Croatian folk ensemble LADO ends summer tour with concert in Tomislavgrad

The national professional folk ensemble of Croatia, LADO, performed a final concert of its 2024 summer tour on Friday evening in the municipal sports hall of Tomislavgrad, Bosnia and Herzegovina. The 90‑minute program showcased traditional Croatian dances, songs and costumes from all regions as well as the cultural heritage of Croats living abroad. Highlights included well‑known choreographies such as “Ladarki”, “Bunjevačko momačko kolo” and “Podravski svatovi”, and the premiere of the vocal‑instrumental piece “Ljubavne jačke iz Gradišća” arranged by Marko First.

The concert, organized by the Cultural‑Informative Centre Tomislavgrad, attracted a large audience whose reactions were described as especially emotional by soloist Petra Matutinović, who said, “When we feel a genuine connection with the audience, something special happens – that’s what we experienced tonight.” The tour, which began in late May, visited venues in Croatia, Bosnia and Herzegovina and North Macedonia before concluding in Tomislavgrad. After the concert, LADO will take its annual break and resume a new concert cycle in September. Founded in 1949, the ensemble comprises over 50 performers and is regarded as a leading promoter of Croatian traditional culture at home and abroad.