Ivan Zajc

Full biography Ivan Zajc

Ivan Zajc (1832-1914) was a prominent Croatian composer, conductor, director, and teacher who played a significant role in shaping the music and cultural scene of Rijeka, Croatia. He was born in Fiume, then part of the Austro-Hungarian Empire, and later moved to Vienna to study music. After completing his studies, he returned to his hometown, Rijeka, and started working as a composer, conductor, and director at the city's opera house, now known as the Croatian National Theatre Ivan pl. Zajc.

Zajc's career as a composer was prolific, and he wrote around a thousand works in various genres, including operas, operettas, symphonies, and chamber music. His most famous works include the opera "Nikola Šubić Zrinski," which he composed in 1876, and which is considered one of the most important Croatian operas of the 19th century.

Zajc was also an important cultural figure in Rijeka, where he was instrumental in the development of the city's cultural landscape. He founded the city's first music school and was instrumental in establishing the first public library in Rijeka. In addition to his work in Rijeka, Zajc was also active throughout Croatia and beyond, conducting and composing for various orchestras and opera companies.

Despite his significant contributions to Croatian music and culture, Zajc's work and legacy were largely forgotten after World War II. However, in recent years, there has been renewed interest in his music, and his works are being rediscovered and performed by contemporary musicians and ensembles. Today, Zajc is recognized as one of the most important figures in the history of Croatian music, and his legacy continues to inspire and influence musicians and cultural figures in Croatia and beyond.