VIBECOVERY: Vibe the music!: ALIF KABILJO (1935

Today, we received the sad news about the passing of the great composer, conductor, arranger, pianist, lyricist, librettist, and producer Alfi Kabiljo.

Alfi Kabiljo was born in Zagreb on December 22, 1935. He attended the private music school of the composer and pedagogue Rudolf Matz, graduated from the Vatroslav Lisinski Music School in Zagreb, perfected his composition in Paris with the Belgian producer Roger Samyn, and graduated in architecture. He was the most versatile Croatian composer of international reputation, and he composed music for theater, film, TV productions, fun melodies, chansons, orchestral, chamber and solo works, music for children, and applied music. Because of his exceptional work and oeuvre, he became a role model for new generations of composers and was a regular guest at all important concerts.

On the Croatian music scene, he left an indelible mark with the music of numerous musicals. The cult musical “Yalta, Yalta” from its premiere on December 29, 1971. in Zagreb, it was performed more than 1,500 times in the interpretation of various theaters and their ensembles, and it was also translated into German, Italian, and Norwegian. His other musicals “The Great Race” (1969), “Hairy Life” (1976), “Crveni otok” (1981), “The Wedding List” (1986), “Emperor Franjo Josip in Zagreb” (1989), “Kralj je gol” (1994) and “Tko pjeva zlo ne misli” (1998) were also very successful. Milan Grgić, director Vlado Štefančić, and poet Drago Britvić.

He composed music for about 40 films, including “Scissors” (with Sharon Stone), “Sky Bandits”, “Fear, Gymkata”, “The Girl”, “Kužiš stari moj”, “Peasant Rebellion”, “Deps”, “Journalist”, “The Fall of Italy”, “Occupation in 26 Pictures”, “Leo and Darius” and for a large number of television series – “Nikola Tesla”, “Don’t give up to Floki”, “Unconquered City”… He was awarded for film music Zlatna Arena (1976, 1981 and 2010), his music for the film “Sky Bandits” was nominated in the Best Original Score category at the BAFT (British Academy Film Awards) and the American Film Academy (Oscar), and the highest recognition was given to him by the Camille Award in 2022 by the European Association of Composers’ Societies (ECSA) for lifetime achievement.

The original music from the films composed by Alfi was regularly released on sound carriers, so after the release of the musical “Yalta, Yalta” (Suzy, 1972), Jugoton released the original music from the film “Peasant Revolt 1573” on LP in 1975. In 2015, Croatia Records compiled Alfie’s best songs from movies and TV series performed by popular singers such as Mišo Kovač, Gabi Novak, Tereza Kesovija, and many others. His most popular songs, such as those sung by Radojka Šverko, Tereza Kesovija, and Vice Vukov, were published in the Alfi Kabiljo Song Collection edition.

Alfi Kabiljo is also the author of the comic opera Casanova in Istria (HNK Rijeka, 2009) and the ballet Kentaur XII (HNK Zagreb, 1979), as well as an extensive instrumental work for solo instruments, chamber ensembles, and orchestra. For a string orchestra, he transcribed pictures from the M. P. Mussorgsky exhibition. Interestingly, at several Winter Olympics, world figure skaters performed choreographies of his music. He was the head of the Croatian Society of Composers from 1992 to 1994. He has won many awards and prizes, including: Josip Štolcer Slavenski (1986), Charter of the City of Zagreb (1999), Milivoj Körbler (HDS, 1998), Porin for Lifetime Achievement (2004), Status (Croatian Music Union, 2004), Kairos (Film Music Festival in Trogir, 2009), Boris Papandopulo (Croatian Society of Composers for Concerto for Flute and Orchestra, 2009), Vladimir Nazor (Ministry of the Republic of Croatia, 2016), Zlatni Oktavijan (Croatian Society of Film Critics, 2023). He holds the state medal of the Croatian Order of Danica with the figure of Marko Marulić.

His family—his wife Katja, daughter Daniela, and son Ilan—were his foundation and most excellent support. He was particularly proud of his son Ilan’s achievements as a musician and arranger. Along with music, Alfi Kabiljo loved to play tennis, and his sportsmanship kept his inexhaustible energy at an enviable level.

A little more than a year ago, in the off cycle of the Zagreb Philharmonic in KD Vatroslav Lisinski, a revue evening was organized in honor of Alfi Kabiljo – “Svijet je moj” which brought a cross-section of the best compositions from Kabiljo’s vast oeuvre. The audience also heard two new songs, “Plant a tree” and “Pružimo ruke,” which he wrote for the young singing hopeful Martin Kosovac. It was an evening that few composers get. Alfi Kabiljo was precisely that: a composer of exceptional talent, a broad worldview, a man captivated by his warmth and energy.

Dear Maestro, Thank you for every note, piece of music, and meeting. We are indescribably grateful for the opportunity to work with you and be part of your company.

SOURCE: Croatia Records