Singing mostly in Austria and Croatia, as well in Japan
Sandra Wigh Hrašćanec. Source of the photo cmc.com.hr
Dora Pejačević: Warum / Zašto, Sandra Hrašćanec, mezzosoprano; Željka Caparin, piano
Sandra Wigh Hrascanec
Croatian contralto/mezzosoprano has a very unique dramatic voice of enormous beauty, warmth, depth and passion, the kind of voice that not only soothes but makes you shiver. Her concerts are always sensational experiance for audience.
The Croatian press has nominated Sandra as one of "the best and the most popular Croatian opera singers living abroad", in 2016.
After successfully completing music education in Zagreb, Croatia (Piano and Vocal), studied classical singing and Opera at the Prayner Conservatorium in Vienna, Austria, where she also did her post-graduate artistic training and where she has also taken Master classes with Altenbergtrio Vienna (Chamber music), KS Walter Berry (Lied und Oratorium) and Irina Gavrilovici, among other lecturers and music experts, all with the help of a scholarship from Croatian Ministry of Culture (2001).
She has built her Contralto dramatic opera repertoire further, with Worldstar - Heldentenor Peter Svensson (ex Hoffman) during 2014/2015 with a help of a scholarship from Team 4 Kuenstlerservice Austria. In October 2016, Sandra has started Masterclass by Regina Schoerg, in Vienna.
In addition to her music education, Sandra has also attended acting master classes by the Austrian actor and well known clown Martin Beck.
In 2001 she become the member of both Croatian community of Music and Independent Artist (social and pensions incurance from State of Croatia). The same year she also received Bechelor of Laws - Faculty of Law, Zagreb, Croatia.
As a theatrical and inspiring artist, she has performed in more than 500 solo concerts/performances in different genres, at festivals, readings, varios functions and presentations, mostly in Austria and Croatia, as well in Japan in both 2008 and 2011 (as a part of the Concert Tour).
To summarise her most recent accomplishments:
2008 - Sandra's first CD "Songs from Vienna and Zagreb", together with Mathias Reinthaller, Tenor. This CD has was a grat success and Sandra was consequently nominated for a title of the "Citizen of Zagreb of the year".
2010 was her Jazz debut with another CD, "My favorite things", with the Croatian Jazz musicians. At the same year Sandra performed a premiere from Manuela Kerer Komposition "Wall - street- Wall" (2010) for Mezzosoprano, Step shoes, Violloncello and Piano, written extra for her.
In 2011 she has started her cooperation with the most popular jazz pianist in Croatia, Matija Dedić ("Classic & Jazz Melange").
Since November 2014, she has become regular guest by Wagner Gala Concerts "Peter Svensson and friends" in Vienna.
In December 2015 Sandra Wigh Hrašćanec sung the Viennese premiere of Franz von Suppe composition for Alt and Orchestra "Salva Regina" in Kursalon Huebner in Vienna.
In December 2016 she performed popular Christmas songs at the Advent Concert in Vienna with Maestro Giuseppe Terza and his Orchestra, in the "Am Hof" church in the very centre of the city.
With her program of vocal lyric "The women in the music of romantic" (Luisa Erdoedy LIOS, R. Wagner (Mathilde Wesendonck) and Dora Pejačević) she become a part of official program of Croatian Embassy in Vienna and Austrian Gouverment for a Culture year Austria - Croatia 2017.
March 2018 - she realised CD "Magic echo" with vocal lyric from Luisa Erdoedy Lios, Richard Wager, Dora Pejačević), Croatia Records