From the Zadar musical heritage
Papandopulo Quartet
Nikola Fabijanić, soprano saxophone
Gordan Tudor, alto saxophone
Goran Jurković, tenor saxophone
Tomislav Žužak, baritone saxophone
Tomislav Uhlik, Nikola Strmić, Tihomir Ranogajec (first performance), Davor Bobić, Mirela Ivičević, Petar Obradović
“The most significant and deservedly the most exposed domestic chamber ensemble,” Papandopulo Quartet comprises four Croatian saxophonists, Nikola Fabijanić, soprano saxophone, Gordan Tudor, alto saxophone, Goran Jurković, tenor saxophone, and Tomislav Žužak, baritone saxophone. Their concerts are regularly followed by audience’s ovations and critical acclaim. The Quartet pays special attention to promoting the contemporary music of Croatian and foreign authors, and they collaborate with many renowned artists, ensembles, and orchestras. In 2013 they published their first album Papandopulo, under the label Croatia Records, which received the Porin Discography Award for the best composition among five nominations for this national award. In the last few years that album has been the bestselling album of classical music in Croatia. The Quartet has held over 200 concerts at all more famous festivals and music manifestations in Croatia and has been a regular guest on stages and festivals in Italy, Germany, France, Hungary, Austria, Romania, Slovenia, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Montenegro, and Serbia. In 2015, the Quartet published their second album, Per quattro, and in 2017 the third album, Scherzo, both under Croatia Records, and both meeting the expectations. The year 2019 was one of the most successful years for Papandopulo Quartet. Apart from a great number of concerts, in June of the same year they received the Milka Trnina Award, and soon after that they won the first prize – Grand Prix at the renowned international competition the 3rd International Berliner Music Competition, among 40 chamber ensembles; having won in the category they were given the opportunity to perform in the Berlin Philharmonic Hall. Besides the first award – Grand Prix in the category of professional chamber ensembles they were also awarded the additional award of the New York concert agency, the Manhattan Concert Artist Award. In 2021 they won Danijel Marušić Award for the best concert at Osor Musical Evenings, the Golden Medal in the category of chamber music at the Vienna International Music Competition, and a special award that included the publication of a best of album for Orpheus Classical Records. Soon they will release their fourth CD titled Scenes which, as their first album, comprises only compositions by Croatian composers.