• EVENTS

    VATROSLAV LISINSKI CONCERT HALL AWARDS HONORARY MEMBERSHIPS TO ALFI KABILJO, KARLO METIKOŠ, AND JOSIPA LISAC

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    Vatroslav Lisinski Concert Hall marked its 52nd anniversary with a ceremonial presentation of honorary memberships to three artists who have profoundly shaped Croatian music beyond the classical sphere: Alfi Kabiljo, Karlo Metikoš, and Josipa Lisac.

    The Hall’s director, Nina Čalopek, noted that this tradition dates back to 1984, when the first honorary member was Lovro von Matačić, and that over the years the award has been given to distinguished musicians and former Hall directors. She also highlighted 2023 as an important milestone, when two women—Pavica Gvozdić and Ruža Pospiš Baldani—were included among honorary members for the first time.

    A special part of the ceremony was dedicated to Croatia’s first rock opera, Gubec-beg (also mentioned as the fifth in the world), whose premiere at Lisinski in 1975 launched a long-standing partnership between the Vatroslav Lisinski Concert Hall and the Komedija Theatre. This year also marks the 75th anniversary of Komedija and 50 years of collaboration. Gubec-beg has been performed at Lisinski 181 times, and 212 times in total, including guest performances, with exceptional attendance and appearances in major European cultural centers.

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    Musicologist Irena Paulus presented the work of Alfi Kabiljo, emphasizing the breadth of his output across theatre, concert, and film music. Key highlights included the musical “Jalta, Jalta”, the concert work “Fire and Water” (dedicated to George Frideric Handel), and the score for the film “The Fall of Italy”, also known as “The Cantata of Mikula Trudni.”

    In tribute to Karlo Metikoš (Matt Collins)—a pivotal figure in Croatian popular music, a rock pioneer, author of Gubec-beg, and the songwriter behind many of Josipa Lisac’s signature pieces—Milan Majerović Stilinović delivered a commemorative text created in collaboration with Siniša Škarica. Klaudija Čular, an editor at Croatia Records, spoke about Josipa Lisac, highlighting her enduring gratitude and respect for Karlo Metikoš and other great artists she collaborated with.

    The ceremony concluded with a musical homage to Josipa Lisac: Vanda Winter performed “To je ono što me čini sretnom” (“That’s What Makes Me Happy”). A final announcement was also made: a vinyl reissue of Gubec-beg will be released on January 26, 2026.

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