PROGRAM
Antun Sorkočević: Symphony for Strings No. 1 in C Major
Allegro

Joseph Haydn: String Quartet, Op. 76, No. 3 "Emperor"
Allegro
Poco Adagio: Cantabile
Menuetto
Finale: Presto

Felix Mendelssohn: String Quartet No. 3 in D Major, Op. 44, No. 1
Molto allegro vivace
Menuetto: Un poco Allegretto
Andante espressivo ma con moto
Presto con brio

The Zagreb Quartet, founded in 1919, is Croatia's first professional string ensemble. The founding members were Václav Huml, Milan Graf, Ladislav Škatula, and Umberto Fabbri, professors at the Zagreb Conservatory. From the beginning, the Quartet performed a vast repertoire, from classical to contemporary pieces, focusing on Croatian composers such as Širola, Slavenski, Lhotka, and Papandopulo. The first international tour took place in 1930/1931 in the Czech Republic and Germany. After World War II, the Quartet was reestablished in 1954 under the leadership of Josip Klima. Since then, members have frequently changed, featuring notable musicians like Zlatko Balija, Edo Pečarić, Fred Kiefer, and Ante Živković, who was a member for 37 years.

In 1987, Goran Končar became the first violinist, and the Quartet continued to make their mark on the international stage with numerous tours and significant concerts. The Quartet's discography includes many albums released by various record labels, a testament to their global appeal. The Quartet has received many prestigious awards, including the City of Zagreb Award, the Milka Trnina Award, the Vladimir Nazor Award, and the Vatroslav Lisinski Award. It has been honored with the Charter of the Republic of Croatia for its significant contributions to culture.

Today, the members are Martin Krpan (violin), Davor Philips (violin), Hrvoje Philips (viola), and Martin Jordan (cello).