July 22, 2020 - Along with Aida, which is the most popular and most performed opera title of the Split Summer Festival, Nabucco will be performed twice by the Croatian National Theater Split opera at the 66th Split Summer Festival. 

Namely, Dalmatinski Portal writes that in addition to this year's premiere performance on Tuesday, July 21, Nabucco will be performed on Thursday, July 23, at the Peristyle. The performances are directed by maestro Jure Bucevic for the first time, and the play is directed by Georgij Par and Jelena Bosancic.

Along with the Orchestra, Choir and Ballet of the Croatian National Theater in Split, the protagonists are singers who have presented themselves to the Split audience since the premiere of this Nabucco production. The title role of the Babylonian king Nabucco is Italian baritone David Cecconi, Boze Juric Pesic plays Ismael in the first performance, and in the second, the role will be sung by Brazilian tenor Max Jota. As Abigaille, we will again watch and listen to soprano Daniela Schillaci, already well known in Split. Ivica Cikes and Bozo Zupic will take turns in the role of Zaccaria, Antonija Teskera will be played by Fenena, and. Mate Akrap, Vinko Maroevic and Branka Plestina Stanic will play the roles of Priests, Abdall and Anna.

The peristyle performance of the Nabucco opera was the first music and stage production made exclusively for the open stage at the Imperial Square in front of the Split Cathedral. Verdi’s masterpiece premiered at the Peristyle a total of six times. This summer, under the musical direction of maestro Jure Bucevic, who is making his debut as the Nabucco conductor, we will watch a production that premiered in 2018 and is directed by Georgij Paro and Jelena Bosancic.

Nabucco is an opera that has permanently established Giuseppe Verdi’s reputation as a great opera composer.

"With this opera, my artistic career really begins," said Verdi himself.

The four-act opera, composed in 1814 on a libretto by Temistocle Soler, is based on the Old Testament books On Kings, Jeremiah, Lamentations, and Daniel, and plays by Auguste Anicet-Bourgeois and Francis Cornu. The historical events of the expulsion of the Jews by the Babylonian king Nebuchadnezzar are the backdrop to a romantic and political plot. The choral aria Va pensiero is certainly the most popular in opera and, as such, has become a recognizable and unavoidable part of the general culture as an expression of the general longing of peoples for freedom.

In addition to the conductor and director, the author's team consists of set designer Dinka Jericevic, costume designer Sonja Obradovic (according to the ideas of Irena Susac and Leo Kulas), choreographers Miljenko Vikic and Ljiljana Gvozdenovic, choirmaster Frane Kuss, lighting designer Srdan Barbaric, and stage movement author Ljiljana Gvozdenovic.

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July 15, 2020 - The 66th Split Summer Festival was officially opened on Tuesday evening at Peristyle with Verdi's opera I Lombardi alla Prima Crociata.

This year's edition, respecting all epidemiological measures, brings art back to the ancient stages under the starry night sky. Mayor Andro Krstulovic Opara pointed out in his speech that art does not stop at challenges and crises, but is the crown of the crisis and everything that comes with it, giving many artists additional inspiration. Like last year, he called to maintain measures and civic decency and not to surrender to the greed that has disrupted human lives:

"Dear respected citizens of Split, esteemed dignitaries and guests, loyal viewers and listeners of HRT and all friends and admirers of Split, art and our Split Summer!

I am happy that we are here tonight and that this great cultural event, extremely precious and significant to all of us, has not been interrupted, despite the unfavorable circumstances. Yes, health and safety are above everything, but life must go on. And we move on. Without fear.

Art does not stop at challenges and crises, on the contrary, it was the corona crisis and a kind of social alienation caused by the necessary social distance that gave space and time to many artists for additional inspiration and an even stronger impulse of creativity that they can't wait to bring to their audience.

This year's special Split summer opens with I Lombardi. There is a lot of symbolism in this powerful Verdi opera imbued with tenderness, piety, determination and patriotic enthusiasm. From here, from the Imperial Peristyle, we will symbolically pay tribute to the attacked people of Lombardy and send a message of strength and invincibility of art and creation, but also the victory of all of us.

Last year, I invited you to take back public spaces again, when no one even dreamed that the coronavirus and the crisis caused by it would bring us back to the city and nature, which, thank God, has regenerated. Despite the trouble, or rather, precisely because of it, we returned to family and the enjoyment of everyday life that we often took for granted. The epidemic reminded us of true values, we focused on the essentials, and we successfully adapted and learned to tame the virus that we do not allow to take over our lives. I’m sure we learned this lesson.

I wish these circumstances also reminded me of my last year’s thought and plea not to succumb to the greed that has disrupted our lives and distorted natural priorities. I have called and am now calling to maintain the measures, and that we have civic decency and respect for everything around us, and above all, the person next to us. Are we humble enough to accept that lesson? Split recognized that. I am convinced of that.

We live one strong warning. One hundred years ago, during the Spanish flu that plagued our city as well, my predecessors took care of the future of the City. And they endeavored with the citizens, after that terrible warning, altogether turned to creation and beauty which had a healing effect.

In the last century, young people, athletes, and especially artists regenerated our city. Jedinstvo was also founded, and our theater flourished, so, for example, our alleyways and city streets were filled with the music of maestro Tijardovic," Opara said, and continued:

"The art of living with measures and the necessary restraint in the new circumstances was transformed into this year's Split Summer. And it is the fruit of the courage and determination of the people who, despite threats, have returned art to our squares and streets, where it has always belonged and where it will always belong. It is up to us to give art an additional well-deserved place. It is needed for our City and me to recover.

I invite you, dear citizens of Split, to enjoy the diverse and rich program of this year's Split Summer, in compliance with all recommendations and precautions. I once again congratulate the artists, organizers and all participants and thank them for their courage and determination.

In the desire to remember him for his exceptional artistic achievements, and to infect everyone only with the joy of creativity and beauty, I am pleased to declare the 66th Split Summer open."

During the opening ceremony, the Cultural Art Society Jedinstvo and Glazba Split performed the most famous Split dance Monfrinu, and the festival flag was raised by members of KUD Jedinstvo, Paola Demarchi and Drazen Bosnjak. This was followed by the premiere performance of Verdi's opera "I Lombardi" performed by soloists, orchestra, choir and ballet of the Croatian National Theater Split under the direction of maestro Ivo Lipanovic and directed by Robert Boškovic.

This year's Split Summer brings the best Croatian and foreign opera soloists and orchestras led by top conductors, ballet performances and a rich concert and drama program. There will also be four film screenings and two exhibitions. The Split Summer will have a total of 32 titles in 44 performances, so the Festival will turn the city into the summer theater capital of this part of the Mediterranean.

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May 5, 2020 - The City of Split and the Split Tourist Board, in cooperation with Dalmatia Concert and sponsored by OTP Bank Split, are bringing Split citizens a special treat for Sv. Duje on Thursday. Petar Graso performing in an empty Peristyle.

"Unfortunately, traditional festivities in Split will be absent this year. We will celebrate Sv. Duje without the buzz, the crowds, the procession and the mass on the waterfront, the raffle and the Sudamja Fair; without a great concert and fireworks, without everything we have done with all our fellow citizens for years. This year will be different than ever, but I still believe that the feast of our patron saint will be celebrated in our hearts and with our families. To all the citizens of Split, but also all the viewers of Croatian Radio and Television, on the day of Sv. Duje, we bring you a Peter Graso concert from Peristyle. Although we are forced to be physically separated, let us be together on Thursday evening in front of small screens in this unusual, different and I believe beautiful celebration," says Split Mayor Andro Krstulovic Opara.

Petar Graso also shared his impressions:

"I am a child of Split, Split is my home, despite the fact that I have been in it for the last twenty years. If it had not been for these specific circumstances, I, unfortunately, would have been out of Split on this Sv. Duje. But as it usually is, different circumstances dictate a different life plan, and so one of the strangest, and in some ways, the most beautiful concert of my career happened, a concert without a single person in the audience."

Graso also says that if someone had told him last year that he would play in front of an empty Peristyle and be most honored, he would have thought it impossible, but given the events of the past months, he is delighted and honored on this occasion: "I am happy to have the privilege of having a concert in one of the most beautiful squares in the world in my city, and giving it to both my Split and all the people who will be at home on Thursday evening in front of small screens. This is a concert of optimism, a concert of light and celebration. We were looking forward to it; somehow we seem to see the light at the end of the tunnel we've all been in for the past two months," Graso concludes, wishing this would be the last concert before an empty Peristyle.

The concert will be broadcast on Split's City Day on Thursday, May 7, on the second program of Croatian Radio and Television.

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January 30, 2020 - Something new for Split as the House of Languages and Culture opens at Peristyle.

Dalmatinski Portal reports that the newly opened House of Languages and Culture at Peristyle in Split, located in the former bank and the new cultural and creative headquarters of the Prokultura-Observatory of Cultural Policies Split, established in cooperation with OTP Banka, was presented on Thursday.

“OTP banka is a partner of Prokultura in the creation of a beautiful cultural place in the heart of Split, whose main task is to attract residents back to the center. After decided to move our branch out of this area, we then decided to stay and rent it, and as part of our socially responsible business, give this space to an association that we believe will fulfill its goal,” said OTP Banka Corporate Communications Director Silvija Baresa.

In a unique space, surrounded by angels from the exhibition of the same name by the famous photographer Ivo Pervan, the upcoming program and events were presented.

“In short, our goal is to draw the attention of fellow citizens and dear guests to the unique beauty of Split, 365 days a year, not only during the tourist season. We want to emphasize the importance of language, culture and education as key areas in the preservation and development of society. We continue with our activities that are dedicated to different types of culture and education through which we can present Split, Croatia and host people from all over the world. This will be a city lounge to develop a sense of your own city.

The idea of partnering with a bank started in Omis, and for five years now, workshops for children and people with special needs, exhibitions, concerts, lectures, a book club have been held in their house, and all this will happen here as well,” said Nancy Ivanisevic, President of the Cultural Center, who revealed the program we can look forward to over the next few days.

Ivanisevic noted that young people have already started visiting them, which is one of the priority goals. The programs offer will be in cycles or permanent.

“This month, we marked the international recognition of the Republic of Croatia by a concert of our friends from the chanson led by Ana Opačak. They sang in ten languages ​​led by maestro Jurica Karuza. It was an evening when enthusiastic passers-by gathered by the windows of our space, as they finally have this type of content downtown. As early as Friday, January 31, we can announce two important cultural events. At 5 pm, a concert in the Art of Frontiers cycle featuring flute students in the class of Professor Ana Domancic, and at 8 pm a special program dedicated to Museum Night and its theme of this year's 'Great Anniversary'. The lecture will be delivered by Professor Ivo Babić, who will talk about the Archaeological Museum and its founder, Don Frano Bulić. For the same occasion, sculptures of the Grenc Foundation, representing Diocletian, his family and friends, will be presented,” Ivanisevic concluded.

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September 2, 2019 - Will the cultural heritage of Split be destroyed by the Instagram generation? One scene from Peristyle speaks volumes. 

Dalmacija Danas writes that Peristyle is one of the most recognizable parts of old Split, with the Sv. Duje Cathedral dominating its east. However, one detail, in particular, catches the attention of passersby - the Egyptian sphinx located in the western access to the church.

The black granite sphinx is nearly two and a half meters long and about one meter high. It is an old sculpture, probably built during the reign of Thutmose I or Thutmose III. These 18th dynasty members ruled in the 16th and 15th centuries BC, making it clear how old and valuable the monument is.

Unfortunately, no matter how old or valuable, we will continue to encounter those who lack respect for cultural heritage, which is especially seen in the social-media-dominated tourism of today. 

A perfect example of this carelessness was captured in Split, at Peristyle, where one tourist was spotted propped on top of the Split sphinx for a photo. 

It didn't take long for the scene to horrify the citizens of Split, and numerous comments have circulated on social networks.

"This monument is literally 3,500 years old. It was transferred from Egypt 1,700 years ago. It has been the most damaged in the last 200 years. It survived the Middle Ages, the Christian destruction of Diocletian's property. And it will be destroyed by the Instagram generation,” read one comment.

“The tragedy is how little people care about such a valuable piece of cultural heritage,” read another. 

One comment pointed out how things work in neighboring Italy, where in '94, Rome initiated 150,000 lira fines.

Others agree:

“A penalty is necessary… 1000 kuna, sit down and pay. I don't see a problem,” one Split resident wrote.

What do you think?

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August 3, 2019 - Just after 2 pm on Saturday,a fire broke out at the Ivo Pilar Institute of Social Sciences at Peristyle in Split, reports Dalmacija Danas. 

This information was confirmed by the Split Fire Department, who immediately rushed to the scene. This aroused the curiosity of many, who also hurried to see the commotion. 

As Splitski Dnevnik learned from its readers, around 2:20 pm, a bang was heard after which smoke could be seen from the premises of the Ivo Pilar Institute, above the former Splitska banka at Peristyle.

Dalmatinski Portal wrote that Split firefighters received the report at 2:21 p.m. 15 firefighters with four vehicles from JVP Split and one DVD Split vehicle with three firefighters rushed to the scene. 

Unofficially, no one was injured.

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Days of Diocletian's begins on May 18, 2018. 

Is summer really almost over?

Split's most recognized performance of the summer returns to Peristyle this weekend! 

KUD Jedinstvo will spend every Thursday this summer teaching the people of Split the famous folk dances of the city.