begins with a Musical Walk Through Zagreb

“We’ve prepared a program for a wide audience of music lovers as well as experts. We begin on Thursday with a Musical Walk in the Footsteps of Šulek, designed by Dr. Nada Bezić, followed by a roundtable discussion and a concert by students from the Music Academy, both hosted at the Academy. The remaining three days will be held at Lisinski Hall, including the promotion of Šulek’s Sixth Symphony published by our Music Information Center, and the opening of a vivid exhibition on Stjepan Šulek. The Zagreb Philharmonic concert, conducted by Maestro Dawid Runtz and featuring violinist Martin Draušnik, will include a performance of the symphony as well as the world premiere of Passacaglia by Šimun-Čarli Botica—the winning piece of the festival’s inaugural composition competition,” Čalopek noted enthusiastically.

She emphasized that Šulek’s greatness is multifaceted, yet he remains insufficiently recognized—even within Croatia—and the festival aims to help change that.

A Sweet Surprise – Šulek’s Dessert Balls

Interestingly, research into Šulek’s life and work also uncovered a dessert recipe: cookies named Šulek’s Balls! After the presentation, guests enjoyed sampling the treat and guessing its ingredients.

The festival will also feature unconventional lectures by Tihomir Petrović and Dalibor Davidović, a brunch concert by the Zagreb Quartet and the Tartini String Quartet, a concert by the Cantus Ensemble, and the presentation of the Stjepan Šulek Foundation and Award, accompanied by a performance by the award recipient.

The festival will conclude with memories of Professor Šulek shared by composers Dubravko Detoni and Zoran Juranić, and a concert by the Dubrovnik Symphony Orchestra conducted by Valentin Egel—an orchestra celebrating its 100th anniversary.

“Thanks to the City of Zagreb, its Tourist Board, the Stjepan Šulek Foundation, and everyone who made this possible,” Čalopek concluded, emphasizing that Croatian music should be studied, talked about, and—above all—listened to.

Filip Fak, director of the Zagreb Philharmonic, agreed that Stjepan Šulek remains somewhat overlooked and that this needs to be rectified.

“The origin of Zagreb Music Spring lies in the 2023 festival held at Lisinski, which was dedicated to Dora Pejačević,” Fak noted.

“I’m very happy that we are holding this festival for the second year in a row,” said Dawid Runtz, the Polish maestro and artistic director of the festival.

Šulek CD Coming Soon

“I’m excited that we’re doing something more for Zagreb and Croatian culture and promoting Croatian music. Šulek’s symphony was last performed in 1986, and many colleagues have told me they never had the chance to hear it! I’m also happy to announce the upcoming release of a CD featuring works by Stjepan Šulek. I feel connected to his music—its structural clarity, orchestral colors, and drama. Through this festival, we’ll present him as a complete personality,” Runtz stated.

Goran Končar, president of the Stjepan Šulek Foundation, recalled Šulek’s lectures.

“He was strict and had high standards, which greatly benefited all of us later on. The Foundation was established in 1992 through the efforts of Maestro Pavle Dešpalj, in accordance with Professor Šulek’s wish that his legacy be used to support young conductors and violinists. Though his oeuvre is not large in quantity, its significance has far surpassed the borders of Croatia and is performed worldwide. We aim to have it all published,” Končar said.

Šulek’s Car Featured in the Exhibition

Jelena Vuković, head of the Music Information Center, vividly described the program she prepared with Dr. Davor Merkaš and other colleagues. In addition to the sheet music promotion of the Sixth Symphony, she highlighted the exhibition Stjepan Šulek, 1914–1986, which pays homage to Dr. Eva Sedak, who curated the 2014 exhibition marking Šulek’s 100th birth anniversary.

“Visitors will be able to access that exhibition via QR code. Our exhibition opens on May 9 at 7 PM and spans multiple levels of Lisinski Hall. We will even exhibit a real 1970s Opel Admiral, like the one Šulek drove! The exhibition includes 30 panels on his professional life, handwritten scores, personal correspondence, awards, and more. A replica of a room from Šulek’s apartment on Žerjavićeva Street will also be featured, along with a video showing its current earthquake-damaged state. We aim to raise public awareness about the need for restoration and public access. Visitors can donate via barcode, even symbolically. The exhibition will remain open until World Music Day, June 21,” the musicologist emphasized, thanking the Stjepan Šulek Foundation, the Mimara Museum, the Zagreb City Museum, and other collaborators.

Guests from Dubrovnik for the 100th Anniversary

The festival will close with a concert by the Dubrovnik Symphony Orchestra on May 11 at 7:30 PM in the Lisinski Great Hall. Director Slobodan Begić emphasized that it was a great honor for the entire ensemble to perform at Lisinski and as part of this festival.

“We are a smaller orchestra, but we’ll fill every inch of the hall with sound,” he said colorfully, adding that the soloist in Tchaikovsky’s Violin Concerto will be young Eva Šulić Brajčić.

“In addition to Tchaikovsky, Beethoven, and Šulek, the program will include the Fourth Symphony by Dubrovnik-born Luka Sorkočević, in an edition by Stjepan Šulek, and Hommage à Sorkočević by Boris Papandopulo—one of his finest works,” Begić concluded at the press conference, moderated by Sonja Mrnjavčić of Lisinski.

Free tickets for all events are available at the Lisinski Hall box office and online at lisinski.hr!

Source: lisinski.hr
Photo: Tomislav Jagar