Igor Kuljeric
ANIMAL FARM
The Croatian composer and conductor IGOR
KULJERIC (Sibenik, 1938) graduated in composition from the Zagreb Music
Academy in the class of Stjepan Sulek in 1967. He went on to study in Milan
(Scala and RAI) and Monte Carlo (Igor Markevich). From 1960 to 1967 he was a
rehearser and assistant conductor at the Opera of the Croatian National Theatre
in Zagreb. After that he became a member of the Zagreb Soloists appearing as a
harpsichord player and assistant to Antonio Janigro. During their tour through
the USA he first appeared in public as a conductor, substituting the ill Antonio
Janigro. Since 1968 he has been a regular conductor of the Croatian Radio
Television Chorus (and is currently their principal conductor) and of the
Croatian Radio Television Symphony Orchestra. Throughout his career he also held
the position of: music director of the Dubvronik Summer Festival, artistic
director of the Vatroslav Lisinski Concert Hall, director of the Music
Biennale Zagreb and of the Croatian National Theatre Opera in Zagreb. Kuljeric
has appeared at numerous festivals and has recorded for radio, television, film
and recording companies. He has held successful guest performances abroad (the
USA, the former USSR, Spain, Italy, Austria etc.). As one of the most eminent
and most versatile Croatian composers, he has received a number of distinguished
awards and recognition. His music seeks for its own meaning through the mutual
balancing of contrasts and searches for new unity which derives from the set
inner duality. Therefore, the contrast in his work is not merely an independent
effect, but the anticipated result of several different courses developed
through the creative process. His most important pieces are: Solo – Tutti
for piano and orchestra, Quasi pulchra es (Omaggio a Lukacic)
for choir, The Ballads of Petrica Kerempuh (for vocal-instrumental
ensembles), Kanconier for voices and instruments, Choral Overture for
orchestra, Song for string quartet, Risuono die gavotta for orchestra, Chaconne
for percussion ensemble, the opera Richard III, the ballet Riki
Levy, two ballet suites and the electronic music Folk-Art.
