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History

 

 

City of Split Choir Brodosplit

The Brodosplit Male Voice Choir was founded in 1972. Throughout its work, wide range of numerous performances, interesting programmes, valuable interpretations, culture of singing, distinctive sonority and compact quality of voices, it has grown into one of the most appreciated choirs in Croatia.

The repertoire of the Choir is very heterogeneous - from the Renaissance to the composers of our time with extraordinary preservation of the native region tradition, i.e. Dalmatian folk and concert songs in the harmonization and artistic interpretations of the most eminent Croatian composers.

Since its foundation, the choir has been under direction of eminent pedagogues and conductors such as professor Daniel Šeparović and professor Josip Veršić. Since 1988, it has been under direction of the composer and conductor Vlado Sunko, who is full professor at the Arts Academy, University of Split.

Throughout our homeland, Brodosplit has received many valuable awards and recognitions for its work: The City of Split Award (1979, 1994 and 2012), The City of Split Medal (2002 and 2022), the Split - Dalmatia County Award (2002 and 2018), 1st Award and the first place winner at the National Choir Competition in Zadar (1990 and 1995), in Rijeka (1993), in Umag (1999) and in Novigrad (2007).

At international festivals of amateur choirs Brodosplit has won first prize in Budapest (1991) and Prague (2002), a gold medal at the World Choir Games in Xiamen, China (2006), and the title of the Olympic winner at the Choir Olympics in Linz (2000) and Champion of the World Choir Games in Graz (2008).

At the International Levi Madetoja Male Voice Choir Competition in Finland (2010), Brodosplit was awarded with the third place as the first winning choir outside the Baltic area in history of this competition. At the international Choir Competition "The Sounds of June" in Petrinja (2011), Brodosplit was the first place winner and at the International Choir Competition ''Zlatna vila'' (Golden Fairy) in Prijedor (2012), the choir received the first prize - Audience Award for coherence of art perception and two awards of the jury for the best performance of the composition written by an old master and the best performance of the domestic composition.

At the International Choir Competition Canta al mar in Spain (2012), Brodosplit was awarded with the gold medal and winner in the category of male choirs and a gold medal in the category of sacred music also at the International Choir Competition Robert Schumann in Germany (2014) Brodosplit was awarded with the gold medal and winner in the category of male choirs, a gold medal in the category of sacred music and special award of the jury for the best performance of the composition written by Robert Schumann.

At the International Choir Competition "Voce magna" in Slovakia (2017) choir was awarded with the gold medal and first place in the category of male choirs and the same year at the International Choir Competition "Cro patria" in Split Brodosplit was awarded for the best choir by jury and audience.

In Austria (2018) at the International choir competition in Bad Ischl choir was awarded with the gold medal and the absolute winners in the category of male choirs, gold medal in category of sacral mucic and gold medal in category of folklore music.

Croatian President Ivo Josipovic in May 2013 awarded them with the recognition Povelja Republike Hrvatske for outstanding merits in culture which City of Split Choir "Brodosplit" had as an international promoter of Croatian cultural heritage and winner of international awards in choral singing, on the occasion of the 40th anniversary of successful existence.

Major works included in this choir's repertoire are Vlado Sunko's cantata Zlato Gospine milosti (The Sweetheart of Our Lady's Mercy) and Missa, Cherubini's Requiem, Stipišić's oratorio Uskrsnuće (The Resurrection of Jesus Christ) and the oratorio written by Boris Papandopulo Muka Gospodina našega Isukrsta (The Passion of Our Lord Jesus Christ).

Apart from its distinctive concert activity the choir has released two LPs, ten CDs, two DVDs and two monographs published on the occasion of the 30th and 50th anniversary of continuance.