24 June – 2 July 2006
FIRST HOMELAND MEETING OF KLAPA VOCAL GROUPS FROM THE CROATIAN EMIGRATION
Organizer: Croatian Heritage Foundation Project leader: Srebrenka Šeravić Artistic Director: Joško Ćaleta Media coverage by: Croatian Radio Television (HRT) and the Večernji list daily The Croatian Heritage Foundation is organising, from the first time in it's existence, visits to the Homeland and concerts at numerous venues, of a cappella Klapa vocal groups from the Croatian emigration with the aim on one hand of presenting the groups to the Croatian public, and on the other of acquainting the groups and their members with Croatia and the places that are considered to be the cradles of Klapa singing.
In the wealth of Croatian traditional culture Klapa singing holds a special place, this way of singing is distinct to Croatia and has made a name for us across the world – it is particular to us and is our contribution to diversity. Klapa singing has also taken root among the Croatian emigration and we feel that the time has come to hear their voices here too in the Homeland.
The invitation was answered by ten Klapa groups and they will be joined by local Klapa groups at concerts held in each of the cities and towns on the tour.
We are particularly indebted to the Crikvenica, Sinj, Vela Luka, Podgora and Kaštel city halls that have recognised the significance of the First Homeland Meeting Of Klapa Vocal Groups From The Croatian Emigration and offered their generous organisational support for the concerts to be held in their towns. We also thank the organisers of the Omiš Dalmatian Klapa Festival who have put a concert of Klapa groups from the emigration on the program of their jubilee 40th festival.
CONCERTS
24 June ZAGREB Small Hall of the Vatroslav Lisinski CH 20 h (with the local Klapa Grdelin and Klapa Dišpet)
25 JuneCRIKVENICA Lapidarium of the hotel Kaštel 20 h (with the local Klapa Crikvenica and Klapa Fortunal)
26 JuneZADAR The Arsenal 20 h (with the local Klapa Intrade)
27 JuneSINJ Atrium of the monastery of Our Lady of Sinj 21 h (with the local Klapa Sinj)
28 JuneVELA LUKA St. Joseph's Church Square 21 h (with the local Klapa Vela Luka and Klapa Ošjak)
29 JunePODGORA Galebova krila Summer Stage 21 h (with the local Klapa Sutikla from Podgora and Klapa Stara srdela from Makarska)
1 JulyKAŠTEL STARI Brce Square (Trg Brce) 21 h (hosted by the Croatian Navy's Klapa Sveti Juraj and with guest Klapa Delminium of Tomislavgrad, Bosnia & Herzegovina)
2 JulyOMIŠ St. Michael's Square (Trg sv. Mihovila) 21 h (concert at the 40th jubilee Dalmatian Klapa Festival held under the auspices of the Croatian Government)
PARTICIPANTS KLAPA B.A. Argentina, Buenos Aires
Members:
Vlado Kovač - 1st Tenor Ivo Puches - Baritone Daniel Detelić - 2nd Tenor Tomica Trošelj - Bass Branko Nadinić - 2nd Tenor Siniša Boenel - Bass Adrian Barišić - 2nd Tenor Ante Vlahović - Bass Mirko Terrazas - Baritone
The Klapa B.A. from Buenos Aires was founded in 1998 by a group of young Croatians born in Argentina in memory of a friend who fell in the Croatian Homeland War. The Klapa is made up of the sons of eight Croatians born in Argentina and the son of one Croatian who left his native Senj half a century ago and has never visited it since. OVA KLAPA (THIS KLAPA) South African Republic, Johannesburg
Ova klapa was founded in 2000 in Johannesburg at the initiative of Croatian emigrants gathered around the St. Jerome Croatian Catholic Mission. All of the present-day members of Ova klapa draw their roots from Vela Luka on the island of Korčula. It is the only Dalmatian Klapa on the continent of Africa, gathered as a result of the great love of Klapa singing, their native Vela Luka and the sincere friendship shared by the members of the Klapa. DALMATINA New Zealand, Auckland
The Klapa Dalmatina was founded in 1995 in Auckland, New Zealand. Its members are all born in New Zealand and of Croatian extraction, of various professions and are bonded by a sincere love of Klapa singing. Besides their chief activity, the nurturing of Dalmatian Klapa singing, the members of the Klapa Dalmatina have in their repertoire songs from other Croatian regions, and also sing in the English, Italian and German languages as their contribution to a multicultural Auckland. KLAPA CROATIA of the CROATIAN CATHOLIC MISSION IN MUNICH Germany, Munich
Since it was founded in 1948 the Croatian Catholic Mission in Munich has been and remains an important meeting place for our people. A love of the Homeland and of Klapa singing brought the members of the Klapa Croatia together about fifteen years ago, and it was expanded in April of 2005 to include several younger members and today numbers a total of eleven members. As of a few months ago this Klapa is lead by Sister Nikolina Bilić, a graduate of Church music. KLAPA FERALI Germany, Frankfurt
The Klapa Ferali was established at the end of the 1980's with the backing of the Croatian Catholic community and the Mato Lešćan mixed choir. The Klapa started off under the artistic leadership of the late Mato Lešćan, an eminent Church musician. Josip Lucić and Radomir Tešanić later took up the role of artistic directors. THE KOLJNOFSKE GOLUBICE WOMEN'S VOCAL GROUP Hungary, Koljnof
The Koljnofske golubice started singing together in 1997. They nurture the traditional singing of Croatians in Hungary. They have appeared on many stages in Austria (Vienna, Naschbach), Slovakia (Hrvatski Jandrof, Čunovo), Hungary (Budapest, Sopron, Pecs) and finally in Croatia (Zagreb, Buševec, Bibinje). This Klapa is lead by singing instructor Zita Megyeri Priger. KLAPA ASTORIA of the CROATIAN CATHOLIC COMMUNITY OF ASTORIA United States of America, New York
The Klapa of the Croatian Catholic community of Astoria was founded over ten years ago by a group of friends, aficionados of Dalmatian singing, at the time under the name of Lubin. From its founding this Klapa has been, for many emigrant Croatians living in New York, a strong link to the Homeland. Its many years of activity in the frame of the Croatian Catholic community has lead to a broadening of its repertoire to include traditional spiritual singing. MALE VOCAL OCTET – KLAPA CHORUS CROATICUS Switzerland, Bern
Members:
Frane Vugdelija - 1st Tenor and Artistic Director Viorel Raviele - Tallarini - 2nd Tenor Dinko Božić - 2nd Tenor Ivo Šavar - 2nd Tenor Željko Čubrić - 2nd Tenor Josip Borozni - Bass Miljenko Plišić - 2nd Tenor Iko Bekić - Bass Danijel Peštaj - Baritone Branko Ćorić - Bass Alan Šavar - Baritone Krešimir Ćuze - Bass
The Klapa Chorus Croaticus was established August 21, 1987 as the Hrvatski oktet (Croatian Octet) and worked under that name up to May 10, 1993. The founder of this vocal ensemble is Frane Vugdelija. Chorus Croaticus has set as its goal the nurturing and promoting of Croatian musical heritage, endeavouring to bring it closer to the Swiss and in this way contribute to a greater understanding and friendship between the people of Switzerland and Croatians.
