Cultural updates in Croatia feature choral farewell and new music releases

The Josip Štolcer Slavenski Choir from Čakovec has bid farewell to its long-time conductor and artistic director, Senka Bašek-Šamec, at the national Choir Meeting in Bakar. Bašek-Šamec has led the ensemble since 2005, overseeing a period of significant success that included numerous national Golden Plaque awards and international recognition at festivals in Linz, Graz, and Bijeljina.

In the regional music scene, several new releases have emerged. Marko Purišić, performing as Baby Lasagna, released his second album, ‘End the Party’, which explores the pressures of sudden international success. Other notable releases include Vekac’s EP ‘III’ featuring Nikolija, Mate Ponjević’s single ‘O ljubavi’, and the Ljubljana-based trio Lelee, who released the single ‘Da živim’ in anticipation of a 2027 album.