The feature film Lisinski was
made in 1944 on a nytrat film.
In the Year 2008 with the help of
Croatian Audiovisual Center
Croatian Cinematheque preserved
this film making a substitute original
and restored it through photo chemical
procedure in the laboratory of Jadran film.
The film was digital restored
in the Year 2009 with the support
of the Ministry of culture
of the Republic of Croatia
in the Studio Vizije (picture)
And the Studio Oktava digital (sound).
HRVATSKI SLIKOPIS Presents:
A motion picture about the life of THE COMPOSER
OF THE FIRST CROATIAN OPERA
LISINSKI
Writer:
Screenplay:
Director:
Production and editing:
Musical compositions by Vatroslav
Lisinski adapted by BORIS PAPANDOPULO
Photography:
Sound:
Props and costumes:
Set design:
Starring:
Also starring:
Participating:
MEN'S AND WOMEN'S CHOIR,
MEMBERS OF THE BALLET COMPANY
OF THE CROATIAN NATIONAL THEATER IN ZAGREB,
RADIO CHOIR, AND ZAGREB
PHILHARMONIC ORCHESTRA
Conductor:
BORIS PAPANDOPULO
This film was produced in Zagreb by the NATIONAL
FILM INSTITUTE "HRVATSKI SLIKOPIS"
CROATIA FILM,
headed by MARIJAN MIKAC
Ladies and gentlemen,
the life of many great Croats
was difficult, bleak and woeful.
Today, as we listen to the immortal
music composed by the great Lisinski,
and as we sense the
magnitude of his creation,
we will also take a look back
at the last 13 years of his life;
years he spent misunderstood
by his colleagues and companions.
Our story begins in 1841.
At this time, Lisinski was an unpaid
trainee in a government office.
Hello, my friend. It is
a good thing you're home.
Hello, triga. What happened?
I am all out of breath.
Big things, big events,
my dear Lisinski.
Gaj is coming to Zagreb,
our great Croat, great patriot,
and the Croatian youth
will prepare a fitting welcome.
Excellent, triga. But,
what shall we do, and how?
Listen, Nacek. Enough
of pushing these papers,
do you really think
this is the job for you?
Will youalways be some lowly clerk?
- But, Striga, what are you doing?
Listen to me.
You have a tremendous musical talent, it
has to be expressed to the Croatian people.
Now you should seriously get to work on
it. - It is not that simple, my dear Striga.
It is just that simple...
- You see, my friend...
Listen, I guarantee
that we will break through.
Demeter wrote a poem
in honor of Gaj's arrival in Zagreb,
and you will set that poem
to music. - But Striga...
Listen to it:
"Free is the bird that soars through the sky,
free is the beast that roams the mountain;
why then should I let these chains bind be,
why should a foreigner walk over me"
What do you think...
these words, this thought?
Let me see.
"He who would not sooner die,
has not our blood in his veins"
You will set this poem to music, and
it will be the first Croatian patriotic song.
Yes, you are right,
but I dare not do such a thing.
You see, dear triga, I have never
composed anything for the public
and I am afraid I'm not worthy of it.
True, music is my whole world,
but for such a ceremonial occasion...
Vatroslav, you will write this song,
you are born to be an artist.
triga, triga, you are a dreamer,
but I will try it anyway.
You must, Vatroslav, you must.
We will create great works together.
But now I leave you to your muses.
Pull together, Lisinski,
now is the moment
to show the world what the
Croatian youth is capable of.
Goodbye, friend.
- Goodbye, Striga.
Bravo! Excellent! Bravo!
My deepest bows, our splendid
countess. - Good evening, Striga.
My apologies for interrupting
this marvelous artistic event, but...
It is all right, dear triga,
you are always welcome in my home.
I am fortunate to be able to enter so
freely the home of countess Sidonija Rubido,
our great patriot and a wonderful artist.
You flatter me too much, dear triga.
No, no, dear countess,
he speaks what is in all our hearts.
Oh, my troubadours, did we meet
simply to exchange compliments?
You should rather help yourselves,
dear gentlemen. - Thank you, countess.
Countess, I am here
to ask a favor, a big favor.
Go ahead, triga. - I wanted to ask
if you would try to sing this song?
It must be an aria from some
opera, is that right, triga?
No, it isn't from an opera.
It is a new Croatian song.
Croatian song? - Yes. - Interesting...
It is a Croatian patriotic song.
- Who is the composer?
Our talented Lisinski.
Vatroslav Lisinski. - Lisinski?
Who is this Lisinski anyway?
Are we always going to waste time
on those poor dilettantes of ours?
Don't bother, countess,
it is surely not worth the effort.
But dear Illustrissimus,
why be so harsh right away?
It is true, countess, that
Lisinski is not well known yet.
He is modest and shy, but very talented.
Countess, you must help us make
this patriotic tune known to the public.
I would be happy to do so, triga.
- Countess, you truly are an angel.
Very well, triga, just let me hear it.
Let's listen to it, professor.
Some composition this is,
no line at all, this is not an aria.
Complete dilettantism. - Quiet!
This is not so bad.
A nice little song.
Sounds like something patriotic.
- We need good patriotic songs.
I think that composer is very talented.
What is his name again? - Lisinski.
Aha, Lisinski.
The youth wholeheartedly
sided with Lisinski.
So as not to be disturbed
by the enemies of patriotic ideals,
they meet in the forest of Tukanac
where they learn to sing
the songs composed by Lisinski.
That wasn't so good, children.
Not "krv nevrije", but "krv ne vrije".
Now let us take it from the beginning.
But in all that idealistic fervor,
nobody thought to take care of Lisinski.
To survive, he went
from house to house,
teaching the children of his fellow
citizens music, for a meager compensation.
You see, Vatroslav, it's good
I was able to talk my father
into letting you have this room.
Not exactly luxurious, but at least
this way I can take care of you a bit.
You are not even listening to me.
- I'm listening, dear, I'm listening.
I apologize; you are so sweet and kind.
I become worried at a mere thought
that your family might
find out you come up here.
But, darling...
You see, my little Heda,
I lack the courage
to ask for your hand in marriage.
I haven't achieved anything
yet, it is all so pathetic.
All will be well, darling, you will see.
Oh, my two doves,
I apologize for intruding.
Perhaps you want me to leave - I will
then disappear, like a magician.
triga is here;
Striga is gone.
But dear triga...
- I kiss your hand.
Just stay, you are the only one who
knows our secret. Put it down, friend...
Thank you. - You are
always welcome here with us.
I received a magic parcel myself.
- Oooh, that is wonderful.
Look, magicians all around.
- Well, you haven't seen anything yet.
Watch carefully. My hands
are empty now. Right?
Hocus pocus,
my contribution to this celebration.
- Bravo, Striga. Excellent.
Please have a seat, friend. - Thank you.
Where do you get all this energy from,
Striga? You are truly like a meteor.
What? What am I?
A meteor, a bright little meteor
on our otherwise sorrowful sky.
We shall all become meteors,
comets if need be.
We will sweep with our bright tails through
our dormant surroundings that ail us so.
triga, you are truly wonderful.
But children, joking aside.
Listen to me, Vatroslav.
I think you have spent enough time composing
those little songs and patriotic tunes.
triga, you know... - Please
don't interrupt me before I'm finished.
You, Vatroslav Lisinski,
will compose an opera. - Opera?
Yes, yes. An opera,
the first Croatian opera.
Here, take a look.
This here is the libretto.
It was written by Janko Car,
and edited by Demetar himself.
You think that we... - Yes, yes, us.
We will have our own opera.
It will be titled "Love & Malice".
You will write an opera?
Oh my God, oh my God.
Only a man like Lisinski could
compose the first Croatian opera.
Dare I decide to do this?
Do I have the strength for it?
You do, Vatroslav. You must.
- Only you, Lisinski, no one else.
To the first Croatian
opera, then! - Cheers!
Lisinski was happiest
when he was able to take a walk
through the marvelous nature
with his fiancee Hedviga.
During those times,
his gentle soul felt rejuvenated.
The inspiration he found
in nature was to bear rich fruit
in the form of his artistic creation.
Working tirelessly, days and nights,
Lisinski was finishing his first opera.
The whole of progressive Zagreb
supported him in his work.
Everyone was preparing to stage
the first Croatian opera, "Love & Malice".
At the time, there were no Croatian opera
artists, but there was the patriotic youth,
working with great enthusiasm.
The theater on St. Mark's square
would soon see its most festive day:
The premiere of the first Croatian opera.
Madame countess will
look marvelous on stage,
and in the company of such
a fine gentleman as Mr. Striga.
Jelica, Jelica, come to your senses.
Hurry up, the rehearsal begins at
Yes, of course.
A sad day in Croatian history.
On the 29th of July, 1845.
The blood of Croatian youth was
spilled on St. Mark's square.
Their sacrifice was not in vain.
The national spirit could not be
suppressed even by brutal force.
Shortly thereafter, that
spirit was to rise again.
The glorious day had come,
when the first Croatian opera
was to be shown in the theater
on St. Mark's square in Zagreb.
Perhaps countess Rubido will be offended
because we did not attend
that famous premiere of theirs,
but as the president of the Musical Institute,
I cannot afford to support dilettantism.
I am surprised to see the countess
engage in such a frivolous undertaking.
Just to think how much money
and effort were put into that circus,
it makes one hot with rage.
But, dear Illustrissimus,
the props and fancy costumes
are the only things
of any value at that event.
No matter, dear friend,
that fiasco calls for
a celebration. Let's drink.
Cheers!
Listen Jurek, you are
such a fine young man,
how come you are not performing today?
Oho, I could have performed,
but I can't sing.
It is my only problem.
Eh, you have some other
problems, too. Butjokes aside.
That thing today, it might
end up being something,
because all our young
gentlemen are performing.
Mischievous guys and ladies.
But, would you please explain
to me what an opera really is?
It is like this, Franc:
The music is playing,
finely dressed people walk
back and forth through the house,
waving their arms,
kneeling before the ladies
and just keep on singing.
That is called an opera.
Listen to them applauding.
Truly, my little Heda, everything was
wonderful. The countess, and Striga.
If you please, countess,
before the curtain. - Pardon me?
Listen.
They are shouting my name.
I am so happy and proud.
But I did not deserve this.
My great artist. - My God,
man, why are you hiding here?
Come, the audience wants to see you.
The success of our
first opera was remarkable.
The newspapers wrote about
it with great enthusiasm.
Poet Stanko Vraz wrote a beautiful
description of this first opera performance,
full of praise for Lisinki
and all the participants.
Lisinski had worked tirelessly and with so
much zeal to bring his first opera to life,
that he neglected to take care of himself.
His health, fragile in the best of times,
could not withstand such a strain,
and shortly after the premiere
he had fallen seriously ill.
Here, Vatroslav. That
will ease your pain.
Good. - Thank you, darling.
I have received another
letter from Krizmani. Read it, dear.
My dear Lisinski, I am still excited about
the great success of our national cause.
You, my son, have done a great
deal for the Croatian people...
That's not important,
just read the last part.
Very well.
...and therefore, without hesitation, come
to visit me here in Bistrica straight away.
This wonderful nature
will speed up your recovery.
I await you with a
friendly and open heart.
Yours truly, abbot Krizmani,
vicar of Marija Bistrica.
Help yourself, my son, please.
As if you were at home.
Just this piece. This is
the original Zagorje turkey.
Thank you, Illustrissimus, I have
had enough. I really couldn't eat more.
Eh, my young friend, that cannot be.
You have other tasks ahead
of you. You must gain strength.
I will, Illustrissimus. You are
so kind. I don't know how to repay you.
Don't worry about that, my artist. I know
you have other worries on your mind.
All secrets come out in the open eventually.
What secrets, Illustrissimus?
I don't know what you're talking about.
You know very well, my friend.
Besides, what is my friend,
the noble gentleman and city
judge Ivan Ban doing these days?
He is a wonderful gentleman. - And he
has an even more wonderful daughter.
Aha, we know everything.
But you must promise me something.
You and your Hedviga must get
married here, at my church in Bistrica.
I gladly give that promise, Illustrissimus.
But I have much to achieve yet
to become worthy of Hedviga.
She is so kind and noble.
Yes, yes, that is well known.
However, it seems to me that this
conversation is leaving you a bit confused.
Wait, I'll show you something.
Matek! Matek, bring that
old cantual from my room.
As you wish, highness, right away.
You know, I have an old cantual
which is sure to interest you.
Church music, friend, is the
foundation of all secular musical art.
You are right, Illustrissimus.
I wish nothing more than to fully
dedicate myself to the art of music.
You know, Illustrissimus,
that it is my life's goal.
If you please, highness.
Aha, we are about the show the young
artist what kind of music we have here.
Take a look, this is something...
Take a closer look at it.
Isn't this polonaise
wonderful? - Excellent.
By Lisinski.
You are remarkably cheerful today, triga.
Who wouldn't be in your
company, my lovely countess?
Scandalous. How can that countess
be flirting with the likes of that triga?
As if she is on a stage.
Yes, you are right, sweetie,
the dinner was excellent.
Our esteemed president
received a good lesson today.
I don't think he will forgive me easily.
To the good health of the
most charming lady in Zagreb.
This polonaise was truly a surprise.
It makes me immensely
happy to hear that, dear countess.
But here is still a small surprise
for you in the waiting. - What is it?
Here she comes. - Oooh, miss Hedviga.
Good evening, triga.
- Kiss your hand.
You did not expect this,
did you? - Truly, I did not.
Just a moment, children,
let me see if this is the right time.
Miss Hedviga, I am really surprised.
- Don't be, dear Striga.
I have decided to take care
of something very important.
Here at the ball? - Yes, here.
Today, our ban, our honorable lord is here,
so I have asked the countess to introduce me.
For God's sake, what are
you planning? - You shall see.
Good evening, Illustrissimus.
- God's grace, hello, friend.
You see, that my turkeys from
Zagorje are worth something after all.
You look much better already.
Why are you so deep in thoughts?
Illustrissimus, here in the country,
everything is so beautiful and peaceful.
I am obsessed with how
lovely the folk singing is.
In fact, music ought to be
composed in that spirit alone.
You see, son, I have come
to the same conclusion long ago.
But, I didn't want
to say anything about it.
Let our young artist
come to those thoughts alone.
Where have my aging wits gone?
I almost forgot the most important thing.
Here. You received a letter from
Zagreb, but not written in female hand.
I hadn't received anything in a long time.
Whose letter is it? - triga's. - triga?
Is it something important?
- Very important, Illustrissimus. Listen:
Our esteemed Demeter wrote the libretto
for your new opera. What do you say to that?
The opera will be called "Porin"
or "liberation of the Croats
from Frankish oppression".
Excellent, wonderful,
already a second Croatian opera.
You are great young men. Keep reading.
...and furthermore, your triga
has arranged and found support
for your musical studies in Prague.
A letter of recommendation for duke Rohan,
the patron of the Prague Conservatory,
will be written by our honorable lord
ban himself, at the request from Hedviga.
You see, that's a woman.
Dear Sir! We regret to inform you that we
are unable to admit you to our Conservatory,
because you are older than
the prescribed maximum age limit.
With my deepest respect...
Since the Prague Conservatory
was unable to take him in,
Lisinski took lessons at professor
Pitsch's famous organ school.
Even professor Kitl, the
Conservatory director himself,
gave composing and
instrumentation lessons to Lisinski.
During this time, "Porin", the
second Croatian opera, was written.
With the third act already completed,
and having broadened his
musical knowledge immensely
during his stay in Prague, Lisinski
returned to Zagreb full of hope.
Gentlemen, please, just
a few moments longer.
We have come to the last item
on our agenda. - Let us hear it.
You all remember that Lisinski,
sent by some hotheads to study in Prague.
As if we don't have enough
learned and skilled musicians here.
Well, that Lisinski has
now returned to Zagreb
and seeks a position
at the Musical Institute.
Has that young man
learned anything in Prague?
Here are some impressive diplomas that
say he has learned quite a lot there.
Some of his friends
probably arranged for those.
Gentlemen, as a loyalist I must warn
you that this illyrian outlaw group
has become dangerous in Zagreb,
as they have many followers
even among the highest ranks of society.
That's why I think something
must be done about them.
We should reject his application,
it is as simple as that.
It would not serve our purpose
to reject it outright,
so I suggest we give this Lisinski
some sort of a position anyway.
My vote is against it.
- He could have stayed in Prague.
Enough of these dilettantes.
They will ruin our music.
Silence! Gentlemen. Silence.
Please listen to all I have to say.
I suggest that we
offer this Lisinski a position,
but perhaps not a position
of professor or even director,
which is probably the ambition
of those wise guys behind him.
No, we shall give him a supervisor
position, unpaid. - Excellent.
Unfortunately we do not have
the funds to pay him for his work.
But this way we appear to
have shown some good will.
I hope he will not endure
very long as an unpaid supervisor.
That is great.
We have to protect the professor
class from such dilettantes.
I ask then that my proposal be accepted
by this honorable Board of Directors.
Let it be so. - It is good. - Accepted.
Thank you gentlemen,
this meeting is adjourned.
Lisinski accepted even the position
of an unpaid musical supervisor
at the Musical Institute,
all to be able to contribute
to the spreading of musical literacy.
Are you writing this down, my ladies?
- We are. - Very well, let's keep going.
Lisinski found himself living
in very difficult conditions.
All the time that was left for his creative
work were the long, sleepless nights.
He was draining his
own strength to its very limits.
Hey, Lisinski!
Friend! Wake up!
O, triga, what is it?
My God, he sleeps without a care
for the events unfolding around him.
I fell asleep a bit. I have
been up all night, working.
Just so you know, I have finished "Porin".
You finished "Porin"!
That is wonderful, Nacek!
Allow me to congratulate
you. Long live "Porin"!
But, Nacek, you must already know that
our young king is coming to Zagreb soon...
Of course I know it. But
why are you telling me this?
Eh, my son, you are one
of the most important people,
who must help that this time around,
the Croatian spirit is fully expressed.
Why me? What
do you mean? - Listen.
The welcoming committee has put
together a schedule for the grand theater.
Look, you will conduct
the performance of the anthems,
you will compose a special
overture for the glorious occasion,
and then your opera
"Love & Malice" will be performed.
Wonderful. - Ha, my dear.
The entire royal court will be
in that theater. What do you say?
Marvelous! - We'll see what
those wise guys say after that.
Now is the time to defeat them totally,
and after that the composer
of Croatian operas will no longer be
an unpaid supervisor
at the Musical Institute,
but rather the leader of the entire
Croatian musical establishment.
Will you do it? - Of course I'd like to.
But I don't know, there is so little time.
There is enough time. We will all
help. Work should begin immediately.
Very well.
So I would recommend that you use your place
to stop the Croatian performance in the theatre
on the day of the arrival
of His Majesty in Zagreb.
Your loyalty will be, as always,
rewarded. See you soon...
The opponents of the Croatian patriotic
thought did not like any of this.
They pushed through a different decision.
Lisinski's compositions were
to be removed from the program,
and the meaning of the entire
ceremony has now changed.
Instead of Croatian music,
a foreign theater company was to perform
an Italian opera "Lucrezia Borgia".
To make the blow even stronger,
Lisinski was suddenly dismissed
from the Musical Institute.
What those enemies of Croatian
national cause have been striving for,
now came to pass.
Lisinski was finally broken.
Disappointed and bitter, Lisinski
swore never to compose again.
He returned to his low-paid
job as a government clerk.
The Croatian music thus
lost its first great composer.
That unfortunate small-minded
milieu that surrounded Lisinski
was incapable of understanding him.
After losing his music,
Lisinski lived the rest of his life Ionely
and without a purpose, as if in a daze.
A cruel twist of fate destroyed
his most precious dream,
his love for Hedviga.
The storms of his life
finally shattered Lisinski.
Ha, ha...
That fiasco calls for a celebration.
Now you will always be some
lowly clerk, clerk, clerk, clerk...
Snap to it, Lisinski, now is the time...
Who is this Lisinski anyway?...
Lowly clerk, clerk, clerk...
Only a man like Lisinski could
compose the first Croatian opera...
Enough of these dilettantes already...
You, my son, have done a lot
for the Croatian people...
You, my great artist...
- Unpaid supervisor...
All will be well, darling...
You and your Hedviga must get
married here, at my church in Bistrica...
And so, misunderstood and forgotten,
the composer of the first
Croatian opera passed away.
Vatroslav Lisinski's destiny was
similar to that of many great men.
His greatness and the value of his work
were fully appreciated only after his death.
But the great works he left behind
him endure, to this day and beyond.
THE END
Translation:
Sran Randi