Photo by Damir Hoyka
In the 19th century this new style of music developed in the salons of the nobility and distinguished bourgeoisie. It reveled in melody and showy virtuosity and produced an enormous number of opera paraphrases, virtuoso concerto pieces and "fantasias on..." The titles often included attributes such as "colorful", "gayful", "brilliant", "elegant", or "popular" and hence characterized a kind of music whose only purpose was to please the listener.
Therefore, close your eyes, imagine the exquisitely decorated salons, beautiful ladies, charming gentlemen and simply give yourself away to the joy of the music of the times gone long ago.
The flutist Renata Penezic studied in Ljubljana with Fedja Rupel and in Cologne with Andras Adorjan, and the oboist Branko Mihanovic got his degree in Freiburg in the class of Heinz Holliger. The two musicians started working together as soloists of the Zagreb Philharmonic Orchestra. Their common musical interests and artistic sensibilities soon resulted in the performance of Salieri's Flute and Oboe Concerto, accompanied by the Zagreb Philharmonic. "What especially delighted the audience was the harmonious sound of the soloists, sounding like a single instrument", said a critic of the Zagreb newspaper, the "Vjesnik".
Together with the pianist Mario Copor, who completed his postgraduate studies at the Zagreb Academy of Music, they started a trio, with a repertory comprised mainly of virtuoso pieces from the late 19th century. Other than in Zagreb, they have also performed at several festivals like the Osor Music Evenings, Dubrovnik Summer Festival and in Germany.
Renata Penezic is a soloist in the Zagreb Philharmonic, and she also teaches at the Zagreb Academy of Music. Branko Mihanovic, currently opera director of the Croatian National Theatre also teaches at the Academy, and Mario Copor is the pianist of the Academy's singing department.
"The concert showed the immense technical skills and the bravura of the musicians. It was yet another opportunity for the audience to enjoy the great qualities of Renata Penezic and Branko Mihanovic. Artists who already had a great reputation in Croatia as both imaginative chamber musicians and great soloists."
Dodi Komanov,the"Vjesnik"
"Paraphrases, variations and fantasies followed each other to the very limit of the possibility to perform on an instrument, sometimes creating the illusion of polyphony.
Accompanied by the reliable pianist Mario Copor, Renata Penezic and Branko Mihanovic showed their love for the opera through the joy of making music and in brilliant solo performances, sometimes requiring a breath diver's capabilities."
Maja Stanetti,the "Večernji list"