Mixed Choir of the Jewish Community of Zagreb “Lira”
Zagreb, Croatia
Robert Homen - conductor
Folk Section
| Title | Composer | Lyrics |
|---|---|---|
| Tri Jetrve | trad., arr. Emil Cosetto (1918-2006) | Croatian traditional folk song |
| Moja diridika | trad., arr. Emil Cosetto (1918-2006) | Croatian traditional folk song |
| Šokačka pisma i kolo | trad., arr. Emil Cosetto (1918-2006) | Croatian traditional folk song |
| Ladarke – splet pjesama | trad., arr. Emil Cosetto (1918-2006) | Croatian traditional folk song |
The mixed choir of the Jewish Community of Zagreb “Lira” was founded in 1954 in Zagreb, Croatia, with the intention of preserving Jewish choral music after the Holocaust. Throughout the years “Lira” has been a fervent promoter not only of the Jewish musical culture, but of the Croatian cultural heritage and world-renowned composers as well. “Lira” has been on numerous tours all around the world and has won many awards in international and domestic competitions and festivals. The choir was awarded with the prestigious Award of the City of Zagreb in 1995. In 2004 at the 20th World Choir Festival in Jerusalem (Zimriya) “Lira” won the best critique of the Israeli Press and Jury. During the 2013 international competition of choirs in Samobor “Samoborsko protuletje” “Lira” was awarded second place.
The choir was conducted by prominent conductors of Croatia. Emil Cossetto, conductor and composer, was the artistic director and conductor of “Lira” for 44 years. He was followed by the composer and conductor, Tomislav Uhlik. Since 2004 conductor of LIRA has been Robert Homen.
Robert Homen was born in 1972 in Kotor, Montenegro. He finished primary and secondary music school in Sarajevo, Bosnia and Herzegovina. He graduated conducting in 1997 from the Academy of Music, University of Zagreb. He is a full time opera conductor at the Croatian National Theatre, Zagreb, and since 2004 also a full time conductor of “Lira”. He also teaches conducting at the Teacher-Training College of the Faculty of Philosophy, Music Department in Pula, holds various seminars, and is a member of many juries at choir competitions and choir music festivals.
Today, the choir is situated in Zagreb, Croatia’s capital, and continues the cities long tradition of promoting and preserving the cultural diversity of its citizens.
JM
