Ceremonial Presentation of the Opera Recording ‘Oganj’ by Blagoje BersaOpera — 13. April 2026.
One of the key works of Croatian musical modernism, the opera Oganj by composer Blagoje Bersa (1873–1934), has received a new discographic release in the Ligatura edition (HRT – HDS/Cantus), and will be presented to the public on 17 April 2026 at 5 pm in the foyer of the Croatian National Theatre in Zagreb.
Alongside Dora Pejačević and Josip Hatze, Blagoje Bersa ranks among the most important representatives of Croatian musical modernism, and with his oeuvre he left a profound mark on the development of the national musical culture in the first half of the twentieth century. His opera Oganj, premiered in 1911 at the Croatian National Theatre in Zagreb, is regarded as one of the foundational works of Croatian operatic literature and one of the first achievements to fully reflect the contemporary European musical tendencies of its time. It is a work of exceptional artistic value, combining strong dramaturgy, rich orchestration and a distinctive compositional voice, and despite its importance, it only gradually acquired the place it deserves in the national heritage.
This new discographic release is based on a studio recording made immediately after the concert performance of the opera held on 18 January 2024 at the Vatroslav Lisinski Concert Hall. It was realised in collaboration with Croatian Radiotelevision, the Croatian National Theatre in Zagreb and the Vatroslav Lisinski Concert Hall, on the occasion of the 150th anniversary of the composer’s birth and the 90th anniversary of his death. The recording features the Croatian Radiotelevision Symphony Orchestra and Choir, the Croatian Radiotelevision Children’s Choir, the Opera Choir of the Croatian National Theatre in Zagreb, and distinguished soloists of the Opera of the Croatian National Theatre in Zagreb under the baton of conductor Aleksandar Marković, thus ensuring a high artistic standard and a representative interpretation of the work.
The soloists participating in this recording are soprano Valentina Fijačko Kobić (Lenka), tenor Stjepan Franetović (Robert Thoms), baritone Ljubomir Puškarić (Hellwing), bass Luciano Batinić (Pastor), bass Siniša Štork (First Worker) and baritone Siniša Hapač (Second Worker).
The release will be presented by Iva Hraste Sočo, PhD, General Manager and Artistic Director, Nina Čalopek, Director of the Vatroslav Lisinski Concert Hall, Ivana Kocelj, Head of HRT Music Department and editor of the Ligatura edition, Marija Saraga, editor of the Ligatura edition, Aleksandar Marković, conductor, and Krešimir Seletković, music producer, with musicologist Zrinka Matić serving as moderator.
