Judith
A biblical story from Renaissance Croatia based on Judith by Marko Marulić (Venice, 1521) & Medieval Croatian Agonies (Vartal, Zagreb, Archive HAZU, ms. IV a 31, 16th c. Ms. R. 3375, National & University Library, Zagreb)
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I have never seen or heard anything so powerful, yet created with so few elements. Excellent musicians Albrecht Maurer and Norbert Rodenkirchen were worth a whole orchestra. In their interaction with Katarina Livljanic’s marvellous voice, everything seemed like a perfect improvisation, created at the very moment of the performance. The scenes from Holofernes’s siege of Bethulia were brought to life with surprising force and breathtaking concentration.
Jutarnji list (Croatia)
Katarina Livljanic, in this demanding project, transforms this one hour long piece of musical theatre into a complete and total experience which one can follow very intensively in one breath. An aspect that should be especially mentioned is Katarina Livljanic’s supreme vocal skill, attributes of very rare performers, those who deeply reflect and live through the essence of the message they transform into sound. It is also essential to mention the subtle instrumentation of Albrecht Maurer and Norbert Rodenkirchen, excellent musicians. The elementary simplicity of Sanda Herzic’s stage direction provides a perfect frame for the course of this musical-theatrical play.
Vjesnik (Croatia)
“Judith” was undoubtedly the biggest success among the various musical and staged musical performances during the 53rd season of the Split Festival. By choosing and connecting textual and musical fragments, by a superb vocal and dramatic performance in a compact relationship with excellent instrumentalists, K. Livljanic confirmed the strength of her creative imagination and scholarly dedication.
Jury of the Split Summer Festival (Croatia), award for the best musical performance in 2007
The texts are the main protagonists of this performance, based on a simple staging devoid of any adornments and focused on the words - sometimes sung and sometimes spoken. A very fine choice from Livljanic and Herzic. The two instrumentalists accompanying Katarina Livjanic underline the story in an extraordinary way, using rarely seen instruments such as the lirica and the dvojnice (double flute). The three musicians produce some magnificent moments.
Noticias de Gipuzkoa (Spain)
"A voice of great beauty, with an extraordinary expressivity."
La Vanguardia (Spain)
Excerpt from a concert at the Zadar Festival (Croatia), in July 2007
Summer 2008
• June 3rd, Cité de la musique, Paris
Amphithéâtre, 8pm
Programme: Judith
Booking: 01 44 84 44 84
www.cite-musique.fr
• June 16th, Dvigrad Festival
Kanfanar, Croatia
Crkva sv. Silvestra, 9.30pm
Programme: Judith
• June 25th, Romanischer Sommer
Köln, Germany
St Pantaleon’s church, 9.30pm
Programme: Judith
www.romanischer-sommer.de
• August 13th, Edinburgh International Festival, Edinburgh, Scotland
Greyfriars Kirk, 5.45pm
Programme: Chant Wars
www.eif.co.uk
• August 19th, Festival de música antigua de Sajazarra, La Rioja, Spain
Iglesia de la Asunción, 8.30pm
Programme: Abbo Abbas
Booking: +34 941 320 346
• August 27th, Académie Bach, France
Varengeville sur mer’s church, 8.30pm
Programme: Judith
www.academie-bach.fr
August 28th-30th, 2008, Antwerp, Belgium
International Young Artists Presentation - Early Music
More information at www.musica.be