:: Home
English Hrvatski

Home

 

Welcome to City Choir "Brodosplit" pages!

The city choir Brodosplit celebrated half a century of successful activity in 2022 with an anniversary concert in the Split national theater and the publication of a rich monograph entitled "Let's Go, We the Rebels".

Unobtrusively and without great ambitions, the Men's Choir was launched in 1972 under the auspices of Split's shipyard, which, while still a minor, became recognizable for its quality at the level of the country at the time, as well as on its first European trips.

The choir is a complex musical organism in which each singer plays the role of an organ. With his voice, he colors a certain section and gives strength and emotion to the overall fusion. The conductor, who is also the choir's artistic director, mixes, blends, shapes and filigrees each tone in each composition so that it, precisely in the performance of an individual choir, arouses attention and provokes the listeners to a unique experience.

The City Choir Brodosplit is fortunate to be led for more than 3 and a half decades, since 1988, not only by the conductor but also by one of the greatest living Croatian composers, maestro Vlado Sunko. Thanks to the knowledge, vision, dedication, creative innovation and perseverance of maestro Vlado Sunko, this choir has achieved top artistic results: especially with performances of great works such as Papandopulo's oratorio Passion of Our Lord Jesus Christ, Cherubini's Requiem, Stipišić's oratorio Resurrection, and Sunko's cantata Gold of Our Lady's Grace and Missa.

In the spirit of the proverb of the French philosopher Jean Jaurès: Tradition does not consist in keeping the ashes but in keeping the flame alive, in that musical-historical score the precious part was sung by the choirs of Split, and the City Choir Brodosplit is most deserving of preserving this laudable tradition.

As the most recognizable ambassadors of their city, they became the most trophy-winning Croatian amateur choir, two-time absolute world choir champions.

In addition to the most prestigious awards of the profession, they also received numerous social awards, from the awards of the city of Split and the County of Split-Dalmatia to the Charter of the Republic of Croatia. But we should add to that the city and county awards and the medal of the order of Danica Hrvatska with the figure of Marko Marulić to maestro Sunko.

Music in the life of this climate is the umbilical cord with the heritage of the ancestors, the worldly and the spiritual, but also a credible protagonist in the political arena where notes and words were found among swords and guns - music and language – as weapons in the struggle for national identity.

 

October 12, 2025. - Released the video “GOSPE SINJSKA"

Listen on YouTube!

GOSPE SINJSKA

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5mMHy1o29KUab_channel=GradskizborBrodosplit

Abridged Cantata for Soloists and Men's Choir a Cappella:

I. The dawn had not yet broken

II. The Virgin Mary's Prayer

III. This is not shining gold

IV. O Miraculous Madonna Of Sinj

Music: Vlado Sunko

The text is a selection from the following songs:

- A. Kačić - Miošić: Razgovor ugodni naroda Slovinskog

- Marjan I. Čagalj: Pred slikom Gospe Sinjske

- Ante Jadrijević: Himna Gospi Sinjskoj

Libretto: fra. Josip Ante Soldo

Cover photo: Igor Bakotić

Sound producer: Borko Kovač

Cameramen: Matko Petrić i Nikola Benja

Director: Matko Petrić

Producer: Monika Vrgoč (TB Sinj)

Conductor: Vlado Sunko

Performed by: City Choir Brodosplit

Soloists: Ivan Bošnjak (baritone), Ivan Žitko (tenor)

The audio recording was made at the BK14PRODUCTION studio in Split in May 2025.

The video recording was filmed in Sinj in May 2025.

Publisher: Sinj Tourist Board, Monika Vrgoč – Director.

Singers who have participated in the audio and video recording:

I. Tenors: Vlado Badrov, Ivan Đangradović, Branko Kljaković-Gašpić, Damir Radovan, Zvonimir Tolić, Boris Viđak, Ivan Žitko.

II. Tenors: Igor Bakotić, Ivo Čović, Neven Ćatipović, Stipe Krželj, Zoran Slavica, Ante Smoljo, Mladen Velat.

Baritones: Ivan Banović, Ivan Bošnjak, Martin Brkić, Eduard Grenc, Josip Knežević, Ante Lozina, Denis Šarić.

Basses: Tino Babić, Siniša Beroš, Karlo Grenc, Josip Matković, Stjepan Mihanović, Josip Mornar – Deman, Petar Reskušić, Vlado Sučić.

Participated in the video recording: Herci Ganza, member of executive board and promoter.

MMXXV

All rights of the performer / publisher and holder of copyright on the recorded part are reserved. This audio and video recording or any of its parts may not be reproduced, downloaded, disseminated, publicly performed and used for radio and TV broadcasting, except with the prior written consent of the publisher.

Listen on YouTube!

GOSPE SINJSKA

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5mMHy1o29KUab_channel=GradskizborBrodosplit

 

November 4, 2024 – A Thrilling Success! Fantastic “Brodosplit” Excelled at the Competition in Prague, and Conductor Sunko Received a Great Honor, Slobodna Dalmacija – Written by Jasenka Leskur

The Brodosplit City Choir has added new trophies to its collection, bringing home two more gold medals and a special award to Split. This time, the success came from the international competition in Prague, which gathered 22 choirs from eleven countries. The golden voices from Split achieved the highest jury scores in both the male choir category and the sacred music category, and were also awarded a special prize for the outstanding performance of a composition by a Croatian composer.

The Prague Cantat Festival, one of the most prestigious choral competitions in a city with a rich musical tradition, was held for the 35th time from October 31 to November 3. Throughout its history, the festival has brought together more than 40,000 singers and around 950 choirs from all over the world. The Split choir previously competed in Prague 22 years ago, returning home with one gold medal. This year’s edition coincided with the celebration of the 200th anniversary of the birth of Bedřich Smetana, whose assigned composition “Věno” was prepared by all participating choirs.

The performance of the Split choir, as well as the virtuosity of their artistic director and conductor Vlado Sunko, was further recognized when Maestro Sunko was invited to conduct the joint performance of all choirs at the festival’s closing ceremony. Great joy reigns among the singers from Split, who once again proved their excellence on the international stage. With the pressure that comes from defending a championship title year after year, the choir continues to uphold its reputation at the very top of the choral world.

Artistic director and conductor Vlado Sunko shared his satisfaction: “After winning the gold medal at the choir competition in Krakow in the autumn of 2023, we knew that even harder work lay ahead if we were to repeat that success. The intensive preparations for the Prague competition required great sacrifices from every individual. I am extremely proud of my singers who, although amateurs, once again demonstrated a truly professional level. Through their authenticity and powerful performances, they showcased the richness of Croatian musical heritage and attracted the attention of the international choral community, confirming once again that they belong among the world’s elite choirs.”.

The president of the Brodosplit City Choir, Mladen Velat, also expressed his pride: “With nearly fifty performances throughout Dalmatia each year, the Brodosplit City Choir strives to appear at a major international competition annually. By winning numerous gold medals, we set the bar high long ago, and for more than a quarter of a century it has been both a challenge and a great achievement to remain among the best year after year. We visited Prague in 2002 and returned with one gold medal; 22 years later, we are coming back with two gold medals and a special award. We are especially pleased that our success has enabled continued financial support from the Ministry of Culture, the City of Split, and the Split-Dalmatia County for future competitions and tours. Our performance at this competition was a pure pleasure, from the audience’s enthusiastic reactions and standing ovations to the congratulations and recognition of the expert jury. We felt particular pride when our maestro was selected to conduct all the choirs in the performance of the mandatory composition ‘Věno’ by the Czech composer Smetana. This represents a great honor and recognition not only for the maestro, but for the entire choir. I congratulate and thank all the singers and the conductor, and I invite us all to move forward into new challenges even stronger and more motivated, with the wind at our backs.”

In the male choir category, the Split ensemble performed “Věno” by B. Smetana, “Lux Aurumque” by E. Whitacre, “Jadovanka za teletom” by J. Gotovac, and “Dalmatino povišću pritrujena” by Lj. Stipišić Delmata. In the sacred music category, they performed “Domine, non sum dignus” by T. L. de Victoria, “Beati mortui” by F. Mendelssohn, the final chorus from “The Passion of Our Lord Jesus Christ” by B. Papandopulo, and “Crucifixion” by W. Siegler.

 

September 24, 2024. - Released the video of the popular song “Naše malo misto”

Text: Tomislav Zuppa

Music: Pero Gotovac

Prepared by: Vlado Sunko

Cover photo: Igor Bakotić

Sound master: Stipe Blažević

Cameramen: Matko Petrić, Jovica Kozlica i Jere Gruić

Director: Matko Petrić

Soloists: Ivan Žitko, Eduard Grenc, Ivan Đangradović i Vlado Sučić

Sound recording recorded in the studio of HRT Radio Split in February 2024.

Film record taken in Split, Šibenik and St. Jerome's Airport in May 2024.

Listen on YouTube!

NAŠE MALO MISTO

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZoNyzB-nQQM&ab_channel=GradskizborBrodosplit

 

May 20, 2024 - In the showcase of the choir 'Brodosplit' another Grand Prix, the best among 26 ensembles in Šibenik, Slobodna Dalmacija, Written by: Jasenka Leskur

Another trophy in the premises of the City Choir 'Brodosplit'. This time from Šibenik, where on the occasion of the great jubilee of the singing society 'Kolo', the 125th anniversary of its existence, the International competition of choirs in folklore music "Adria cantat" was held. "Brodosplit" in its category - national folklore music - won a gold plaque and an overwhelming first place, and at the end also the Grand prix competition. In the category in which the most trophy-winning Split choir competed, there were also the most singing ensembles, which resulted in the strongest competition.

After the concert 'Dedication to Jakov Gotovac' in the Croatian Home, which delighted the people of Split for Sudamja, choir director maestro Vlado Sunko chose three compositions by the great composer for the competition in Šibenik - "Koledari in the house" - the 3rd movement from the composition "Koledari", "Good evening my love" and "Sadness for a calf", and the old Split folk song "Let's all sing a new song". The strong satirical song "Sadness for a calf" was the interpretative highlight of the choir, which was also recognized by the audience at HNK Šibenik. As category winners, the choir won the right to perform in the Grand Prix competition.

- Brodosplit singers received 29.43 points out of a maximum of 30 for their performance in the national category, which is the highest number of points won at the competition. In the second part of the competition for the Grand Prix, three category winners and three more choirs, which the expert jury considered to be particularly interesting, competed. In the first part, four compositions were sung, and in the second, only one composition of your choice could be repeated. The Brodosplit singers once again delighted the profession and the audience with their emotional and precise interpretation and won the trophy - maestro Vlado Sunko commented visibly satisfied.

Except in the category of national folklore music in which the Brodosplit from Split triumphed, singing ensembles competed in the categories "foreign folklore music" and "mixed folklore music". A total of 26 singing ensembles with over a 500 performers participated in the competition.

The choirs were evaluated by a distinguished international jury consisting of choral singing experts Tomislav Čekolj, Živko Kljuce, Janja Knapić Omranloo, Bojan Pogrmilović, Martina Prevejšek, Milad Omranloo and Branko Starc.

The competition was organized by the Croatian Choral Directors Association and the Šibenik Singing Society "Kolo", with the support of the City of Šibenik and the Croatian National Theater in Šibenik.