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Festival Kvarner a new meeting point of artists and scholars in Opatija, Croatia
Dr. Michael Fendre, orchestral conductor in Vienna, director of the Festival Kvarner
Concept and dramaturgy
We do not want to create a completely new festival concept for the Kvarner region as that is completely unnecessary and not at all useful! We just want to take already established material and revive it. Because what should be done to improve an idea that an orchestra back then used to give concerts up to twice per day? What we are designing newly, however, and want to adapt for the Kvarner region, is an elaborate, exclusive musical programme. This differentiates today's concept from the former: we are offering our own, new and internationally attended festival, the Festival Kvarner!
And then of course the conspicuous European thought would still be there! At the end of the 19th century, the European aristocracy, artists and scholars met in Opatija. The exchange of thoughts and ideas, an especially artistic climate, philosophising and entertaining were the order of the day back then - in short it was an exchange of thoughts on a European level. The idea of the artistic exchange on a European level is revived in our festival in the Kvarner region. The Kvarner region could again be that place in which Europe's creative heads meet and it could, therefore, also influence Europe from an artistic point of view. The fact that many composers, such as Mahler, Puccini, Lehar, Kalman, etc., who, over the course of history, have stayed here and have been inspired by the picturesque landscape and the Mediterranean flair proves that this location is perfectly suitable for music: history provides us with the evidence that our idea has a good basis.
The venues
Opatija is undoubtedly one of the most beautiful concert locations of the Croatian coast: its natural setting in Kvarner Bay, right by the sea, the colour of the sea itself, the buildings which herald from the glamorous eras gone-by and the climate, which has made this area Croatia's first health resort. It is because of all this that Opatija is often described as the "Nice of the Adriatic". CRYSTAL ROOM
The Crystal Room in the Hotel Kvarner with its imperial splendour is the perfect place for concerts performed by world class orchestras.
The Festival Kvarner is sustained and organised by the organisation "Udruga Festival Kvarner". DI Vjekoslav Martinko has been president of the organisation since 2009. The acting manager of the festival is Mag. Silvija Novak and Dr Michael Fendre is the director.
Office Festival Kvarner Hotel Kvarner P. Tomašića 4, 51410 Opatija
Verein Festival Kvarner Viktora Cara Emina 11, 51415 Lovran OIB: 59520115336 Tel.: +385 51 294 603 Fax: +385 51 294 589
View from Opatija to the Kvarner bay: islands of Krk and Cres left and right. Girl with a seagull is a famous landmark of Opatija. The original name of the monument, made by Zvonko Car in 1956, is "Salute to the sea".
Opatija
Opatija is undoubtedly one of the most beautiful concert locations on the Croatian coast: its natural setting in Kvarner Bay, right by the sea, the colour of the sea itself, the buildings which herald from the glamorous eras gone-by and the climate, which has made this area Croatia's first health resort. It is because of all this that Opatija is often described as the "Nice of the Adriatic". It was Maria Anna, the wife of the late Kaiser Ferdinand of Austria (1835-1848) who discovered Opatija and stayed in the Villa Angiolina during the bathing season of 1860. Kaiser Franz Joseph (1848-1916), as well as almost all the members of his family, often visited the Camellia Coast. The Kaiser's lover, Viennese actress Katharina Schratt, also stayed in the Villa Madonna on the Lungomare.
The real driving force behind the tourist development around Opatija came from the Austrian Südbahngesellschaft railway company, under its director Friedrich Julius Schüler and the opening of the railway line between Vienna and Rijeka, which now also serves Opatija, in 1884.
In addition to being connected thanks to the Südbahngesellschaft, Schüler also established noble hotels which were a great success with tourists thanks to substantial advertising efforts and which led to the economic rise of Opatija. These hotels include the Quarnero (today the Kvarner) and Stephanie (today the Imperial). In 1894, Kaiser Wilhelm II (of Germany) and his wife, Augusta Victoria, and their seven sons came to Opatija, where the Austrian royal family were holidaying at the time. The meeting of the German and the Austrian Kaisers led to the area becoming renowned worldwide. By the beginning of the 20th century, it was common for the upper class and the European aristocracy to visit the exotic Kvarner coast every year. Composers such as Gustav Mahler, Giacomo Puccini and Franz Lehar as well as other art and culture personalities came to Opatija to spend their summer holidays, to work here and to find the necessary inspiration for their compositions and works.
Festival Kvarner wants to continue these traditions and turn Opatija into an interesting festival location.
A concert in the Crystal Hall of the Hotel Kvarner in Opatija organized by the Festival Kvarner:
OrchesterakademieOssiach,RémyBallot conductor, ChristopherHinterhuber pinao, playing
LUDWIGVANBEETHOVEN, CoriolanOuverture, op. 62,3. piano concert in C-minor, op. 37
JOHANNESBRAHMS,4th symphony inE minor, op. 9
Lovran
The wonderful area of Lovran, once called Lauriana, takes its name from the fragrant laurel leaf. Its story tells us of imposing sailing ships and expansive seas, of rich aristocrats and their power, of fragrances and aromas of the Mediterranean Sea, which flow through this town. The Liburnians settled on the coast and their settlement proudly shows the diverse architectural variety of many historical eras, beginning with the town wall and buildings with charming inner courtyards dating back to the middle ages to the impressive art nouveau villas and parks, which were built for the VIPs of the time and today have their place in the fund of architectural world cultural heritage.
Protected from wind, with its mild climate, lots of fresh air and dense vegetation, Lovran has been recognised as an ideal health resort by the Austro-Hungarian elite, who built charming sanatoriums, villas and public baths, which are still used today, in the area. In its terrace-bordering gardens grow numerous types of cherry, grapevines and olives, whilst laurel trees, magnolia trees and pine trees thrive on the coast. Lovran is also known as the town of a kind of sweet chestnut which is of exceptional quality and from which well known culinary delicacies are produced. It is from these chestnuts that fabulous combinations of sweet chestnuts and game, fanciful desserts, healthy honey and brandy with honey, which is taken as "medicine" are produced. Full of stories, aromas, fragrances and colours as well as wonderful architectural buildings, Lovran gives its visitors the feeling of being content with life which is a feeling which remains with them when they leave and until they return to this beautiful town.
Martina Filjak: Vrhunska profesionalnost vodstva, čista umjetnička vizija i sjajna atmosfera čine Festival Kvarner već sada jednim od najvećih glazbenih i umjetničkih dogadjanja na teritoriju Republike Hrvatske. Obzirom na izvanrednu povjesnu lokaciju koja istovremeno odražava neprijeporne vrijednosti turističke lokacije za 21 stoljeće, te na već spomenute kvalitete mislim da festival Kvarner ima potencijal da vrlo uskoro postane jednim od najvrjednih festivala u Hrvatskoj te nesumnjivo zaslužuje svaku financijsku i logističku pomoć.
Silvija Novak, MSc, acting manager of the Festival Kvarner Festival Kvarner team: Aleks Buvač, Marina Grdinić, Marija Martinko, Cristina Medved Cianci, Silvija Novak, Lydia Stank, Stefanie Augustin, Anđelka Kusturin
FORTHCOMING EVENT organized by the Festival Kvarner:
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