March 29, 2009

Mihael Paar was particularly honoured receiving the invitation to perform at the Gala opening of the Passion Heritage, distinguished festival which annually takes place shortly before the eve of Easter in Zagreb and other Croatian cities. The acknowledgment is even greater as his festival collaborator – the famous Zagreb Quartet known as the Croatian oldest chamber ensemble and the oldest active string quartet in the world – celebrates its 90th birthday in the course of 2009. The special occasion brought us a special programme feature: Mozart’s Clarinet Quintet K581 saw the light through its Croatian Integral Premiere and thus was performed on the basset clarinet, with Mihael Paar as the first Croatian clarinetist ever to do so. The Gala event took place on March 29 in one of the most beautiful Croatian baroque churches – The St. Catherine’s in the historical Zagreb Upper Town. NOTE: Passion Heritage Festival is a member of the Europassion Association since 1998.