Ero the Joker
Opera
Jakov Gotovac

Ero the Joker

Premiered in the Croatian National Theatre Zagreb in 1935, from its scenic beginnings Ero the Joker was nicely received by the audience while isolated sceptical critics very soon proved to be totally failed judgements. Ero is the most staged and internationally most recognized Croatian opera. Some of its music motives, especially its final Kolo dance “Što na nebu sja visoko - What's that shining high on heaven”, have often been used and quoted. 

Ero the Joker

The act that Mićo, a rich peasant, changes and pretends to have fallen from the sky, from the other world in order to test nature and devotion of the girl he loves, develops into a whole set of comic situations and plots. A fresh and live stage life pulsates in the opera. People with human virtues and faults live there. This opera is full of beautiful folk songs that Gotovac incorporated in his work with a skill of a great artist. Gotovac and Begović, the libretto writer, found the basis for the opera's music and text in the folklore of many South Slavic groups, ranging from Dalmatian folklore (the final “Vrlik aKolo” dance) to Kosovo female songs from Gnjilane (opening female chorus “Duni mi, duni, lađane”). Deprived of pathos, full of sparkling satire this opera ranks among the best works of Slavic opera literature.  

Author's team

Conductor Hari Zlodre
Director Krešimir Dolenčić
Set Designer Dinka Jeričević
Costume Designer Danica Dedijer
Choreographer Lucijano Perić
Assistant Choreographer Branka Trumbić
Choirmaster Ana Šabašov
Assistant Director Irena Čurik
Light Designer Zoran Mihanović

Cast

Mića, Ero the Joker Miljenko Đuran (Nov. 5 and 7, 2016; March 27. and  29, 2017)
Marko, rich peasant Ivica Čikeš (Nov. 5 and 7, 2016; March 27. and  29, 2017)
Doma, his second wife Terezija Kusanović (Nov. 5 and 7, 2016; March 27 and  29, 2017)
Đula, Marko’s daughter from his first marriage Kristina Đopar (Nov. 5 and 7, 2016), Valentina Fijačko Kobić (March 27, 2017), Božena Svalina (March 29, 2017)
Sima, the miller Ljubomir Puškarić (Nov. 5 and 7, 2016; March 27 and  29, 2017)
Young Shepard Tea Požgaj (Nov. 5 and 7, 2016; March 27 and  29, 2017)
  CNT Split Choir and Orchestra 
Dance  KUD Jedinstvo Dence Ensemble