Page 247 - Weiss, Jernej, ur./ed. 2026 Skladateljska društva nekoč in danes.../Composers’ Societies Past and Present...

The Sarajevo Period of Dane Škerl’s Artistic Activity
important musical institutions in Sarajevo: the Radio-Television Sarajevo
Orchestra, the Sarajevo Philharmonic, the Ballet of the National Theatre,
and the Academy of Music (see Appendices 2 and 3). His ballets, premiered
on the stage of the National Theatre in Sarajevo, achieved particular suc-
cess. Kontrasti, a ballet in one act with a libretto by Slavko Pervan (1936–
2024), is based on Škerl’s symphonic orchestral work of the same name
19
from 1961. It premiered on February 28, 1968. Grozdanin kikot, a ballet in
two acts, was composed to a libretto by Safet Pašalić (1907–1987), based on
the novel of the same name by the Bosnian-Herzegovinian writer Hamza
20
Humo (1895–1970). It premiered on December 21, 1969, on the occasion
of the 20th anniversary of the Ballet of the National Theatre in Sarajevo.
21
The ballets were also performed on tours: Kontrasti in Italy (Mirandola and
Bologna, 1969), and Grozdanin kikot in Bosnia and Herzegovina (Mostar,
1970, and Zenica, 1979). 22
His work received significant recognition and acclaim during his
stay in Sarajevo: he was awarded the Šestoaprilska nagrada [Sixth of April
Award] by the City of Sarajevo for his Symphony No. 2 in 1965. The follow-
ing year, in 1966, he received the Award of the Association of Composers of
Bosnia and Herzegovina for his Symphony No. 3. 23

19 The following individuals participated in the ballet production: the conductor Te-
odor Romanić, choreographer and director Slavko Pervan, and stage and cos-
tume designer Veselin Badrov, along with the performers Emina Kamberović, An-
tun Marinić and the Ballet Ensemble of the National Theatre in Sarajevo. Slobodan
Špirić, “Kontrasti,” in Narodno pozorište Sarajevo 1921–1971, ed. Josip Lešić (Saraje-
vo: Narodno pozorište, 1971), 268.
20 The following individuals participated in the ballet production: the conductor
Ivan Štajcer, choreographer and director Slavko Pervan, and the costume and set
designer Veselin Badrov, along with the performers Emina Kamberović (Grlica),
Antun Marinić (Ozren), Katarina Kocka (Grozdana) Nedžad Potogija (Grozdan),
Muhamed Imanić (Jure), Srećko Ćurić (Svrzimantija), Đorđe Milošević (Minda),
Nevenka Petrović (Ivanka), Ibro Paralović (Knez Trpimir). Drago Fišer, “Grozdanin
Kikot,” in Narodno pozorište Sarajevo 1921–1971, ed. Josip Lešić (Sarajevo: Narodno
pozorište, 1971), 193.
21 Zija Kučukalić, “Jubilej sarajevskog baleta. Premijera baleta ‘Grozdanin kikot’ Dan-
eta Škerla,” Zvuk, no. 102–103 (1970): 137–8.
22 Hamid Begić and Mehdija Mušović, “Gostovanja sarajevskog Narodnog pozoriš-
ta,” in Narodno pozorište Sarajevo 1921–1971, ed. Josip Lešić (Sarajevo: Narodno po-
zorište, 1971), 156, 157, 163.
23 S.N., “Dva djela će se uskoro izvesti. Odgovara kompozitor Dane Škerl,” Oslobođen-
je, September 15, 1968, 5.

247