LADO to celebrate 75 years with festive Christmas concerts
- by croatiaweek
- in Entertainment
(Photo: Samir Cerić Kovačević)
The LADO Ensemble will conclude its celebratory year with a series of festive Christmas concerts in December, showcasing a programme curated by its current artistic director, Zrinka Posavec.
The repertoire features some of the most beautiful Christmas carols from Dalmatia, Northwestern, and Eastern Croatia.
The first performance will take place on 15 December at the Church of the Holy Trinity in Slavonski Brod, followed by concerts on 16 December in Novska, 17 December in Marija Gorica, and 19 December in Lipovljani.
Audiences in Zagreb will have two opportunities to enjoy LADO’s Christmas programme this year: on 18 December at the Parish of St Nicholas in Stenjevec and, as per tradition, on 20 December at the Basilica of St Anthony of Padua on Sveti Duh.
(Photo: Samir Cerić Kovačević)
The final concert will be held on 21 December 2024 at the Cathedral of the Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary in Varaždin. Admission is free for all LADO concerts except the one in Varaždin, where tickets, priced at €10, went on sale at the beginning of December.
LADO’s Christmas concerts have been a cherished tradition since 1990, initially inspired by the project The Liturgical Year in Croatian Folk Narration.
Over the years, these concerts have become a hallmark of the ensemble’s repertoire, reflecting the rich heritage of Croatia’s only national professional folk ensemble.
This year’s concert will feature kolende and Christmas songs from Dalmatia arranged by Joško Ćaleta, a selection of carols from Slavonia, Baranja, and Bačka arranged by Dražen Kurilovčan, and songs from the Kajkavian-speaking regions of Prekmurje, Međimurje, and Gradišće.
(Photo: Samir Cerić Kovačević)
The final section of the programme will include some of Croatia’s most beloved traditional Christmas songs, masterfully arranged for orchestra and choir by Dražen Kurilovčan, Božidar Potočnik, and Tomislav Uhlik. The concerts will be conducted by Joško Ćaleta and Jurica Petar Petrač.
In celebration of its 75th anniversary, LADO has selected works for this milestone Christmas concert from its extensive archive of festive music.
This carefully chosen programme offers a small yet evocative glimpse into Croatia’s rich musical heritage, guiding audiences through the joyful spirit of the season and celebrating the prayerful splendour of the country’s traditions.
