“Once upon a time, when giants still lived on the earth, a man was walking along the riverbank. He was alone. Only the wind played around his shoulders, occasionally rushing through the reeds that grew along the shore. Suddenly, a strange sound was heard, different from any he had heard before. Silence and then sound. … Read more
Who listens to another’s heartbeat, has a sense of rhythm. Dora Pejačević Dignified, quiet, withdrawn; full of determination, strength, and desire to work. Her days pass in absorbing the most wonderful impressions, given by the centuries-old Slavonian forest, the golden ripe wheat, and the blue of the rippling flax: the marble Pan among the birch … Read more
Although the elements of opera can be traced back to ancient mystery theater, the first traces that will lead to the development of opera as a new musical-theatrical genre can be found in church performances and 14th century mysteries, where words and music were combined. These traces can also be followed in the so-called intermezzos, … Read more
“The Magic Flute is the last magical opera composed by Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart during June and July 1791, towards the end of his life. The libretto was written by Emanuel Schikaneder, the director of the Vienna traveling theater. There are records that the true author of the text was Karl Ludwig Giesecke, a singer in … Read more
I can’t live a single day without listening to music, without playing music, without thinking about it. Leonard Bernstein was born in 1918 in the American city of Lawrence, Massachusetts, into a family that was not directly connected to the music world. From an early age, he was drawn to piano concerts and after his … Read more
This year we celebrate the 250th anniversary of the birth of Ludwig van Beethoven, one of the greatest composers in the world. Often referred to as a musical genius and innovator, he wrote visionary music that expanded not only its own boundaries but also the limits of humanity itself, thus creating a magnificent legacy for … Read more
Roman culture, the last great culture of the ancient world, was created on the Hellenistic heritage. However, Greek and Roman cultures were based on different value systems. Greek artists were deeply religious and their greatest architectural achievement was the temple. In their artistic expression, they sought the universal, the ideal form, and they sought harmony … Read more
“When something from our imagination becomes reality, it seems ‘normal’ and ‘natural’ to us afterwards that it happened exactly as it did. However, countless examples throughout history prove that conservative and spiritually narrow-minded environments rejected creative projects – in any field – if they were extremely new and unconventional. The construction of St. James Cathedral … Read more
“The Sainte-Chapelle (Holy Chapel) is located in the heart of Paris, in the oldest part of the city (Ile de la Cité), where the royal palace once stood. Despite being small compared to the grand Gothic cathedrals throughout France and England, it is considered a perfect example of flamboyant Gothic architecture. Many even consider it … Read more
Europe Map during the time of Charlemagne. Over time, the Church became the true bearer of the culture and art of that era, with religious architecture being its fundamental expression. As this early form of medieval art was dominated by architecture inspired by Roman architecture, art historians gave it the name Romanesque in the early … Read more
