Jakov Gotovac
ERO THE JOKER
A comic opera in three acts
Libretto by Milan Begović
As Jakov Gotovac’s most successful work, the opera Ero the Joker has been considered one of the best Slavic comic operas for a long time. Since its premiere in the Croatian National Theatre in 1935, it has been an almost constant part of the repertoires of all Croatian national theatres. Many reviews of productions on foreign stages consider Ero a symbol of Croatian opera, bringing the songs and dances of its homeland to the world, through impeccably intertwined lyrics and music. The chromatic musical scale, rich orchestration, lively rhythms, and continuously flowing, melodic vocal lines are closely tied to the exceptional libretto by Milan Begović, which is full of humorous verses. The main character of the opera and the central figure of the narrative is Mića, a young man from a wealthy rural family in the Dalmatian hinterland. While looking for a girl he could marry, he follows his mother’s advice and pretends to be a poor man. He introduces himself as Ero from another world, wanting to be certain that his chosen one, Đula, truly loves him. Although he tricks many, in the end he is forgiven and gets the girl he loves. The vigorous ballet finale of the opera, with its frenzied tempo, is an ode to a rural way of life, wherein the music, full of the ethos of the Dalmatian interior, swells to prominence.
The eternal young man! - Vijenac
Ovations, cheering, elation, audiences on their feet… all this in honor of the 80th anniversary of Ero the Joker. - Jutarnji list
Dvadeset pet godina ta predstava stiliziranih folklornih okvira neprekidno je na repertoaru, prikazana 146 puta. U njoj se izmijenilo mnoštvo solista u glavnim ulogama, od kojih je dio nazočio svečanoj izvedbi 2. svibnja, i bio predstavljen publici…— Vijenac
The eternal young man!— Vijenac
Ovations, cheering, elation, audiences on their feet… all this in honor of the 80th anniversary of Ero the Joker.— Jutarnji list
