Konferencija za medije za kraj 18. Epidaurus Cavtat Festivala
‘U Cavtat se dovodi profinjenost, visoki kvalitet umjetnosti: Ivana nikada nije spuštala granicu’
Ništa neobično nije biti pun emocija kada zaokružuješ nešto veliko – zna to itekako dobro Ivana Marija Vidović, pijanistica i umjetnička voditeljica Epidaurus Cavtat Festivala, koji ove subote završava svoje punoljetno, osamnaesto izdanje.
U predivnom ambijentu Hotela Croatia, domu mnogih umjetnika Festivala, obratila se okupljenima i reflektirala ovogodišnje izdanje Festivala. Uz nju, konferenciju za medije održali su Ksenija Prohaska, diva našeg teatra, kazališni redatelj Sandro Damiani, te dugogodišnji prijatelji i partneri Festivala – Frano Herendija iz TZ Cavtat Konavle, manager Luko Radović iz Hotela Croatia te Lukša Glavinja, direktor Marine Resorts Cavtat.
– Epidaurus Cavtat Festival za mene je kao još jedan fakultet, u njemu sam se oblikovala kao čeljade, u momentu stresa kad je grdo, kad te tuširaju kao glavnog krivca za mnoge stvari, pa čak i kad je kišni dan u Cavtatu, znam se ‘postaviti’. Iznimno me oblikovao, baš kao i mnogi ljudi koji su mi daju ovakvu podršku i ovakve lijepe riječi – naglasila je Ivana te komentirala večerašnji veličanstveni Teatar Epidaurusa.
– Kad Ksenija stupi na scenu, sve postaje posebno, ona ima moć! Imati nju na punoljetnom festivalu je privilegija – naglasila je naša pijanistica zahvalivši na dugogodišnjoj podršci, kao i ‘prijatelju i savjetniku’, dugogodišnjem voditelju kazališta Ivan Zajc u Rijeci, Sandru Damianiju.
Frano Herendija iz TZ Konavle, koji je podržavao festival svih 18 godina, prisjetio se samih početaka festivala, a na Ivanino pitanje što je promislio tada, prije 18 godina kad je sve krenulo, naglasio je:
– Bio sam tu od prvog trenutka i moram priznati da nisam vidio osamnaesti festival u ovakvoj kvaliteti, svjetskoj, sjajnoj do koje ste dogurali. Ali da sam od srca podržao ideju od početka, jesam – iskreno je istaknuo Herendija.
Luko Radović izuzetno se zahvalio na ‘pružanju umjetnosti’.
– Pozdravljam sve i zahvaljujem na svojoj umjetnosti kroz sve godine. Što više reći? Veliko hvala je dovoljno – istaknuo je, ali i izrazio je oduševljenje te još veće nade za budućnost festivala.
Lukša Glavinja, direktor Marina Resorts Cavtat, nadovezao se rekavši:
– Zajedno smo počeli prije 18 godina, bio sam jedan od onih koji je ‘otvorio vrata’ Festivalu. Tada je bilo teško objasniti vlasnicima, primjerice, Iberostara zašto bi trebali donirati nešto što tek počinje, ali sam uspio jer sam prepoznao talent i upornost Ivane Marije – naglasio je te također uputio nekoliko riječi o nadolazećem projektu Marina Resorts Cavtat, koji bi trebao započeti iduće godine te zašto je u ovom kontekstu izuzetno važna kultura.
– Vidim u Ivani sve što treba imati jedan umjetnik, ali i sjajan menadžer, jer nije lako organizirati nešto ovakvo u Cavtatu, gdje nemate alternative. Stoga, kad Marina Resorts Cavtat zaživi, vjerojatno ćemo biti generalni sponzori – naglasio je.
Ksenija Prohaska prisjetila se jednog kišnog dana kada je nastupala u čarobnoj Pinakoteci izvodeći svoju slavnu ‘Marlene Dietrich’.
– Bila je strašna kiša, potoci su tekli, a publika je gazila kroz svu tu silnu vodu da bi stigla do nas. Promišljala sam: ‘Pa Bože, kako je ta žena uspjela dovući sve te ljude na predstavu?’ Kroz tu vodu gazili su načelnik, uvaženi gosti, sjajna publika… Predstava je bila predivna – rekla je Ksenija, zahvalivši se Sandru Damianiju, ‘krivcu’ za njihovo povezivanje. Također je istaknula i nešto vrlo važno: bez kulture narod gubi svoj identitet.
– Danas kultura ima manje više atomsku težinu nula ili nešto ispod, a narod koji nema svoju kulturu gubi svoj identitet, a kad izgubi identitet prestaje biti narod. Prema tome, bez kulture nema ničeg. U Cavtat se dovodi profinjenost, visoki kvalitet umjetnosti: Ivana nikada nije spuštala granicu i to je jako važno. I razina je svugdje visoka – evo, i ova prekrasna ‘Croatia’. Uzbuđena sam jer sam svoju veliku prijateljicu iz ‘Bjegunki’ i ‘Nosi nas rijeka’, veličanstvenu Milku Podrug Kokotović, nekako nagovorila na Teatar Epidaurusa. Neki dan sam joj upala u kuću i rekla joj: ‘Jel ti učiš tekst?’ – ‘Ma koji tekst, ne mogu ja to’ – ‘Uči tekst!’ – Ksenija je srdačno nasmijala sve prisutne.
Sandro Damiani naglasio je kako je Epidaurus ‘upoznao’ 2008. godine.
– U maloj grupici Slobodan Prosperov Novak, Luko Paljetak i ja radili smo veliki kongres o Držiću. Došli smo jednu večer tu, kao ‘ajmo ima nešto interesantno u Cavtatu’. Svidio mi se Festival i drago mi je da smo u taj izvrsni glazbeni program uspjeli ubaciti i dio teatra. Lijepo je vidjeti mala mjesta velike povijesti, koja gaje svoju baštinu i organiziraju veoma, veoma važne manifestacije kulturno-umjetničkog ranga, možda nisu toliko svjesne koliko je to veliko, značajno. Trebalo bi organizirati neke turneje van Cavtata da Cavtaćani uvide što je njihov Festival i što je Cavtat, mjesto kulture. Zaključit ću djelom velikog Eduarda de Fillippea – komediji koju je napisao krajem sedamdesetih: ‘Naslov je bio Gli esami non finiscono mai (Ispitima nikad kraja)’. To je monumento za našu Ivanu – nema kraja! – emotivno je zaključio Damiani.
Konferenciju su dodatno oplemenili svojim izvedbama i recitiranjem Duo Kumpare-Vešligaj i dugogodišnji suradnik Festivala Ane Tonči Đurković.
Epidaurus Cavtat Festival iz godine u godinu prate brojni prijatelji i podupiratelji – Općina Konavle, TZ Cavtat Konavle, Adriatic Luxury Hotels, Bio Konavle, Zračna Luka Ruđer Bošković, Remisens Hotel Group, Atellior, Ministarstvo kulture RH, Ministarstvo kulture Italije, TZ Dubrovačko-neretvanske županije, Hrvatska turistička Zajednica, Orchestra Filarmonica Pugliese, DULU, Jadrolinija, Kutjevo, Miva – galerija vina, Relaxed Dubrovnik, Wine Bar Banac, Dubrovački podrumi, Villa Pattiera, Matica Hrvatska, HAZU, Marina Resort Cavtat, Kuća Bukovac, Texo Molior, Vrtlar Dubrovnik, Xenia Design, AB Grafika, Sanitat Dubrovnik, Konoba Kolona, Ludo More, Konavoski dvori, Leut Restoran, Restoran Dalmacija, La Boheme, Apperia.hr.
HRT, Vijesti iz kulture s gospođom Zrinkom Turalija, DuList, Hrvatski Radio – Radio Dubrovnik, LTV, CROWN, Dubrovnik Insider, dubrovnikportal.com, dubrovniknet.hr, Dubrovački vjesnik, Dubrovački dnevnik izvrsni su medijski pokrovitelji i pratitelji Festivala, kao i grupa Zavazda Konavle koji su revno i svakodnevno objavljivali sve vijesti iz kulture. Posebna Zahvala Festivala ide gospođama Katiji Pašeta Guljelmović i Lili Pernar koje su ne samo pratile programe, već publiku osladile svojim delicijama.
Zahvaljujemo svima na praćenju Festivala i vidimo se dogodine, u 19. ediciji kasnog ljeta u Cavtatu. Ovogodišnje ispratimo večeras uz dvije dame teatra – Kseniju Prohaska i Milku Podrug Kokotović u Domu kulture Cavtat s početkom u 20 sati. Vidimo se!
English
Press Conference for the Conclusion of the 18th Year
High quality of art in Cavtat: Epidaurus Cavtat Festival
It’s not unusual to be filled with emotion when concluding something significant—this is something Ivana Marija Vidović, pianist and artistic director of the Epidaurus Cavtat Festival, knows all too well. This Saturday, the festival will conclude its eighteenth edition.
In the beautiful ambiance of Hotel Croatia, home to many festival artists, Ivana addressed the attendees and reflected on this year’s festival. Alongside her, the press conference featured Ksenija Prohaska, the diva of Croatian theater, theater director Sandro Damiani, and long-time friends and partners of the festival – Frano Herendija from the Tourist Board Cavtat Konavle, manager Luko Radović from Hotel Croatia, and Lukša Glavinja, director of Marina Resorts Cavtat.
“The Epidaurus Cavtat Festival is like another degree for me; it has shaped me as a person. In stressful moments when things go awry, even on a rainy day in Cavtat, I know how to ‘carry on’ – it has influenced me immensely, just like the many people who provide such support and lovely words,” Ivana emphasized, also commenting on tonight’s magnificent Epidaurus Theater.
“When Ksenija steps onto the stage, everything becomes special—she has the power! Having her at this milestone festival is a privilege,” our pianist highlighted, thanking her long-time supporter, as well as her ‘friend and advisor,’ the long-time head of the Ivan Zajc Theater in Rijeka, Sandro Damiani.
Frano Herendija from TZ Konavle, who has supported the festival for all 18 years, reminisced about the festival’s beginnings. When asked by Ivana what he thought back then, 18 years ago when it all began, he noted: “I’ve been here from the very first moment, and I must admit I haven’t seen the eighteenth festival of such quality, world-class and brilliant, that you have achieved. But I have wholeheartedly supported the idea from the start.”
Luko Radović expressed his gratitude for “providing art.” “I greet everyone and thank you for my art throughout all these years. What more can I say? A big thank you is enough,” he stated, while also expressing enthusiasm and greater hope for the festival’s future.
Lukša Glavinja, director of Marina Resorts Cavtat, added:
“We started together 18 years ago; I was one of those who ‘opened the door’ for the festival. Back then, it was hard to explain to owners, for example, Iberostar, why they should donate to something that was just starting, but I succeeded because I recognized the talent and determination of Ivana Marija.” He also mentioned the upcoming Marina Resorts Cavtat project set to begin next year and why culture is crucial in this context. “I see in Ivana everything a great
artist and manager should have, as organizing something like this in Cavtat, where there are no alternatives, isn’t easy. Therefore, when Marina Resorts Cavtat takes off, we will probably be the main sponsors.”
Ksenija Prohaska recalled a rainy day when she performed in the magical Pinakotheca, showcasing her famous “Marlene Dietrich.”
“It was pouring rain, torrents were flowing, and the audience trudged through all that water to reach us. I thought: ‘How on earth did that woman manage to bring all these people to the show?’ Through that water, the mayor, esteemed guests, and a wonderful audience waded… The performance was beautiful,” she shared, thanking Sandro Damiani, the ‘culprit’ for their connection.
She also pointed out something very important: without culture, a nation loses its identity. “Today, culture has more or less atomic weight zero or just below; a people without culture lose its identity. Therefore, without culture, there is nothing. Cavtat brings sophistication, high quality of art: Ivana has never lowered the bar, and that’s very important. The level is high everywhere – just look at this beautiful ‘Croatia.’ I’m excited because I managed to convince my great friend from ‘Bjegunke’ and ‘Nosi nas rijeka,’ the magnificent Milka Podrug Kokotović, to come to the Epidaurus Theater. A few days ago, I barged into her house and said, ‘Are you learning your lines?’—‘What lines? I can’t do that!’—‘Learn your lines!’” Ksenija warmly amused everyone present.
Sandro Damiani highlighted that he “met” Epidaurus in 2008.
“In a small group, Slobodan Prosperov Novak, Luko Paljetak, and I worked on a large congress about Držić. We came here one evening, thinking, ‘Let’s check out something interesting in Cavtat.’ I liked the festival, and I’m glad we managed to incorporate some theater into that excellent music program. It’s nice to see small places with great histories that nurture their heritage and organize very, very important cultural-artistic events, perhaps not realizing how significant that is. We should organize some tours outside of Cavtat for the locals to see what their festival and Cavtat, a place of culture, truly are.” He concluded with a piece by the great Eduardo de Filippo, a comedy he wrote in the late seventies: “The title was Gli esami non finiscono mai (Exams Never End). This is a monument to our Ivana—there is no end!”
The conference was further enriched by performances and recitations from Duo Kumpare- Vešligaj and long-time festival collaborator Ante Tonči Đurković.
The Epidaurus Cavtat Festival is supported year after year by numerous friends and supporters— The Municipality of Konavle, TZ Cavtat Konavle, Adriatic Luxury Hotels, Bio Konavle, Ruđer Bošković Airport, Remisens Hotel Group, Atellior, the Ministry of Culture of the Republic of Croatia, the Ministry of Culture of Italy, TZ of Dubrovnik-Neretva County, the Croatian Tourist Board, Orchestra Filarmonica Pugliese, DULU, Jadrolinija, Kutjevo, Miva – Wine Gallery, Relaxed Dubrovnik, Wine Bar Banac, Dubrovnik Cellars, Villa Pattiera, Matica Hrvatska, HAZU, Marina Resort Cavtat, Kuća Bukovac, Texo Molior, Vrtlar Dubrovnik, Xenia Design, AB Grafika, Sanitat Dubrovnik, Konoba Kolona, Ludo More, Konavoski dvori, Leut Restaurant, Restaurant Dalmacija, La Boheme, Apperia.hr.
HRT, Vijesti iz kulture with Ms. Zrinka Turalija, DuList, Croatian Radio – Radio Dubrovnik, LTV, CROWN, Dubrovnik Insider, dubrovnikportal.com, dubrovniknet.hr, Dubrovački vjesnik, and Dubrovački dnevnik are excellent media sponsors and followers of the festival, as is the Zavazda Konavle group, which diligently and daily published all cultural news. A special thank you from the festival goes to Ms. Katija Pašeta Guljelmović and Lili Pernar, who not only followed the
programs but also delighted the audience with their delicacies.
We thank everyone for following the festival, and we’ll see you next year at the 19th edition of late summer in Cavtat. This year, we will conclude tonight with two theater ladies—Ksenija Prohaska and Milka Podrug Kokotović at the Dom kulture Cavtat, starting at 8 PM. See you in Cavtat!