ZADAR CHAMBER ORCHESTRA
Ivan Šćepanović, conductor
Soloist: Nikša Bobetko, double bass
Botica, Bottesini, Mozart, Dvořák
NEW CONCERT LOCATION: University of Zadar Grand Hall
We cordially invite you to a new concert experience by the Zadar Chamber Orchestra, conducted by Maestro Ivan Šćepanović. This musical evening offers an exciting blend of Classicism, Romanticism, and contemporary works, with a special focus on an instrument rarely seen in a soloistic spotlight.
The soloist of the evening is double bassist Nikša Bobetko, who will perform Giovanni Bottesini’s renowned Concerto No. 2 in B minor, a masterpiece that, due to its immense technical difficulty and beauty, has earned the nickname "The Paganini of the Double Bass." The program also features Mozart’s dramatic Adagio and Fugue in C minor and his playful Divertimento in D major, followed by Dvořák’s soulful and profound Nocturne in B major. A special highlight of the evening will be the world premiere of a new work by the young Croatian composer Šimun Čarli Botica.
Nikša Bobetko earned his Bachelor’s and Master’s degrees at the Academy of Music in Zagreb under Professor Josip Novosel, followed by advanced studies in Berlin with Stefan Adelmann. As a distinguished soloist, he has performed with Croatia’s leading orchestras, including the Zagreb Philharmonic and the HRT Symphony Orchestra, and is also an active chamber musician. Since 1995, he has been a member of the Zagreb Philharmonic, where he has served as the Principal Double Bass since 2009. Alongside his orchestral career, he is dedicated to pedagogy as an Associate Professor at the Academy of Music in Zagreb and is a member of the Cantus Ensemble.
Concert Program
W. A. Mozart (1756 – 1791): Adagio and Fugue in C minor, K. 546
G. Bottesini (1821 – 1889): Double Bass Concerto No. 2 in B minor
Š. Č. Botica (1997): Les vestiges du passé (Traces of the Past)
A. Dvořák (1841 – 1904): Nocturne in B-flat major for String Orchestra, Op. 40, B. 47
W. A. Mozart: Divertimento in D major, K. 136