With the premiere of the youth-oriented program "Listen to This!" (*Slušaj ovo!*) on Thursday, October 22, at the Lisinski Grand Hall, a new, dynamic, and entertaining approach to introducing classical music to younger generations was unveiled.

Featuring the HRT Symphony Orchestra under the baton of Pascal Rophé, along with witty stage sketches and active audience participation, the musical-theatrical project "Listen to This!" demonstrated that works by great composers remain relatable, exciting, and emotionally powerful for today’s generations.

The Orchestra and Youth on the Same Wavelength

The repertoire for this new project included works by renowned classical composers. The musical portion of the program opened with Aaron Copland’s *Fanfare for the Common Man*. Interspersed with engaging sketches—thematically (and linguistically) attuned to young people—were pieces by Felix Mendelssohn, Igor Stravinsky, John Cage, Frédéric Chopin, and other giants of classical music. This diversity of musical character and emotion served as a springboard for exploring the world of classical music and its connections to the everyday experiences of young people—ranging from nursery rhymes like "Frère Jacques" (*Bratec Martin*) and popular classics like The Beatles’ "All You Need Is Love" to the epic film scores of John Williams.

Primarily designed for young people aged 10 to 16, the "Listen to This!" program... Moving away from the traditional concert format—and with the help of multi-talented hosts Igor Jurinić, Jan Kovačić, and Vigo Kovačić—the event actively engaged the entire hall. The energy and passion of the performance were fueled by dynamic dialogue, charming humor, audience interaction, and a series of unexpected musical and theatrical moments. The young audience enjoyed witty adaptations of Papageno’s aria from Mozart’s *The Magic Flute*, as well as what is arguably the most famous choral excerpt from Croatian opera: "U boj, u boj" ("Into Battle, Into Battle") from Ivan pl. Zajc’s *Nikola Šubić Zrinski*. They clapped and stomped in unison to the rhythm of Maurice Ravel’s *Boléro* and were introduced to Mahler’s take on the melody "Bratec Martin" (Brother Martin)—featured in the third movement of his First Symphony—alongside a contemporary orchestral arrangement by one of the hosts, Vigo Kovačić.

The staged portion of the program featured a lightsaber duel between Jedi, while musical comparisons revealed connections between classical works and popular culture—linking John Williams’s "Hedwig’s Theme" from the *Harry Potter* film series to the "Dance of the Sugar Plum Fairy" from Tchaikovsky’s *The Nutcracker*, as well as Wagner’s "Ride of the Valkyries" to the theme from *Star Wars* by John Williams.

Another encounter in December

Produced by the Lisinski Concert Hall and the Croatian Radiotelevision, the project—brought to life by screenwriter Dora Delbianco, director Krešimir Dolenčić, and costume designer Iva Matija Bitanga—successfully demonstrated that classical music is not distant from the world of young people; rather, it is already part of their daily lives, woven into the films, series, and various other forms of media that surround them. A better understanding of music creates space for a deeper appreciation of its beauty, expressiveness, and emotional power.

The *Listen to This!* (*Slušaj ovo!*) program offered an energetic, theatrical musical experience that challenges preconceptions about classical music and opens doors for new generations of listeners. The first performance culminated in a grand, two-part finale: the main theme from *Star Wars* was followed by "The Great Gate of Kiev"—the final movement of Modest Mussorgsky’s suite *Pictures at an Exhibition*. Young audiences will have another opportunity for this unique musical encounter on December 17, when *Listen to This!* returns to the stage of the Lisinski Concert Hall.