Libretto: Janez Doltar
Composer and conductor: Gregor Zagorc
Director: Eva Hribernik
Set designer: Andrej Stražišar
Costume designer: Bojana Cvejić Zagorc

Tambura orchestra Dobréč
Folklore society Kres

Soloists:
Sara Žuvela
Gregor Ravnik
Željko Andrić
Irena Yebuah Tiran
Dejan Heraković
Tom Kobe
Sabina Gruden
Nataša Zupan
Domingo Stasi
Andraž Banovec

On a meander of the River Lahinja, where the municipalities of Črnomelj, Semič and Metlika meet, Castle Gradac (Gradez) still stands tall. According to a story that dates back to the first half of the 17th century, when this area was under threat from the Ottomans, the castle is supposed to have been the scene of forbidden love between a noblewoman and a miller’s son. The story is the theme of the world’s first tamburica opera, created by the librettist Janez Doltar and composer Gregor Zagorc. The main protagonists, Katarina (Sara Žuvela) and Andrej (Gregor Ravnik), are so deeply in love that they take a long time to realise that such a relationship between a noblewoman and miller’s young son is not just forbidden, but also dangerous for the whole community, and this leads to dramatic twists in the story with many magical scenes, typical of Bela Krajina. The opera’s premiere was performed by the Dobréč Tamburica Orchestra in cooperation with top opera singers, an opera choir, the folklore association Kres, and directed by the acclaimed director Eva Hribernik. The Dobréč Tamburica Orchestra has been active since 1997, and is characterised by the musicians’ excellent dynamics, melodiousness and outstanding coordination. In addition to winning many of the highest awards at international festivals, the orchestra won the title of world’s best tamburica orchestra at the Tamburica Fest in Novi Sad in 2021.