66th Musical Evenings: Croatian Guitar Duo, Dream Factory and Maja Rivić
On Friday, July 31st, starting at 9:00 PM, the Croatian Guitar Duo, consisting of two prominent guitarists - Edin Karamazov and Melita Ivković - will perform at the Church of St. Chrysogonus (Sv. Krševan). This duo brings a program that merges refined stylistic analysis and technical brilliance, offering the audience a concert experience in which the expressiveness of the guitar reaches its highest artistic peaks. The repertoire features works by Joseph Haydn, Sergei Prokofiev, and Johann Sebastian Bach, arranged for two guitars by Edin Karamazov. Through meticulously crafted interpretations, this musical dialogue between two outstanding guitarists explores the boundaries of the guitar duo format, ranging from Classical elegance and the subtlety of Baroque counterpoint to the expressive modernity of the 20th century.
Edin Karamazov, one of today's most original and highly acclaimed guitarists and lutenists, is known for his interpretative precision and unique approach to the repertoire. His performances are characterized by deep analysis of the musical text, an exploratory spirit, and technical superiority. Karamazov has performed in the world's most prestigious halls and collaborated with top musicians such as Sting, Andreas Scholl, and Dorothee Oberlinger, while his rich discography bears witness to his artistic curiosity and desire to push the boundaries of interpretation.
Melita Ivković is a musician whose artistic work has spanned performances in 32 countries across four continents, pedagogical endeavors, and the leadership of international festivals. Her interpretations combine virtuosity with a deep understanding of stylistic nuances, while her work as a member of the Zagreb Guitar Quartet and the ethnomusicological project Dina e Mel further confirms her dedication to expanding the boundaries of guitar literature.
The following day, on Saturday, August 1st, two events are scheduled. At 11:00 AM in the Multimedia Hall of the Zadar City Library, the final workshop of the Dream Factory (Tvornica snova) series, dedicated to the voice, will be led by Maja Rivić. Maja Rivić is a vocalist, composer, and multimedia artist holding degrees in jazz singing (London), New Media (Academy of Fine Arts Zagreb), and graphic technology. Known for her distinctive style and extended vocal techniques, her work encompasses jazz, improvised, experimental, and world music. She is the co-founder and vocalist of the Mimika Orchestra, the ensembles MILK and OAZA, the Maja Rivić Quintet, and a member of the CRI Orchestra. She has achieved notable collaborations with the HRT Jazz Orchestra, the Zagreb Music Biennale, and Darko Rundek, with whom she shares a Porin award. She has released numerous studio recordings, including an auteur album with her quintet and albums with Mimika for Menart, and actively engages in pedagogical work leading vocal improvisation workshops.
That same evening, starting at 9:00 PM, Maja Rivić and her quintet will present her original project Drugo sunce (The Second Sun) in the atrium of the Church of St. Nicholas. For this quintet, Rivić gathered some of the finest musicians on the Croatian jazz scene. The Drugo sunce project testifies to her versatile interests, which also include performative experimental formats such as those she presented at her solo exhibitions during her New Media studies at the Academy of Fine Arts.
