Croatia Online – Music With a Difference
We were lucky enough to be invited to a performance of the Sanctus Domnio Rock and Mandoline concert last night at the “Domn” (Gradsko Kazalište Lutaka Split) just off Marmontova, the main shopping street in Split.
The one and a half hour performance was as professional as it was moving. The mandoline is a beautiful instrument, and when you hear twenty plus of them, with guitars and the occasional flute and vocals, it’s difficult not to let the haunting music get to you. Led by Vladimir Lukas, an obviously inspirational conductor and full of modesty and good humour, the young orchestra breezed faultlessly through a repertoire of contemporary and traditional pieces including the theme from The Godfather. Classicists will love it but so also will anyone with an ear for good music who enjoys something a bit different.
The orchestra was founded in 1990 and has given numerous concerts in Croatia and abroad, winning several prizes along the way. Its repertoire includes many compositions originally composed for mandolins and arrangements of works for other orchestras, by contemporary and classical composers. However, it has achieved most recognition for modern interpretations of original mandolin orchestra compositions, by contemporary Croatian composers.
The new website is, understandably, only written in Croatian as yet but worth a look – http://www.sanctus-domnio.hr/. CD's are available and they're almost as good as the real thing. We’ll try and keep you posted of any forthcoming events.
The theatre itself was also a pleasant surprise – it seats about 300 people and looks like it’s recently had some money spent on it. The Italian lighting system would put London’s West End to shame and the new flip seats had interesting variations for couples – occasional double seats with no arm rests in between that disconcertingly only flip back into place when you both get up! It’s a great space though.
The one and a half hour performance was as professional as it was moving. The mandoline is a beautiful instrument, and when you hear twenty plus of them, with guitars and the occasional flute and vocals, it’s difficult not to let the haunting music get to you. Led by Vladimir Lukas, an obviously inspirational conductor and full of modesty and good humour, the young orchestra breezed faultlessly through a repertoire of contemporary and traditional pieces including the theme from The Godfather. Classicists will love it but so also will anyone with an ear for good music who enjoys something a bit different.
The orchestra was founded in 1990 and has given numerous concerts in Croatia and abroad, winning several prizes along the way. Its repertoire includes many compositions originally composed for mandolins and arrangements of works for other orchestras, by contemporary and classical composers. However, it has achieved most recognition for modern interpretations of original mandolin orchestra compositions, by contemporary Croatian composers.
The new website is, understandably, only written in Croatian as yet but worth a look – http://www.sanctus-domnio.hr/. CD's are available and they're almost as good as the real thing. We’ll try and keep you posted of any forthcoming events.
The theatre itself was also a pleasant surprise – it seats about 300 people and looks like it’s recently had some money spent on it. The Italian lighting system would put London’s West End to shame and the new flip seats had interesting variations for couples – occasional double seats with no arm rests in between that disconcertingly only flip back into place when you both get up! It’s a great space though.
posted by Jane Cody at 1:35 pm
1 Comments:
Sanctus Domnio will be performing at Sv Duje Cathedral in Split on 30th April and we understand that the orchestra have just received this year's City of Split Award.
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