Monday, September 29
St. Ursula Church, 6:00 p.m.
Varaždin Trio
Jakov Šredl, violin
Matej Ilčić, cello
Davor Brđanović, harpsichord
Jelena Štefanić, soprano
Sofija Cingula, mezzo-soprano
Giovanni Battista Pergolesi
Stabat mater, P. 77
Duetto: Stabat Mater dolorosa
Aria: Cujus animam gementem
Duetto: O quam tristis et afflicta
Aria: Quæ mœrebat et dolebat - Pro peccatis suæ gentis
Duetto: Quis est homo qui non fleret
Aria: Vidit suum dulcem natum
Aria: Eja Mater fons amoris
Duetto: Fac, ut ardeat cor meum (Fuga)
Duetto: Sancta Mater, istud agas
Aria: Fac ut portem Christi mortem
Aria: Inflammatus et accensus
Duetto: Quando corpus morietur – Amen
Jelena Štefanić began her musical education in her hometown of Varaždin, after which she pursued vocal and opera studies at the University of Music and Performing Arts in Vienna, under the guidance of Gabriele Lechner, Paul Esterhazy, and conductor Christoph Ulrich Meier. She continued her training with Natale de Carolis and Ruža Pospiš Baldani, and currently works with Barbara Frittoli. As an opera and concert artist, she has performed across Europe, Asia, and North America – from Teatro Greco in Taormina, the OperaMaya Festival in Mexico, and Savonlinna Opera Festival in Finland, to her 2023 debut at Carnegie Hall in New York. In Croatia, she has appeared on the stages of national theatres in Varaždin, Osijek, and Rijeka, in roles such as Violetta (La Traviata), Leonora (Il Trovatore), Elettra (Idomeneo), Konstanze (Die Entführung aus dem Serail), Rosalinde (Die Fledermaus), among others. She has also appeared in houses and festivals in China, Japan, Germany, Austria, the Netherlands, Bulgaria, and the UK. In addition to her operatic work, Štefanić maintains an active concert career, with solo appearances at venues such as Musikverein Graz, Musikverein Wien, NCPA Beijing, Hanghzou Grand Theatre, Suzhou Grand Theatre, Ningbo Grand Theatre, Opera Kensington, London, and the Great Hall of the People in Beijing. Her original projects – Croatian Jewels and Around the World in Nine Songs – supported by the Croatian Ministry of Culture and Media, were broadcast internationally (TV Classique, Versailles; Sparrow Live, USA). In 2012, she became the first and, to date, only Croatian soprano invited to Plácido Domingo’s Operalia competition. Since 2016, she has also been part of the project Concert in the Dark. Her discography includes the album Dva glasa (Two Voices), released by AULOS in 2016, in collaboration with Ruža Pospiš Baldani.
Sofija Cingula, mezzo-soprano, began her music education in Varaždin and continued her vocal studies at the University of Music and Performing Arts in Vienna. There, she completed two master's degrees – in opera (with Sebastian Vittucci) and in lied and oratorio (with Marjana Lipovšek and Robert Holl). As a concert and opera artist, she performs a wide-ranging repertoire, from early music to contemporary premieres, with a particular focus on promoting Croatian composers, especially from the Varaždin and Istrian circles. She has performed in Croatia and abroad, collaborating with numerous conductors, ensembles, and institutions. She is also active as a vocal pedagogue, lecturer at workshops, symposia, and seminars, and serves as a jury member at international singing and chamber music competitions. She has authored several professional papers on vocal technique and pedagogy, approaching the topic from a scientific and research-based perspective. Since 2016, she has co-created the project Concert in the Dark, supported by the Ministry of Culture and Media of the Republic of Croatia. At the Croatian National Theatre in Varaždin, she initiated and hosted the concert matinée series Concert with Coffee, and she is also engaged at the Croatian National Theatre Ivan pl. Zajc in Rijeka as both a soloist and assistant director. Her notable performances include appearances at the Savonlinna Opera Festival, Varaždin Baroque Evenings, BeMus Festival, Heferer Organ Festival, Opera in the City, Concerts in the Euphrasian Basilica, VaClaf Festival, and many others.
The Varaždin Trio was founded in 2023 with the aim of bringing together outstanding musicians from Varaždin into a flexible chamber ensemble, adaptable to various programs, audiences, and cultural occasions – primarily within the City of Varaždin. The Trio gave its debut performance on July 19, 2023, as part of the Summer in Varaždin festival. Since its founding, the Varaždin Trio has successfully promoted both masterworks of the chamber repertoire and a wide range of Croatian music – from the well-known to the lesser-known and newly composed – for audiences at home and abroad. Performances in Croatia, Portugal, and Austria, met with enthusiastic critical and public reception, affirm the ensemble’s relevance and potential on the domestic and regional music scenes. The ensemble often collaborates with guest vocalists, including sopranos Isidora Bogdanović, Eva Osonjački, Tamara Korunek Lesar, and Marija Vidović. At this year’s 55th Varaždin Baroque Evenings, the Trio is proud to present new collaborations with sopranos Jelena Štefanić, Bernardica Bačan, Ivona Borak, and mezzo-soprano Sofija Cingula.
Jakov Šredl began his musical education in his hometown of Varaždin (M. Pohulek), where he achieved notable results as a young soloist: first and second prizes at regional (2010, 2012), national (2010, 2012), and international competitions (2nd prize at the Antonio Salieri Competition, Italy, 2010). He also received awards in national chamber music competitions and performed as a soloist with the Varaždin Chamber Orchestra at the Varaždin Baroque Evenings (2012, 2014, 2015). He earned his degree in violin in 2021 from the Zagreb Academy of Music in the class of Anđelko Krpan. During his studies, he performed extensively as a soloist, chamber musician, and orchestra member, including a notable performance with a string quartet during Croatia’s Presidency of the Council of the European Union. In 2017, he became a member of the ESTA String Orchestra, performing in Strasbourg, Valletta, and Bern. Šredl is the recipient of the 3rd prize at the international Rudolf Matz Competition and two Rector’s Awards. He has participated in numerous masterclasses (A. Krpan, E. Martinić Jerčić, H. Breuninger) and attended the ESTA teacher seminar for string instruments in Valletta. During his studies, he was a regular member of the Croatian Music Youth Orchestra, Camerata Zagreb, and the Zagreb Youth Philharmonic, and also worked at the Croatian Music Information Centre. He is currently a violin and chamber music teacher at the Varaždin School of Music and performs regularly as a member of the Varaždin Chamber Orchestra.
Matej Ilčić received his primary and secondary music education in his hometown of Varaždin (D. Milković). He graduated in cello performance from the Arts Academy in Split, studying under Mihovil Karuza. During his education, he actively participated in various seminars, projects, and competitions. He performed as a soloist with the Varaždin Chamber Orchestra and the Croatian Music Youth Orchestra. Ilčić has won numerous awards, including first prize at the regional chamber music competition in the piano trio category, first prize at the national chamber music competition in Opatija, and third prize at the regional competition in Velika Gorica. In 2017, he performed with a string quartet as part of the Vinko Lesić Young Musicians’ Series under the mentorship of Prof. Evgenia Epstein. He currently teaches cello at the Varaždin School of Music, performs regularly with the Varaždin Chamber Orchestra, and frequently collaborates with the Croatian National Theatre in Varaždin.
Davor Brđanović began his music education in his hometown of Varaždin (A. Hrain, O. Vojvoda). He graduated in piano in 1990 from the Academy of Music in Zagreb (H. Gusek), and earned his PhD in Educational Sciences in 2016 from the Faculty of Teacher Education, University of Zagreb (R. Miljević-Riđički, K. Koprek). Alongside continuous professional development in piano pedagogy (R. Pröll, K. H. Kämmerling, V. Viardo, Dang Thai Son, among others) and ongoing teaching work, Brđanović performs actively as a soloist, chamber musician, and accompanist (Croatia, Slovenia, Italy, Austria, Germany, Serbia, Portugal). His research focuses on music pedagogy and psychology, as well as the promotion of education, the arts, and culture. He is the recipient of the first prize at the Croatian and third prize at the Yugoslav Competition for music students (1985), as well as three annual awards from the Croatian Ministry of Science and Education for outstanding educational work (2019, 2021, 2023). In 2020, he received the Ivan Filipović Award from the Republic of Croatia for significant achievements in education, specifically in scientific and professional work. He currently holds the position of Mentor Professor at the Varaždin School of Music. He holds the academic title of Senior Research Associate.