Since 1977 Jatic has been one of the leading soloist of The Opera of The Serbian National Theatre in Novi Sad. He has sung over sixty roles - in Serbian and in original languages - in operas by Italian, French, German, Russian and Yugoslav composers. Of particular notice are the roles of: Kecal (in The Bartered Bride, by B. Smetana); Galitzky and Konchak (in Prince Igor, by A. Borodin); King Rene (in Iolantha, by P. Tchaikovsky); Philip (in Don Carlos, by G. Verdi); Agata (in Viva la Mamma, by G. Donizetti); Zacharia (in Nabucco, by G. Verdi), Sarasto (in The Magic Flute, W. A. Mozart); Guardian (in The Force of Destiny, by G. Verdi)...

As a member of his theatre resident opera company Jatic performed during many visiting tours throughout the former Yugoslavia and abroad, particularly in Romania, Hungary and Italy. Jatic was appointed the Artistic Director of The Opera of The Serbian National Theatre in two terms of office.

He has been the author and, also, a translator of a large number of published papers about the art of opera. His translations also include the librettos of two of Tchaikovsky's operas (Iolantha and The Maid of Orleans) and of one by Rimsky-Korsakov (Mozart and Salieri). He also was a producer of the opera The Barber of Sevilla by G. Rossini at The Serbian National Theatre in the season 1991/92. Jatic was invited guest singer at all the opera houses of the former Yugoslavia. His international career started in 1986, with the role of Sparafucile (in Rigoletto, by G. Verdi) at The Summer Festival in Szeged (Hungary), followed by invitations to sing at the festivals in Zvolen (Slovakia), Constanza (Romania) and Bregenz (Austria).

He took part in the great Aida performance project in Hong Kong, with The Orchestra of The Beijing Opera and The Chorus of Hong Kong Philharmonic, with the soloist Ruzha Pospish Baldani (Croatian National Theatre, Zagreb), Peter Wimberger (Vienna Staatsoper) and Leoni Michel and Franco Bonanome (Metropolitan Opera House).

Jatic has been a guest singer at many opera houses in Europe, notably in

• Banska Bystrica (Slovakia), role of Dulcamara in The Love Potion, by G. Donizetti;
• Bratislava (Slovakia), The National Opera of Slovakia, role of Baltazar in La Favorita, by Donizetti, and that of Raimondo in Donizetti's Lucia di Lammermoor;
• Brno (The Czech Republic), The Theatre "Leos Janacek", role of Ramfis in Aida, by G. Verdi;
• Moscow (Russia), The Theatre "Stanislavsky and Nemirovich-Danchenko", role of Rene in Iolantha by P.I. Tchaikovsky;
• Athens (Greece), The National Opera of Greece, role of Fiesco in Simon Boccanegra, by G. Verdi;
• Budapest (Hungary), The National Opera of Hungary, role of Zacaria in Nabucco, by G. Verdi and the principal role in Mefistofele, by Boito;
• Ruse (Bulgaria) role of Zacaria in Nabucco, by G. Verdi;
• Trieste (Italia), The Theatre "Verdi", role of Zaccaria in Nabucco, by G.Verdi;
• Kiev (Ukraina), The National Opera of Ukraine, role of Zacharia in Nabucco, by G. Verdi and that of Prince Ivan Khovansky in Khovanshchina, by M. Mussorgsky;
• Bucharest (Romania), The National Opera of Romania, role of Zacharia in Nabucco, by G. Verdi.

On his own, or with the companies of the above opera houses, Jatic has been a guest singer in Austria, Cyprus, Switzerland, the Netherlands, Germany and Belgium.

Branislav Jatic also performs as a concert singer. Besides an extensive repertoire of songs, he also performs as a member of greater ensembles, those including soloists, chorus and orchestra. This part of his repertoire includes:

• R. Bruchi, Voivodina, cantata;
• T. Hartig, The Flowers of Evil, cantata for a bass solo, chamber orchestra, choir and percussion instruments;
• S. S. Mokraniac, Liturgy;
• A. Gretchaninov, Liturgia domestica;
• J. S. Bach, G Minor Mass;
• W. A. Mozart, C Major Mass (Coronation Mass);
• A. Dvorak, Requiem;
• E. Tabakov, Requiem;
• G. Verdi, Requiem.

He has been one of the authors and performers of the concert project "The Four Slav Basses" in Belgrade, with the Belgrade Philharmonic Orchestra and guest conductor Vladimir Kozhuhar (in September 1997); and in Moscow, with the Russian State Radio and Television Orchestra, conducted by Igor Golovchin, The Russian State Academic Chorus "A. V. Sveshnikov", conducted by Igor Rayevski, and with the soloist L. Boldin, V. Pivovarov, and a bass singer of international reputation N. Giuselev (Metropolitan, Covent Garden, La Scala). This project has been conceived as a tribute to the memory of Feodor Ivanovich Shaliapin.

Jatic's performances were recorded by The Radio and Television of Novi Sad, and The State Radio and Television Companies of Hungary and Austria, respectively.

As a guest concert singer he performed abroad in Lugansk, Ukraine (a recital), in Bratislava, Slovakia (a concert of opera pieces, with Slovakian Philharmonic Orchestra, conducted by Ondrei Lenart, and with Peter Dvorsky, a tenor singer with high international reputation).

Jatic was a member of the jury at The International Singing Competition "I. S. Patrozynski" at Lugansk (Ukraina), and vice president of the jury of The International Competition "M. Lysenko" in Kiev (Ukraine).

He also does vocal teaching.

Jatic has twice been granted the Annual Award of The Serbian National Theatre for best performance in the respective seasons (the role of King Rene in Iolantha by Tchaikovsky, and that of Mamma Agata in Viva la mamma by Donizetti). On the occasion of his twentieth anniversary of succesful work he was granted The October Award of the city of Novi Sad, for his achievements in the fields of culture and art (1997). He was also granted "Jovan Djordjevic" Gold Medal for his contribution to the improvement of the art of opera performance in Federal Republic of Yugoslavia.

Jatic is about to finish the writing of his book entitled Shaliapin against The Eiffel Tower.

REVIEWS

G. Verdi: "LA FORZA DEL DESTINO" - DNEVNIK March 2, 1989

E. Gvozdenovic: "GUARDIAN", performed by Mr. Branislav Jatic - rich in voice, gentle in expression.
 

G. Verdi: "DON CARLOS" - DNEVNIK February, 11, 1990

M. Adamov: "Mr. Branislav Jatic performed the role of the Spanish king Philip II, employing his vocal and acting capabilities in a stirring manner. In expressing the whole tragedy, anger, grief, helplessness, sorrow, passion and resignation of an unloved king, husband and father, he conquered with his strength, warmth and a specific sonorous quality of his exceptional bass voice. His extraordinary interpretation will be remembered, and especially his great soliloquy from Act III, which, by its emotional warmth and richness, is considered to be one of the most powerful pages of operatic literature."
 

G. Donizetti: "VIVA LA MAMMA" - DNEVNIK January 7, 1992

THE EXPRESSED TALENT "The performer of the main role, the bass, Branislav Jatic, who is able not only to visualize the action, but also, by means of his narrative performance, to make it closer to the reality, represents a genuine pearl and the very soul of the performance. Having performed the role of mamma Agata, he has added another big achievement to his rich repertoire. He has proved his brilliant talent for the comic in performing a lady, gracefully and easily, in spite of his large stature. He has, in a charming way, acquired the manners of a lady who is ready to do anything for the success of her daughter who is performing for the fist time at an opera house. Mr. Jatic has skillfully added to his buffo role vocal components of the high bass register. It has seemed throughout the performance that the role of "mamma Agata" is as if tailored for him."
 

HUDOBNY ZIVOT No.1/94 January 19, 1994

Pavel Unger: "Branislav Jatic (Dulcamara), a new soloist of the ensemble (of the State Opera Banjska Bistrica), a bass singer from Serbia, is an experienced stage artist who self-confidently governs the stage and controls situation. His voice is resonant, pithy and stable, and as such, with its rich volume, predestinated for large spaces."
 

"FAUST" - RADIO NOVI SAD April 21, 1995 - April 24, 1995

Jozef Hadik: IN NOVI SAD, THE OPERA COULD BE CALLED MEPHISTOPHELES "The author named his opera "Faust", although he took only a part from Goethe's "FAUST", the part in which Margarete represents the central character. In order to make difference between the opera and and the work of the famous writer, the Germans named it MARGARETE. However, in Novi Sad, the opera could be performed under the title MEPHISTOPHELES, because Mr. Branislav Jatic, acting his character, governs the stage throughout the performance with his fascinating voice and acting. His interpretation conquers with the strength of an avalanche."
 

CH. Gounod: "FAUST" - DNEVNIK April 29 - 30 and May 1 - 2, 1995

Marija Adamov: An Opera Premiere - ROMANTIC LYRICISM "...The main dramatic role, preffered by all international bass singers, has been performed very convincingly by Mr. Branislav Jatic. He has dominated the stage and held the attention of the audience with his strong, nice and rich voice..."
 

A. Dvorak: MUSICAL CHRONICLE "REQUIEM" - POLITIKA April 3, 1996

Ana Kotevska: "The most successful parts of the "REQUIEM", such as the effective Dies irae and the meditative quartet of the soloists "Recordare", are completely in accordance with the culmination of the performance. The Quartet consisting of unequalized soloists, where the female side is overpowered by right side of male voices, has in our circumstances, performed an act of the heroic quality. It has achieved harmony with the laws of concert singing and strengthened itself through dialogues with the soloists of the orchestra, included in the score. In addition to Ms. D. Simic, who has showed intonational competence, but whose vocal expression is insufficient, and a very convincing Mr. Branislav Jatic, who, in some parts, has performed an independent bass sololoquy, Ms. Milena Kitic has also shone. A young tenor with a very good voice, has come as a surprise, from the class of Ms. Biserka Cvejic. The conductor, Mr. Tabakov, has held, without the score, the attention of 350 performers."
 

Concert on the 125th anniversary of the birth of F.I. Saljapin - the "Tchaikovsky" concert hall, Moscow, February 8, 1998

From the rewiev by A. Zurin, "TRUD" December 12, 1998: "Nobody has ever been able to reproduce the style of Saljapin. The exceptional four bass singers (L. Boldin, N. Giuselev, B. Jatic and V. Pivovarov) have even not tried to do that. Each of them has sounded in his own specific manner. There is a deep symbolism in the fact that none of them has betrayed the Saljapin's principle of the artistic truth: we have been presented a series of lived-through and deeply inspired interpretations, each of them individually coloured and marked with unique vocal and psychological qualities of each of the singers."
 

S. Rachmaninov: "ALEKO" - MAGYAR SZO December 28, 1999

G. Fulop: "Mr. Branislav Jatic has dominated the stage in his role of the Old Gipsy. He has a genuine Slavic bass voice, dark and racy. Other performers have not been able to follow the level imposed by Mr. Jatic in the very beginning of the performance, due to the difference in their vocal possibilities."

Contact details and further information

Felegi Tivadora 1,
21000 Novi Sad,
Yugoslavia

Tel: +381 (0)21 33 29 96
GSM: +381 (0)63 590 538
Fax: +381 (0)21 46 84 45

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