December 19, 2024

FOYER OF THE MAIN HALL, DECEMBER 29, 2024, 11:00 AM

PROMOTION OF THE MUSIC INFORMATION CENTRE’S EDITION

BORIS PAPANDOPULO: Amphitryon, a Comic Opera in Three Acts
(Score and Piano Reduction)

Participants in the Presentation:

• Davor Merkaš, Musicologist, Senior Editorial Advisor at the Music Information Centre
• Martina Gojčeta Silić, Prof. Art, Vice Dean for International and Interinstitutional Cooperation
• Matija Fortuna, Conductor, Assistant at the Department of Conducting, Music Academy
• Benjamin Šuran, Bass-baritone
• Jelena Vuković, Musicologist, Head of the Music Information Centre

Performers of Excerpts from Amphitryon:

• Marija Salečić, Soprano (Alkmene)
• Benjamin Šuran, Bass-baritone (Amphitryon)
• Josip Galić, Baritone (Zeus)
• Aljaž Žgavc, Tenor (Sosias)
• Josip Švagelj, Tenor (Mercury)
• Ivan Šćepanović, Piano

About the Opera:
Amphitryon, a comic opera and one of the masterpieces of Boris Papandopulo (1906–1991), one of Croatia’s greatest 20th-century composers, boasts a fascinating and dramatic history. Following its triumphant premiere at the Croatian National Theatre in Zagreb on February 17, 1940, and several subsequent performances, the original manuscript of the score mysteriously disappeared, remaining lost for decades.

Thanks to the dedicated efforts of musicologist and editorial advisor Davor Merkaš, this lost musical treasure has been rediscovered! With the support of the Music Information Center and the preparation of performance materials, the opera has been restored for a new generation of audiences.

The opera’s premiere on May 11, 2023, at the Croatian National Theatre in Zagreb was the result of a collaborative effort involving the Music Academy, the Academy of Dramatic Arts, the Faculty of Textile Technology, the Academy of Fine Arts, the Faculty of Architecture, and the Croatian National Theatre. This production captivated both audiences and critics, earning a nomination for the 2024 Croatian Theatre Award in the category of Best Overall Production – Opera!

Following this musical and theatrical triumph, the presentation of the magnificent printed edition of this witty opera is a highly anticipated event. Spanning over 1,000 pages in three volumes (full score and piano reduction), this monumental edition showcases the grandeur of Papandopulo’s work. Its inclusion in the Music Information Center’s catalog is not only a significant achievement but also a crucial step in securing the global recognition of Amphitryon on the world’s opera stages.

ELEVATED GROUND FLOOR, 12:30 PM

OPENING OF THE EXHIBITION OF MUSIC INFORMATION CENTER SHEET MUSIC COVERS

Music Unmasked: The Artistic Facade of Sheet Music

Exhibition Curators:

• Daniel Ille, Graphic Designer, Vatroslav Lisinski Concert Hall
• Jelena Vuković, Head of the Music Information Center

The Music Information Centre tirelessly preserves the legacy of Croatian composers and their rich musical heritage, unveiling these artistic treasures to the broader cultural audience in Croatia and abroad. Through its sheet music publications, the Centre not only revitalizes this heritage but also creates a unique artistic synergy by merging visual and musical elements through meticulously designed cover art.

For years, the visual identity of MIC’s publications has been crafted by award-winning graphic designer Daniel Ille, whose innovative approach bridges the visual and auditory realms in Croatia’s music publishing sector. Ille’s refined and inventive designs transform each cover into a cohesive artistic work, subtly reflecting the essence of the musical content within.

The exhibition, held as part of Lisinski Hall Day and inspired by the theme of the Winter Carnival, features the metaphor of “masks.” The sheet music covers showcase a spectrum of masks—from playful and grotesque to delicate and sacred—mirroring the diversity and richness of musical expressions presented by the Music Information Center.