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Woolly says – Sometimes you have to grab your opportunities with both paws and when it’s FREE even the women found no argument with an evening in Zagreb. Leaping off the tram I glanced back to make sure that my party was following, first find the venue and then search for food, for a mammoth of my capabilities that should be easy! Venue found and possible piece of grass to sit on identified, now onto food, I looked round and spotting some umbrellas trotted over to see what the menu offered.....lots of drinks but nothing edible. The three of us stood looking for something to drop from the sky as Jo acknowledged that the King Tomislav Square area of the city was missing a trick in not having a single place to eat. We’re stood by the railway station and a lovely open grassed square and food didn’t exist, knowing that we needed something to keep us going we started to plod back towards the centre. Woolly says – I spotted a Chinese and even with Zoe’s look of woe (she’s not a lover of this food group) it appeared we had no choice.....how I wish we hadn’t made that decision! Jo’s food was inedible even by my standards and my standards are low, the noodles that Zoe and I were sharing gave me enough grease to keep Castrol in business for years, both of them looked at me and smiling sweetly I suggested we head off to find our place in the crowds that were now gathering.
A lot more people had arrived and as we plonked ourselves down Woolly immediately started talking to a lovely young lady called Sophia who having admired his Welsh flag and top seemed more than happy to spend the evening with the mammoth. Woolly says – as more and more people tried to find a place to sit, Sophia and I discussed the brilliance of the headlining act. 2 Cellos are a Croatian cello duo, consisting of classically trained Luka Šulić and Stjepan Hauser. They are best known for their adaptations of pop and rock songs and were a particular favourite of mine on youtube. Having met as teens the two cellists were sometimes considered rivals, competing against each other in music contests until starting together in 2010 using their "BaRock" style (Baroque + Hard Rock) style which became an instant hit on social media...... oh boy was I excited.
With hardly a blade of grass left to use you could feel the anticipation building from the tiny tots to the retired, every age group seemed to love them and they were playing to their home crowd....it should be a good night. Woolly says – as the opening act finished and darkness surrounded us the cheers reached a crescendo as the opening strains of Vivaldi floated across the audience before the bows started moving faster than the eye could see and they launched into covers of Coldplay, U2 and then Michael Jackson, the crowds were lapping it up and as Jo tried to take photo’s in between jigging around no one could remain still. Better was to come as Nirvana’s ‘Smells like teen Spirit’ blasted from the stage with fireworks overhead, both of the men soaked through with strings flying off at the abuse they were putting their instruments and bows through as AC/DC's ‘Highway to Hell’ took over, the screaming intensified even more and streamers and sparkly bits filled the sky overhead before everyone belted out ‘Satisfaction’ from the Rolling Stones, each track got better and as they invited special guests onto the stage the party raged on.
As the last track started we were reluctant to leave but knowing that our last bus was long gone and the thousands of people would be heading for the taxi’s we started snaking our way through the heaving mass of bodies, erupting onto the pavement we realised that al the surrounding streets were full of cheering fans as well, as the incredible young men took there last bows we climbed into our vehicle with grins of delight. Woolly says – I waved a regretful goodbye from the back window as we moved off, all I can say is ..... if you get the chance to go and see them, even if you have to pay, DO IT! Having spent a day recovering and ignoring Woolly’s plea’s for cello lessons, hindered by the fact that his bestest friend Sion has a cello, we were ready for our second night of culture in the city. Woolly says – it’s not fair, I told Jo that I could earn squillions if she gave me the chance at cello, she muttered something about learning to play my guitar first..... I’d forgotten about that! Our evening started with a real treat, a curry! I know that might not be a treat for many but Indian restaurants are thin on the ground so far on our travels and this one was brilliant, having consumed my weight in samsoa’s, aloo gobi and a nan bread it appeared that we had enough to take home for snacks later, what a result! Ushering the ladies from our table I trotted through the main square and the rapidly filling streets towards the Croatian National Theatre, admiring once more the grandeur of the place I was looking forward to something slightly different on my first trip to the ballet.
Both Zoe and I have been to one or two performances in the past but for some reason the fur ball has managed to miss out, I just hoped he wouldn’t try joining the dancers on stage! Woolly says – This is one culture vulture that knows his limits...... I wonder where I can get ballet lessons! Tonight’s performance was that of the famous story of Peter Pan, fifty years after the world opening night in Zagreb, this was a return of the work that as composed in 1966 by the renowned composer Bruno Bjelinski. Having shown our tickets I dashed up the stairs and into our box..... sounds so posh, it wasn’t! I’ve seen shoe boxes and this was smaller, worse there were five chairs squeezed in and a terrible view of the stage, I looked balefully at Jo who didn’t look very pleased.
The only seats we had been able to acquire were in one of the boxes which sounded great but once the three of us were in the other two people who joined us made it very tight on space. Woolly says – trying to make the best of the situation while not stepping on anyone I took in the splendour of the theatre itself. On May 22nd 1894 more than two hundred workers began construction of the building while the paintings on the ceiling of the auditorium were created by the Viennese painter and decorator Alexander Demetrius Goltz. Having filled the auditorium with busts and seating the new theatre was ceremoniously opened on October 14
th 1895, it wasn’t as big as I had expected from the outside in fact it was quite small and although beautiful to look at the interior didn’t really live up to the magnificence of the exterior. As the lights dimmed and the orchestra struck up I watched as Tinkerbell flew onto the stage.
Given our limited view the mammoth sat absorbed in the performance, it wasn’t the best but the musical score was incredible and for a first trip to the ballet for my small friend the plot was easy to follow. Woolly says – It was quite funny in places but the dancers didn’t seem to be very together and the scenery was pretty basic not to mention noisy when being moved around, with no interval and no ice cream the whole show lasted for an hour and a half, would I see it again.....probably not, now when can I start ballet lessons!
Check out Zoe's vlog to hear and see some of the 2 cello's in concert (https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC6pGmNW3k10CGDXoPFsCStQ)
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D MJ Binkley
Dave and Merry Jo Binkley
Croatia
Glad you've had time for some music.