In the upcoming performances of Jakov Gotovac's opera "Mila Gojsalić" at the Croatian National Theatre Split, Martina Mikelić, a mezzo-soprano with an impressive international career, will make her debut in the leading role in her hometown. The performances are scheduled for Thursday, April 11th at 8:00 PM, Saturday, April 13th at 6:00 PM, and Monday, April 15th at 8:00 PM.
Following her primary and secondary music education in Split, Martina Mikelić completed her solo singing studies at the University of Music and Performing Arts in Vienna, where she also obtained her master's degree under the tutelage of Professor Robert Holl. At the age of 23, she was admitted to the ensemble of the Vienna State Opera. Even during her studies, she was nominated for the Austrian Music Theatre Award and was recognized as one of the top ten talents from Austrian art universities. This marked the beginning of a successful career, with performances on numerous world opera stages and festivals such as the Staatsoper and Konzerthaus in Vienna, Komische Oper in Berlin, Moscow State Conservatory named after Pyotr Ilyich Tchaikovsky, Accademia Nazionale di Santa Cecilia in Rome, and many others.
"I adore roles like Mila. Opera, which unfortunately I wasn't familiar with before, has something Wagnerian about it. The role, both vocally and character-wise, feels like it was written for me. I recognize in it the Dalmatian pride and stubbornness when a woman pounds her fist on the table in front of all those men because 'Mila Gojsalić' is one of the rare operas with only one female character, saying she will go to war and sacrifice her life for her homeland," says Martina Mikelić ahead of her debut tomorrow.
According to the format, Gotovac's largest opera is based on the legend of the brave girl Mila Gojsalić, who, by sacrificing her own life, saved her native Republic of Poljica from the military invasion of the Ottoman army. Her story has been immortalized in literature, visual arts, and music. The upcoming performances will be conducted by maestro Josip Šego, with direction by Ozren Prohić. Alongside Martina Mikelić as Mila Gojsalić, other protagonists include bass Ivica Šarić in the role of Mila's father Ivan Gojsalić, the prince of Poljica, tenor Domagoj Dorotić as the Poljica duke Petar Kulušić, baritone Marko Lasić as the standard-bearer of the Poljica army Jure Kulišić, actor Filip Radoš delivering the opera's prologue, and Mate Akrap, Goran Velić, Božo Župić, Vlatko Belas, Lovre Gujinović, Joško Tranfić, and Vinko Maroević alongside the Choir and Orchestra of the Split HNK.