Judita, a two-act, seven-scene operatic success by Croatian composer Frano Parać, stands as a rare gem among contemporary Croatian operas, not only for its unprecedented public reception but also for the impressive number of performances since its premiere. Inspired by the biblical Book of Judith, Marulić’s epic poem and Parać’s opera tell the story of a beautiful widow from Bethulia who chooses to seduce and kill the Assyrian general Holofernes to save the Jewish people. Drawing upon a previous dramatic version by Marin Carić and in collaboration with Tonko Maroević, Parać took on the role of librettist himself. His Judita represents a clear and rounded work of dramaturgy and composition, woven with Marulić's verses that Parać reimagined in his poetic language.
In the 2024/2025 season, Ivica Čikeš received the “Vladimir Ruždjak” Award for his role as Holofernes in the opera Judita (as well as for his roles as Sarastro in The Magic Flute and Gazda Marko in Ero the Joker).
