Antiphonus & Petrit Ceku

Program Gypsy romance performed by the Antiphonus Ensemble and guitarist Petrit Çeku, it immerses you in the musical and poetic imagination of the Iberian Peninsula, where historical layers, folkloric tradition and contemporary expression merge into a unique whole. Under the artistic direction of Tomislav Fačini, the performers bring the eponymous cycle by Mario Castelnuovo-Tedesco, based on the verses of Federico García Lorca.

Castelnuovo-Tedescovo Gypsy romance is the central point of the program: a series of musical images that translate Lorca's poetry into a sound world filled with archetypal motifs of Andalusia — the rhythms of dance, the sound of the guitar, scenes of nature and powerful symbols of life and death. This cycle organically connects with the other works of the evening, which together form a journey through the Spanish and Catalan musical heritage.

Renaissance La bomba salad Matea Fleche brings a witty and dramaturgically playful polyphonic structure, while Seven Spanish folk songs Manuela de Falle is an example of a refined relationship between folklore material and artistic treatment. Albéniz's compositions Catalonia i Cordoba in the arrangements of Manuel Barrueco they highlight the guitar as a symbol of Spanish musical identity, and the contemporary compositional style of Bernat Vivancos in the composition The number of ocells opens a space of contemplation and sound purity.

Founded in 2008, Antiphonus Ensemble is one of the most prominent Croatian vocal ensembles, known for its thoughtful and conceptually rounded programs that encompass a repertoire from the Middle Ages to contemporary music. Operating in a chamber spirit and in demanding vocal-instrumental projects, the ensemble has distinguished itself with performances of works such as Bach's The Passion of John, Purcell's operas Dido and Aeneas, Monteverdi's madrigals and Vespers of the Blessed Virgin, Gesualdo's responsories and contemporary compositions, including numerous Croatian premieres.

Antiphonus is a regular guest at domestic and international festivals and has represented Croatia on tours across Europe. It has participated in numerous important cultural events and collaborated with prominent musicians and artists, including Petrit Çeku, Edin Karamazov, Dmitry Sinkovsky, Pavao Mašić and Krešimir Stražanac. The ensemble is the winner of the Milka Trnina Award for the Triade concert cycle, in which it has been exploring new concepts of the concert program for years.

Guitarist Petrit ceku is one of the most respected guitarists of his generation, internationally recognized for his subtle musicianship, technical sophistication, and distinct interpretative intelligence. His long-standing collaboration with Antiphonus is based on a shared interest in programmatic reflection and exploration of new sonic spaces.

Bernat Vivancos
The number of ocells

Manuel de Falla
Seven Spanish folk songs (arrangement for voice and guitar: Darko Petrinjak)

Isaac Albéniz
Catalonia iz Spanish Suite, Op. 47 (cover by Manuel Barrueco)

Mateo Flecha
The bomb

Isaac Albéniz
Cordoba iz Spanish Suite, Op. 47 (cover by Manuel Barrueco)

Mario Castelnuovo-Tedesco
Gypsy romance, op. two