PROGRAM
D. Shostakovich: First Cello Concerto in E-flat major, Op.107
intermission
G. Marttucci: Notturno, Op.70/1
P. I. Tchaikovsky: Romeo and Juliet., fantasy-overture
Kajana Pačko is a true cello virtuoso and a dedicated musician whose impressive education and rich career testify to her exceptional talent and dedication to music. Born in Split, Kajana began her musical journey at a very young age, enrolling in studies at the Music Academy in Zagreb under the guidance of the renowned professor Valter Dešpalj.
Afterward, she continued her education in Berlin, where she gained valuable experience with professors Troels Svane and Frans Helmerson at the Hanns Eisler School of Music and later at the Mozarteum in Salzburg under the tutelage of Professor Clemens Hagen. Her expertise and talent have brought her numerous opportunities to collaborate with top European musicians and orchestras.
Her repertoire encompasses both solo performances and chamber music, and she is also known for her active involvement in pedagogical work, organizing festivals and charity concerts, and collaborating with contemporary composers. Her musical journey has been marked by many awards and recognitions, including the "Boris Pergamenschikow" Prize in Berlin and first prizes at national and international competitions.
Through her exceptional recordings and performances on prestigious stages, such as the Berlin Philharmonic, Kajana has captured the hearts of European audiences. Her artistic vision and engagement have also extended to the field of education, where she serves as a professor at the Hochschule für Musik und Theater "Felix Mendelssohn Bartholdy" in Leipzig.
Through all these roles, Kajana Pačko continues to leave a deep mark in the world of classical music. Her work as artistic director of the "ZAGREBplus" festival further demonstrates her commitment to promoting music and culture.
Kajana Pačko plays the cello "l'école de Pique" made in Paris in 1800.
A mesmerizing figure on the concert stage, Tibor Bogányi is known for his diverse and virtuosic interpretations. He conducts symphonic and operatic repertoire with numerous leading orchestras and companies worldwide. The Finnish-Hungarian conductor Bogányi gained international attention when he was appointed Chief conductor of the Turku Philharmonic Orchestra in Finland at the age of 28. Currently, he has been Chief Conductor of the Pannon Philharmonic Orchestra since 2011 and Chief Conductor of the Pori Sinfonietta since 2018. He is also the Artistic Director at the Budapest National Opera House. (Carmina 3D production). With his leading Hungarian orchestra, the Pannon Philharmonic, they built an international reputation by performing in major concert halls in Europe like the Philharmonie Berlin, Elbphilharmonie Hamburg, Tonhalle Zurich, Luzern, Basel, as well as in the Cadogan Hall in London, Zagreb, Ljubljana, Belgrade, Kosovo, etc. Their latest internationally recognized achievements are performing all Bruckner symphonies and extensive cooperation with the Musikverein Vienna.
Bogányi has also built up a vast operatic repertoire. Following his successful Finnish debut in conducting Cosi fan tutte for the Finnish National Opera, he conducted many productions, including Verdi’s Traviata and Macbeth, as well as Mozart’s Don Giovanni in Finland. He also conducted Bizet’s Carmen, Stravinsky’s Le Sacre du Printemps, and all three of Bartók’s stage works (Wooden Prince, The Miraculous Mandarin, Duke Bluebeard's Castle). In 2014, Bogányi made his Hungarian debut with the National Opera Budapest, conducting Boito’s Mefistofele followed by Puccini’s Tosca - since then, he has conducted 10-20 performances yearly.
He created, staged, directed, and conducted a unique Carmina Burana 3D production with his visual Artist wife, Agnes Zaszkaliczky, for the National Opera House Budapest. The performance uses 21st-century technique: mesmerizing visuals, dance, and real-time effects. The production is already running its 5th season, reaching an audience of more than 70.000 people.
Boganyi is deeply committed to promoting contemporary music. He frequently conducts and records works by Finnish, Austrian, and Hungarian composers such as Kalevi Aho, Aulis Sallinen, Florian Willeitner, L. Gyöngyösi, and Judit Varga, among others. He conducted the premiere of Rautavaara's opera Kaivos and the world premiere of the opera Paavo Nrumi by Tuomas Kantelinen, showcasing his unwavering support for new and innovative compositions. Bogányi studied conducting at the Sibelius Academy in Finland under Jorma Panula and Leif Segerstam. His important mentors were also Sir Colin Davies, Jury Simonov, and János Fürst. In addition, Bogányi appears to be a cellist in recitals and a soloist around the world. He collaborates with the world’s leading orchestras and soloists like Benjamin Schmid, Daniel Müller Schott, Dejan Lazic, Andrej Gavrilov, Ilija Gingolts, Kristóf Baráti, Miklós Perényi, Dénes Várjon to name a few.