The French composer Ambroise Thomas belongs to a group of composers who were laureates of the Grand Prix de Rome a(including Gounod and Bizet). They were revolutionary at the time of appearance and then declared as old-fashioned by numerous musicologists and critics. In 1868, the premiere audience was not upset by the composer’s parting with the most famous literary model of Shakespeare’s drama. Today, after several generations of intellectual purism, we are aware that the obligation to the great poet and dramatist is far smaller than the one to librettists, composers and the contemporary audience.This audience deserves to acquaint itself with this inventive work, since Thomas’ music is far more interesting than the reputation it holds. With this first production of opera Hamlet in Croatia, we shall mark the composer’s 200th birth anniversary.