Blagoje Bersa: Oganj

Name: Blagoje Bersa: Oganj
Brand: Cantus
SKU: 100664
Price: 20.00 EUR
Availability: InStock

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20,00 €

Cijena na dan 10. 9. 2026.: 20,00 €

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Series

Ligatura

Type of release

About the release

Edition Ligatura – HRT/HDS/Cantus

The Croatian Radiotelevision Choir and Symphony Orchestra, Chorus of the Opera of the Croatian National Theatre in Zagreb, The Croatian Radiotelevision Children’s Choir
Aleksandar Marković, conductor

Soloists of the Opera of the Croatian National Theatre in Zagreb:

Valentina Fijačko Kobić, soprano (Lenka)
Stjepan Franetović, tenor (Robert Thoms)
Ljubomir Puškarić, baritone (Hellwing)
Luciano Batinić, bass (Pastor)
Siniša Štork, bass (First Worker)
Siniša Hapač, baritone (Second Worker)

OPERA LIBRETTO

Despite the consensus across the musicological profession on the undeniable significance of Bersa’s opera Der Eisenhammer as a cornerstone in the development of Croatian musical Modernism, many statements about the true value and stage-musical integrity of this work were based on erroneous premises, conceptual deviations and incomplete data. First of all, the opera, initially conceived for performance in Vienna and written to a libretto in German, was premiered in Zagreb in 1911 – four years after its creation – under the inadequate title Oganj, with the libretto rather poorly translated into Croatian. Based on such a translation, Antun Gustav Matoš mercilessly scathed the text in his critique, stating that “if this characteristic opera does not succeed in Zagreb and abroad, the libretto is primarily to blame”. Not sparing the music either, Matoš reproached Bersa for “involuntary youthful reminiscences” of Wagner, Grieg, Leoncavallo, Puccini, etc., concluding that Oganj was “more successful as a symphony than as an opera”. He praised the “non-overshadowing” instrumentation, but in his final statement he made perhaps the most dubious and ultimately damaging claim: “It is (…) the first artistic opera of a high and modern style created by a Croat. But unfortunately this work of art is not a Croatian work of art…” Many composers with folkloristic aspirations (Dobronić, Grgošević, Širola, Slavenski…) lined up behind this platitude, not recognising Bersa’s deserved place in the national school even in the wake of masterpieces such as the enchanting Sunčana polja. (…)
According to Eva Sedak’s anthological study of Blagoje Bersa’s work, published as an introduction to the book of Bersa’s diaries and memories, “(…) thanks to the first unabridged stage performance in the original German language and the score being made available in print (…) it is only today that the possibilities of a new, thoughtful and vital discussion of Oganj’s place in the history of 20th century opera may finally open up.” The crowning glory on the list of arguments for meticulous evaluation of this pivotal work in the history of Croatian operatic productions is certainly this recording, which paves the way for Bersa’s opera to reach a wide circle of music lovers. (excerpt from Zoran Juranić’s commentary)

Artistic Collaborations

On the releases within the Ligatura edition, we collaborate with contemporary visual artists and photographers whose works on the covers introduce, at first glance, the poetics of the musical pieces. For the cover of the album Oganj, the painting Strukture mrlja by Vida Meić (2020) was selected.

The Ligatura edition was created through a collaboration between Croatian Radiotelevision and the Croatian Composers’ Society.

Release details

Editors of the Ligatura edition: Ivana Kocelj (HRT) | Marija Saraga (HDS/Cantus)
Publication editor: Srđana Vrsalović
Recorded in: Koncertna dvorana Vatroslava Lisinskog (2024.)
Sound recording: Božidar Pandurić
Music production: Krešimir Seletković
Mix & mastering: Božidar Pandurić
Proofreading: Ozren K. Glaser, Darija Šćukanec (Croatian), Lucija Miletić (German)
Translation: Leo Beslać
Cover painting: Vida Meić: Strukture Mrlja (2020.)
Ligatura edition Curatorial Associate: Karla Pudar
Design: Ana Nikolić Baće, Emil Šimik, Econik D.o.o.

Cantus d.o.o. – HRT
CD Number: 8892450932
Zagreb, 2025

Works

1. ACT

Einleitung

01:30
1. ACT

Packt an!

Workers’ Choir

01:12
1. ACT

Was tust zum neuen Werkmeister sagen?

First and Second Worker, Workers’ Choir

02:54
1. ACT

Nur schnell, nur schnell, hinein, hinein

Women’s Choir, Workers’ Choir

02:32
1. ACT

Gott grüß' euch

Pastor, First and Second Worker, Workers’ Choir, Women’s Choir,

08:40
1. ACT

Das lügst, du Schuft!

Robert, First Worker, Choir, Pastor

06:25
1. ACT

Weihnachtsmann, du frommer Knecht

Children’s Choir, Lenka, Workers’ Choir, Women’s Choir

03:37
1. ACT

Ei, da geht's lustig zu

Hellwing, Lenka

02:25
1. ACT

Ich gebe Feierabend jetzt

Hellwing, Pastor, Choir, Children’s Choir, Lenka

04:01
1. ACT

Was hast du hier zu suchen, Bursche, sprich?

Hellwing, Robert, Pastor

05:37
1. ACT

Verweist, verarmt, blieb ich zurück

Robert

03:04
2. ACT

Einleitung

03:50
2. ACT

Ach ja, sonst war ich froh bereit

Lenka

03:45
2. ACT

Nun, wie gesagt, er war absonderlich

Pastor, Hellwing, Lenka, Hellwing’s Children

06:39
2. ACT

Ein Kerzlein hat der liebe Gott uns jedem mitgegeben

Lenka, Hellwing’s Children

05:22
2. ACT

Robert! Du hier…

Lenka, Robert

03:38
2. ACT

Gleich der Märchenblume blüht

Lenka, Robert

03:14
2. ACT

Ich träume – auf!

Robert, Hellwing, Pastor, Lenka

02:43
2. ACT

Was zwischen uns war, sei vergessen und begraben

Hellwing, Robert

02:39
2. ACT

Da ihr so gütig seid

Robert, Hellwing

04:31
2. ACT

O schweige! Unsres Namens Ehre …

Hellwing, Robert

05:21
2. AC

Der fremde Mann … Ich fürchte mich!

Hellwing’s Children, Lenka, Hellwing

03:17
3. ACT

Vorspiel

06:00
3. ACT

Ehre sei Gott!

Choir, Children’s Choir

03:09
3. ACT

Da zieh'n sie hin!

Hellwing

05:57
3. ACT

In sanftem Schlummer ruhtet ihr

Hellwing

02:45
3. ACT

Der Morgen graut

Hellwing

02:26
3. ACT

Zwischenspiel

01:53
3. ACT

Er schlummert ... die ganze Nacht hat er durchwacht

Lenka

01:17
3. ACT

Horch ... Was ist das?

Lenka, Hellwing, Robert

02:53
3. ACT

Schön' guten Morgen, Vater, hier das Frühstück!

Hellwing’s Children, Hellwing

00:52
3. ACT

Was habt ihr vor? Um Himmels willen!

Lenka, Hellwing, Robert

01:56
3. ACT

Mein Gott! Ich bin geliebt!

Robert, Lenka

02:51