The chanson as a musical form came to life at the Zagreb Festival of Popular Music in 1964, when a group of authors presented songs to the audience that, through their lyrical and musical quality, opened new horizons in the world of music. Quickly embraced by the cultural public, this form became known as the Zagreb School of Chanson. Despite its success, festival evenings dedicated to chanson disappeared from the scene, although chanson became a key part of Croatian and Zagreb’s musical heritage.
In 1998, with the aim of reviving the Zagreb School of Chanson, Hrvoje Hegedušić, Hrvoje Markulj, Dalibor Paulik, Zvonko Špišić, and Zvonko Zidarić launched Chansonfest. This festival not only gathers renowned authors of the genre but also provides a platform for new talents and sensibilities. As an urban genre, chanson reflects contemporary life in a unique, poetic way, suitable for our cultural setting.
The first Chansonfest featured a concert evening dedicated to the work of Zvonimir Golob, while subsequent years focused on the poet Željko Sabol and Croatian wartime chansons. Each year, Chansonfest has hosted prominent authors and performers from abroad, including artists from Austria, the Czech Republic, France, Italy, Macedonia, Poland, Slovenia, and Ukraine. Croatian artists who enriched the festival with their performances include Arsen Dedić, Ibrica Jusić, Lada Kos, Gabi Novak, Lidija Bajuk, Hrvoje Hegedušić, Radojka Šverko, Zrinko Tutić, Ksenija Erker, Vladimir Kočiš Zec, Rajko Dujmić, Dražen Žanko, Alka Vuica, Jakša Fiamengo, Krešo Blažević, Aljoša Šerić, Nina Romić, Zvonko Zidarić, Zvonko Špišić, and many others. Chansonfest significantly enriches the cultural offerings of our community.
With the intention of improving the festival’s organization, Hrvoje Markulj, Zvonko Špišić, and Zvonko Zidarić founded the Artistic Organization Chansonfest in 2003. Hrvoje Markulj, as the festival director, has been passionately leading this event, which year after year solidifies its place on Croatia’s cultural scene, nurturing tradition while opening new paths in the world of chanson.
