This month: International Trust for Croatian Monuments Concert on 9 June.

Edited by Brian Gallagher

9 June sees a concert of thanksgiving for the life of Sir Henry Beresford-Peirse and in aid of the International Trust for Croatian Monuments. It will be held at Holy Trinity Church in Sloane Square. The concert is to be given by two top members of the Croatian National Opera, Dubravka  Šeparović  Musović   and  Ivana  Lazar,  and  the  Australian  pianist,  Piers Lane. His Royal Highness The Duke of Gloucester will be in attendance.

The  programme  is to include  The  Four  Last  Songs by  Richard  Strauss and Wesendonck  Lieder  by  Richard  Wagner

Sir Henry Beresford-Peirse, was a trustee and a founding member of the International Trust for Croatian Monuments. The Trust has done much vital work in Croatia; their aims  are to help  preserve  and  restore  historic  sites  and  artistic  treasures   of  Croatia  damaged  by war,  neglect  and  lack  of  funds.

Trustee Lady Jadranka Beresford Peirse told CIL: “I am delighted and grateful that, running up to the 25th anniversary of the foundation of The International Trust for Croatian Monuments, we have been able to organise this very special concert with Dubravka Separovic Musovic and Ivana Lazar, renowned stars of the Croatian National Opera who have never sung in this country before, and the acclaimed Australian pianist, Piers Lane. It will be a lovely evening of remembrance and song, in thanksgiving to my husband, Henry, for his devotion to Croatia and ceaseless work on behalf of the Trust. Your attendance and contributions will enable us to continue our work, helping to preserve and safeguard the wonderful artistic heritage of Croatia”.

The concert promises to be something very special indeed, as can be seen by the stature of the performers:

Mezzosoprano Dubravka  Šeparović  Musović was born in Dubrovnik. She completed vocal studies at the Zagreb Academy of Music, where she also gained her master’s degree in opera and oratorio. In 2011, she received the Tito Strozzi and Marijana Radev Awards. For her interpretation of Ortrud in Wagner’s Lohengrin, the Croatian Richard Wagner Society said she was “the best Wagnerian voice in 2013”. Also in 2013 Croatian President Ivo Josipovic decorated her with the Order of Danica Hrvatska with the figure of Marko Marulić for special merits in the field of culture.

Soprano Ivana Lazar graduated in solo singing in 2001 at the Music Academy in Zagreb, where she also completed her postgraduate studies.

For several seasons she was a soloist in the Croatian Baroque Ensemble and in the same capacity worked with the Croatian Radio Television Choir. She is co-founder of the Baroque ensemble Camerata Garestin. She has performed at top Croatian festivals such as the Dubrovnik Summer Festival, Split Summer Festival and Rijeka Summer Nights. She has been a member of Zagreb Opera since 2010, and has performed all over the world.

London based Australian pianist Piers Lane is world-renowned. Five times he has been soloist at the BBC Proms. He has had engagements with many top international orchestras including the BBC and ABC orchestras; the American, Bournemouth and Gothenburg Symphony Orchestras.

For BBC Radio 3, he has presented and written over 100 programmes – including the popular 54-part series, The Piano.

He was made an Officer in the Order of Australia (AO) for distinguished services to the arts in the Queens Diamond Jubilee Birthday Honours.

The concert costs £25 to attend, full details and booking can be made via the Cadogan Hall website (although please note the venue is at Holly Trinity Church in Sloane Square.) here.  The Box Office number is 020  7730  4500