Bach - Brandenburg Concerto No.2 in F Major - Zagreb, Croatia

23 May 2021, 21:00

While flying over the Alps somewhere in the vicinity of Venice, it occurred to me that it has been around eight months since I last left England. Even despite the extra epidemiological challenges at the moment it was a huge morale boost to travel to Zagreb in Croatia to perform Bach’s Brandenburg Concerto No.2 with the Croatian Baroque Ensemble (Hrvatski Barokni Ansambl) for a performance, with a socially-distanced but sizeable indoor audience, at the Croatian Music Institute on Sunday 23rd May 2021. \

The concert entitled ‘Erschallet, Trompeten!’ included Telemann’s Concerto for 3 Trumpets [TWV 54:D3], Brandenburg Concerto No.2 [BWV 1047] and Handel’s Water Music [HWV 348 -35], and featured the brass section, comprising: Russell Gilmour (F trumpet), Krešimir Fabijanić (1st D trumpet), Vedran Kocelj (2nd D trumpet), Zvonimir Lazar (3rd D trumpet), Bánk Harman (1st horn) and Bruno Grošić (2nd horn). The orchestra was led by the violinist (and orchestra founder) Laura Vadjon, who also played the solo in Brandenburg 2, along with the recorder soloist Stjepan Nodilo, and the oboe soloist Elisabeth Baumer. The concert was broadcast live on Croatian Radio.

It was fantastic to see the trumpeter, and a very good friend, Krešimir Fabijanić (also known as Curly) again.

Despite the added complexity at the moment it was wonderful to be a traveler again. I did not realise how much I had missed the challenge of learning a few words in another language, or exploring unfamiliar streets, and I enjoyed exploring Zagreb as if I was a local. Photographs of Zagreb’s landmarks would normally be peppered with tourists in the foreground, but not on this trip.

Many of Zagreb’s buildings unfortunately sustained damage during an earthquake on 22nd March 2020. The earthquake caused damage to an estimated total of 86 billion Croatian Kuna (c.£10 billion GBP). The damage to older structures is most evident, and churches, museums and concert halls were among the most susceptible. Unfortunately the Croatian Music Institute did not escape damage, and it will be closing for refurbishment soon.

Having taken a PCR test before flying back to the UK on 24th May 2021, I began the mandatory 10 days of self-isolation and the process of yet more PCR tests. While I was away, my age group reached the top of the queue for the vaccine but unfortunately I will not be able to take it until July, as the next weeks will run segue between self-isolation, work away and self-isolation. Fortunately, I’ve got lots of work to be getting on from within quarantine.

Russell Gilmour

writing on music, photography, engraving, travel and life as a freelance professional musician.

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