Golden Strings of Slavonia: Dedication to tradition, Golden Slavonia, music and people

(Photo: Zlatne žice Slavonije)

The biggest festival of tambura music, Golden Strings of Slavonia (Zlatne žice Slavonije) is a three-day event that takes place from 2-4 September on Holy Trinity square in Požega.

The stomp of the proud horses of Slavonia dominating the procession, people and children in beautiful folk costumes decorated with precious gold embroidery, a wealth of colours, pride and smiles. 

Horse-drawn carriages and the rich, magical sounds of hooves, the harmony of tamburica and traditional songs – these are customs that ennoble us, open the heart and awaken pride, these are the Golden Strings of Slavonia.

The Golden Strings of Slavonia awaken strong emotions in many generations, memories of childhood, ancestors and some ancient times.

The popularity and attendance of this event is proof of long-term nurturing of tradition and love for traditional music, which is passed on even to the youngest. The festival is becoming synonymous with selected traditional tambura music, which will attract many visitors this year as well.

Music, concerts, folklore, top wines, and gastronomic offer, make Golden Slavonia and Požega one of the most visited tourist destinations in Croatia in September.

(Photo: Zlatne žice Slavonije)

Love and respect for traditional music in Požega is passed down from generation to generation. Throughout history, the festival has been and remains a gathering place for Croatian traditional music and performers, as well as a part of the cultural identity of Golden Slavonia, recognised beyond national borders. 

The return of the original name emphasised the already well-known traditional and tambura character of the festival, which has gathered the best performers for decades. Therefore, it is not surprising that the Croatian Tourist Board recognised the Golden String of Slavonia and supported the event as a top event in Croatia.

As an introduction to the three-day event, on September 2, visitors will be welcomed by the traditional Fish Stew Festival (Fišijada), which gathers a large number of true masters every year and attracts an increasing number of visitors.

On the same day, in the late afternoon on Holy Trinity square, there will be a Folkloric evening filled with original folklore and carefully designed choreographies, followed by a traditional ceremonial procession of the participants, followed by the official opening of the Festival, and performances by local KUDs. Then two eminent folklore ensembles from different parts of Croatia take the stage.

(Photo: Zlatne žice Slavonije)

The special feature of the event and an evening that will be remembered is the concert from Zvonko Bogdan, who will celebrate the harmony, emotion and beauty of timeless music and verses of the golden strings of the tambura in his unique and elegant way, accompanied by as many as 21 tambura players.

On the second day of the festival, the Golden Microphone Children’s Competition will first take place, and in the evening there will be a retrospective evening of the late Krunoslav Kića Slabinac’s songs.

19 songs will be performed, which will take on a new look with new arrangements performed by a big band, a chamber tambourine ensemble of brass and strings under the direction of maestro Alan Bjelinski.

Among the guest soloists, the arrival of Ivana Kindl, Jacques Houdek, Iva Gamulina Gianni, Igor Delač and Bruna Oberan Bošković has been announced, and Ante Gelo, the former guitarist of Kića Slabinac, is also intensively involved in the project. This will be followed by an evening concert by the musician and poet of the Slavonian Plain, Miroslav Škoro.

The central part of the festival, the Golden Strings of Slavonia, will be followed by a live television and radio broadcast on the Croatian Radiotelevision program on Sunday, September 4. On Sunday, the performers will be accompanied by the festival orchestra under the direction of professor Antun Adžić in the tambura part, and Alen Kovačević in the entertainment part.

After the performance of about twenty new songs from the Golden Strings of Slavonia festival, the Bosutski Bećari come to the end with a concert called “40 years with you”.

By fostering tambura music in its more than half a century of existence, the festival has proven that it lives with the times, but also celebrates rich culture and history, thus nurturing the tradition and heritage of Golden Slavonia year after year.

Golden Strings of Slavonia is the largest and oldest festival of tambura music, which brings together all the charms that Golden Slavonia can offer. It is a dedication to beauty, gentleness, tradition and values that ennoble.

More info and the programme here: https://www.visitslavonia.hr/