Alfi Kabiljo
Encyclopedia
Alfi Kabiljo (ˈâlfi kaˈbǐˑʎo; born on December 22, 1935 in Zagreb
, Croatia
) is a Croatian composer and musician
. He has been composing for over 60 years. During that time he has created an opus of more than 40 film and more than 100 episode soundtrack
s, eleven musical theaters
, two musical film
s and two ballet
s. His musical theaters have been performed over 2000 times.
He was taught music by the Croatian composer Rudolf Matz
and later enrolled the Vatroslav Lisinski
music school
. Roger Samyn helped him brush up his composing skills. Although he received a degree on the Faculty of Architecture of the University of Zagreb
, Alfi Kabiljo has never made use of it. He has spent most of his life in the Zagreb neighborhood of Šalata
, although he stayed in Paris
for a short while. Kabiljo is a former president of the Croatian Composers' Society
and a member of the FIDOF organization.
Alfi wrote his first song when he was eight years old. Since then, he has written soundtracks for various films, including the 1991 film Scissors
, starring Sharon Stone
and Ronny Cox
, and the 1986 film The Girl
. He has also written soundtracks for over 100 television episodes, including the Croatia
n TV mini-series Ljubav ili smrt, based on a novel by Ivan Kušan
, the TV series Ne daj se Floki, and series about the famous inventor Nikola Tesla
. His songs have been sung by award-winning singers such as Ivo Robić
and Tereza Kesovija
.
Kabiljo's best-selling and best known work is the musical Jalta, Jalta
, for which he received the 2004 Porin
award for the magnum opus
. To date, the musical has been released in audio format three times and it had its first premiere
in 1971. All three releases have been sold out decades ago.
Zagreb
Zagreb is the capital and the largest city of the Republic of Croatia. It is in the northwest of the country, along the Sava river, at the southern slopes of the Medvednica mountain. Zagreb lies at an elevation of approximately above sea level. According to the last official census, Zagreb's city...
, Croatia
Croatia
Croatia , officially the Republic of Croatia , is a unitary democratic parliamentary republic in Europe at the crossroads of the Mitteleuropa, the Balkans, and the Mediterranean. Its capital and largest city is Zagreb. The country is divided into 20 counties and the city of Zagreb. Croatia covers ...
) is a Croatian composer and musician
Musician
A musician is an artist who plays a musical instrument. It may or may not be the person's profession. Musicians can be classified by their roles in performing music and writing music.Also....* A person who makes music a profession....
. He has been composing for over 60 years. During that time he has created an opus of more than 40 film and more than 100 episode soundtrack
Soundtrack
A soundtrack can be recorded music accompanying and synchronized to the images of a motion picture, book, television program or video game; a commercially released soundtrack album of music as featured in the soundtrack of a film or TV show; or the physical area of a film that contains the...
s, eleven musical theaters
Musical theatre
Musical theatre is a form of theatre combining songs, spoken dialogue, acting, and dance. The emotional content of the piece – humor, pathos, love, anger – as well as the story itself, is communicated through the words, music, movement and technical aspects of the entertainment as an...
, two musical film
Musical film
The musical film is a film genre in which songs sung by the characters are interwoven into the narrative, sometimes accompanied by dancing. The songs usually advance the plot or develop the film's characters, though in some cases they serve merely as breaks in the storyline, often as elaborate...
s and two ballet
Ballet
Ballet is a type of performance dance, that originated in the Italian Renaissance courts of the 15th century, and which was further developed in France and Russia as a concert dance form. The early portions preceded the invention of the proscenium stage and were presented in large chambers with...
s. His musical theaters have been performed over 2000 times.
He was taught music by the Croatian composer Rudolf Matz
Rudolf Matz
Rudolf Matz was born September 19, 1901 in Zagreb, Croatia he died in 1988 and he had written more than 300 instrumental and vocal compositions....
and later enrolled the Vatroslav Lisinski
Vatroslav Lisinski
Vatroslav Lisinski was a Croatian composer.Lisinski was born Ignaz Fuchs to a German Jewish family...
music school
Music school
The term music school refers to an educational institution specialized in the study, training and research of music.Different terms refer to this concept such as school of music, music academy, music faculty, college of music, music department or conservatory.Music instruction can be provided...
. Roger Samyn helped him brush up his composing skills. Although he received a degree on the Faculty of Architecture of the University of Zagreb
University of Zagreb
The University of Zagreb is the biggest Croatian university and the oldest continuously operating university in the area covering Central Europe south of Vienna and all of Southeastern Europe...
, Alfi Kabiljo has never made use of it. He has spent most of his life in the Zagreb neighborhood of Šalata
Šalata
Šalata is an upper-class residential neighborhood in Zagreb, Croatia. It is administratively part of the Gornji Grad - Medveščak city district in the northern part of Zagreb and it has a population of 1,929....
, although he stayed in Paris
Paris
Paris is the capital and largest city in France, situated on the river Seine, in northern France, at the heart of the Île-de-France region...
for a short while. Kabiljo is a former president of the Croatian Composers' Society
Croatian Composers' Society
Croatian Composers' Society is a professional organization of composers in Croatia.HDS organizes the Music Biennale Zagreb, an international festival of contemporary music, and Zagrebfest, a festival of Croatian popular music....
and a member of the FIDOF organization.
Alfi wrote his first song when he was eight years old. Since then, he has written soundtracks for various films, including the 1991 film Scissors
Scissors (film)
Scissors is a psychological thriller released in 1991. The film is directed by Frank de Felitta and stars Sharon Stone, Ronny Cox, and Steve Railsback.-Synopsis:...
, starring Sharon Stone
Sharon Stone
Sharon Vonne Stone is an American actress, film producer, and former fashion model. She achieved international recognition for her role in the erotic thriller Basic Instinct...
and Ronny Cox
Ronny Cox
Daniel Ronald "Ronny" Cox is an American character actor, singer-songwriter and guitarist.-Personal life:Cox, the third of five children, was born in Cloudcroft, New Mexico, the son of Lounette and Bob P. Cox, a carpenter who also worked at a dairy. He grew up in Portales, New Mexico...
, and the 1986 film The Girl
The Girl (1986 film)
The Girl is a 1987 British-Swedish drama film directed by Arne Mattsson and starring Franco Nero, Bernice Stegers and Christopher Lee. A middle-aged man becomes involved with a much younger girl, leading to a scandal.-Cast:...
. He has also written soundtracks for over 100 television episodes, including the Croatia
Croatia
Croatia , officially the Republic of Croatia , is a unitary democratic parliamentary republic in Europe at the crossroads of the Mitteleuropa, the Balkans, and the Mediterranean. Its capital and largest city is Zagreb. The country is divided into 20 counties and the city of Zagreb. Croatia covers ...
n TV mini-series Ljubav ili smrt, based on a novel by Ivan Kušan
Ivan Kušan
Ivan Kušan is a Croatian writer.Ivan Kušan was born in Sarajevo, in the family of Jakša Kušan, bookstore owner and one of the most respected members of local intelligentsia. The family moved to Zagreb in 1939. At the age of 10 Ivan Kušan discovered his writing talent and wrote his first...
, the TV series Ne daj se Floki, and series about the famous inventor Nikola Tesla
Nikola Tesla
Nikola Tesla was a Serbian-American inventor, mechanical engineer, and electrical engineer...
. His songs have been sung by award-winning singers such as Ivo Robić
Ivo Robic
Ivo Robić was Croatian singer and songwriter.-Domestic career:Robić began his career as a soloist with the Radio Zagreb Orchestra, while studying at the same time in Zagreb...
and Tereza Kesovija
Tereza Kesovija
Tereza Ana Kesovija is an internationally acclaimed Croatian singer, one of the most recognisable figures on the Balkan music scene, renowned for her wide vocal range and operatic style and one of the most important artists of the former Yugoslavia. She also had a very successful career in France...
.
Kabiljo's best-selling and best known work is the musical Jalta, Jalta
Jalta, Jalta
Jalta, Jalta is famous Croatian musical from 1971. Libretto for the musical was written by Milan Grgić, while director is Vlado Štefančić. Author of the music is famous Croatian composer Alfi Kabiljo...
, for which he received the 2004 Porin
Porin (music award)
Porin is Croatian music award founded by Croatian Phonographic Association, Croatian Musicians Union, Croatian Radiotelevision and Croatian Composers' Society.-Lifetime Achievement Award:...
award for the magnum opus
Masterpiece
Masterpiece in modern usage refers to a creation that has been given much critical praise, especially one that is considered the greatest work of a person's career or to a work of outstanding creativity, skill or workmanship....
. To date, the musical has been released in audio format three times and it had its first premiere
Premiere
A premiere is generally "a first performance". This can refer to plays, films, television programs, operas, symphonies, ballets and so on. Premieres for theatrical, musical and other cultural presentations can become extravagant affairs, attracting large numbers of socialites and much media...
in 1971. All three releases have been sold out decades ago.
External links
- Alfi Kabiljo's filmography at Fandango.com
- Alfi Kabiljo at Hollywood.com