DUBROVNIK GALA 2006

Opening Concerts September 12, 14, and 16

Rector's Palace, Dubrovnik, Croatia

Dubrovnik Symphony Orchestra
Sharon Isbin, guitar (USA)
Mia Elezovic, piano (Croatia)
Zvonimir Hacko, conductor (USA)
Tuesday, September 12, 9 p.m.
Schumann: Piano Concerto
Mendelssohn: Symphony No. 3 "Scottish"

Thursday, September 14, 9 p.m.
Rodrigo: Concierto de Aranjuez
Beethoven: Symphony No. 3 "Eroica"

Saturday, September 16, 9 p.m.
Sisa: Konavoska svita
Rodrigo: Concierto de Aranjuez
Mendelssohn: Symphony No. 3 "Scottish"


Dubrovnik Symphony & the International Music Scene

Having just finished the most remarkable season in its post-war years, DSO enters the 2006/7 with a heightened sense of mission and a clear aim to increase its international presence. The year starts with the now-renowned Dubrovnik Gala, a musical celebration that will include
collaboration with three international artists: Croatian piano prodigy Mia Elezovic, American Grammy award winning guitarist Sharon Isbin, and the fiery principal guest conductor Zvonimir Hacko. They will present masterworks by Schumann, Rodrigo, Mendelssohn, and Beethoven. Following, DSO will present over eighty concerts during the coming season, featuring major literature, three spectacular concert series and a string of world renowned conductors and soloists. This season
also, DSO will take five international concert tours: to Italy, Austria, Germany, Switzerland, and USA - and begin a series of recording projects that include works by Croatian composers as well as a cycle of
Mendelssohn symphonies.


Sharon Isbin, guitar soloist (September 14 & 16)

Acclaimed for her extraordinary lyricism, technique and versatility, Grammy award winner Sharon Isbin has been hailed as "the pre-eminent guitarist of our time". She is also the winner of Guitar Player magazine's
"Best Classical Guitarist" award, the Madrid Queen Sofia and Toronto Competitions, and was the first guitarist ever to win the Munich Competition. She has given sold-out performances throughout the world
in the greatest halls including New York's Carnegie and Avery Fisher Halls,  Boston's Symphony Hall, Washington D.C.'s Kennedy Center, London's Barbican and Wigmore Hall, Amsterdam's Concertgebouw, Paris' Chatelet, Vienna's Musikverein, Munich's Herkulessaal, Madrid's Teatro Real and many others. She has served as Artistic Director/Soloist of festivals she created for Carnegie Hall and the Ordway Music Theatre (St. Paul), her own series at New York's 92nd Street Y, and
the acclaimed national radio series Guitarjam. She is a frequent guest on national radio programs including All Things
Considered, St. Paul Sunday, and Garrison Keillor's A Prairie Home Companion. She has been profiled on television throughout the world, including CBS Sunday Morning and the A&E Network, and was a featured guest on Showtime television's international hit series The L Word. She has been featured in periodicals from People to Elle, The Wall Street Journal and the New York Times, as well as on the cover of 35 magazines.

Ms. Isbin's catalogue of over 25 recordings - from Baroque, Spanish/Latin and 20th Century to crossover and jazz-fusion - reflects remarkable versatility. She received a 2005 Latin Grammy nomination for "Best Classical Album" and a 2006 GLAAD Media Award nomination for "Outstanding Music Artist" (alongside Melissa Etheridge)
for her Billboard Top 10 Classical disc with the New York Philharmonic of Joaquin Rodrigo's Concierto de Aranjuez and concerti by Mexican composer Manuel Ponce and Brazilian Heitor Villa-Lobos.


Zvonimir Hacko, conductor

Croatian/American conductor Zvonimir Hacko is known for his passion, artistic rigor, and inspiration -- "a type of artistic commitment that transforms his orchestras into a superb ensemble" and creates "music that brings audiences to their feet." Critics and audiences alike have praised him for his masterful interpretation of both the standard and contemporary repertoire. He is an avid proponent of contemporary music and has given area premieres of many works by such composers as Peteris Vasks,
Erkki-Sven Tuur, Arvo Paert, Igor Kuljeric, Einojuhani Rautavaara, Henryk Gorecki, John Tavener, John Adams, Giya Kancheli, and others.

Mr. Hacko is currently the Music Director/Principal Conductor of Croatian Philharmonic Orchestra, Principal Guest Conductor of Dubrovnik Symphony, and Artistic Director/Principal Conductor of the International Music Center of America (IMCA). He has performed
extensively both in the United States and Europe and continues to be engaged in major artistic projects on both sides of the Atlantic. He has appeared with various orchestras including the Polish Radio Symphony Orchestra, the Schoenberg Orchestra, Kielce Philharmonic, Los Angeles Baroque Orchestra, the Warsaw Festival Orchestra and Choir, Ensemble International, and various orchestras and choir in the Czech Republic, countries of former Yugoslavia, the Netherlands, and Hungary. In the United States he has served as music director of Mid-Columbia Symphony Orchestra, Michiana Symphony Orchestra, Columbia River Music Festival, Orchestra & Choir of St. Michael the Great, Sacramento Chamber Orchestra, and Sacramento Philharmonic Orchestra.
His current guest conducting schedule includes appearances with Orchestra da Camera Fiorentina (Florence, Italy), Izmir State Symphony (Turkey), Orquesta de Camara de Bellas Artes (Mexico City), Croatian Chamber Orchestra (Zagreb, Croatia), Orchestra Sinfonica Lecce (Italy), Dubrovnik Symphony Orchestra (Dubrovnik, Croatia), Orchestra
Sinfonica Siciliana (Palermo, Italy), State of Mexico Symphony Orchestra (Toluca,Mexico), and orchestras in Poland and the Czech Republic.

Born and raised in Zagreb, Croatia (former Yugoslavia), Mr. Hacko comes from a rich musical tradition. From the very early age he received training in strings (violin and cello) and voice, and at the age of eight became a chorister at the local church. Until the age of 18 when he went to England for further education, his life was filled with musical study and performing activities as he collaborated with his family, friends and other professionals. Upon nostrification of his diploma by the prestigious Academy of Music in Zagreb, Mr. Hacko continued his studies of music,
philosophy, and the visual arts in London and Reading (England). He came to America in 1971 to further his education and received a Master's degree in conducting from the University of Washington and a Doctorate in conducting from Indiana University School of Music (Bloomington). His main teachers include Herbert Blomstedt, Robert Porco, and Leonard Bernstein.

Headline Sponsors
Sharon Isbin's appearance in Croatia is made possible
through the generous support
of U.S. Embassy in Zagreb

Co-sponsors
International Music Center of America (IMCA)
City of Dubrovnik
Croatian Ministry of Culture
Croatian Music Center (HGC), Zagreb


Produced by
International Music Center of America (IMCA)
West Coast Office
11230 Gold Express Drive, #310-210
Gold River, California 95670
Ph. (541) 683-5995
E-mail: office@imca.us