Vesna Šouc
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Vesna Šouc | |
|---|---|
| Birth name | Vesna Šouc |
| Born | Zemun, SR Serbia, SFR Yugoslavia |
| Genres | Classical music, Opera, Ballet, Musical |
| Occupation(s) | Conductor, Music educator, professor |
| Labels | PGP-RTB, Mandala - Harmonia Mundi, NATAN |
| Website | www.vesnasouc.com |
Vesna Šouc is a Serbian conductor and music educator.[1] Her career is marked by successful leadership of symphony, opera, ballet, musical, and choral ensembles, as well as dedicated pedagogical work at the Faculty of Music in Belgrade, where she is a full professor and Head of the Conducting Department.[1][2]
Vesna Šouc's career represents a continuous interaction between her performing practice and pedagogical activities. The experience gained on the conductor's podium directly enriches her work with students, while her pedagogical work keeps her in constant contact with new generations. Simultaneously, she is active as a conductor in three significant Belgrade theatres: the National Theatre in Belgrade, the Madlenianum Opera and Theatre, and the Terazije Theatre.[2] Throughout her decades-long career, she has had hundreds of concert appearances[2] and conducted over two thousand theatre performances.[1]
Early life, family background, and education
[edit]Vesna Šouc was born in Zemun, into a well-known musical family. Her father, Mirko Šouc, was a prominent Serbian jazz musician – composer, arranger, conductor, pianist, vibraphonist, and vocalist. Vesna Šouc states that her father and professor Darinka Matić Marović were her greatest role models.[3]
She received her formal music education at the Faculty of Music in Belgrade. She first graduated from the Department of Music Pedagogy in October 1989, and then from the Department of Conducting in December 1990.[4] For her final conducting exam (a public concert), she received the "Petar Milošević" Fund Award as the best student of that year (1990).[4] She obtained her Master of Arts degree in conducting in March 1993, in the class of Professor Emerita Darinka Matić Marović.[4] The topic of her master's thesis was "Elements of Francis Poulenc's Musical Style in the Examples of the Concerts 'Champêtre' and the Concerto for Two Pianos and Orchestra in D minor".[4]
Building a conducting career: Key engagements and achievements
[edit]Throughout her career, Vesna Šouc has conducted over two thousand theatre performances (opera, ballet, musical).[1]
Theatrical activity
[edit]National Theatre in Belgrade
[edit]Vesna Šouc is a permanent conductor of the Opera at the National Theatre in Belgrade.[2] Previously, she also served as the Choir Master of the National Theatre Opera.[1]
| Title | Composer/Music Author | Type | Year/Period | Note | Source |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| L'italiana in Algeri | Gioachino Rossini | Opera | 2016 | Revival; conductor at the performance on May 22, 2016 | [5] |
| Queen Margot | Goran Bregović | Ballet | Conductor | [6] | |
| The Lady of the Camellias | Giuseppe Verdi / arr. | Ballet | Conductor | [7] | |
| The Barber of Seville | Gioachino Rossini | Opera | 2019 | Mentioned in critique | [8] |
| Twilight | Stevan Hristić | Opera | 2016 | Premiere, mentioned in critique | [8] |
Madlenianum Opera and Theatre
[edit]At the Madlenianum Opera and Theatre, Vesna Šouc is engaged as a permanent conductor,[2] and for a period, she was also the chief conductor of this house.[9] She received the Charter for exceptional long-term artistic contribution to the Madlenianum Opera and Theatre in 2019.[4][9]
| Title | Composer/Author | Type | Year/Period | Note | Source |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Company | Stephen Sondheim (music and lyrics), George Furth (book) | Musical | Conductor | [10] | |
| Mandragola | Ivan Jevtić (music), Vesna Miladinović (libretto after N. Machiavelli) | Comic opera | 2009 | World premiere December 16, 2009 | [11] |
| The Merry Widow | Franz Lehár | Operetta | 2020 | Premiere in February 2020 | [9] |
| La Vie parisienne | Jacques Offenbach | Operetta | 2022 (announced) | Conductor at the premiere on October 1, 2022 | [12] |
Terazije Theatre
[edit]At the Terazije Theatre, Vesna Šouc holds the position of musical director, i.e., chief conductor.[2] For her work, she received the Annual Award for the premiere of the musical The Phantom of the Opera in 2017, as well as the Annual Award of the Terazije Theatre in 2016.[4] She conducted the musical The Drowsy Chaperone, for whose orchestral performance she received praise from the author Lisa Lambert.[13]
| Title | Composer/Author | Year/Period | Note | Source |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| The Phantom of the Opera | Andrew Lloyd Webber | 2017 | Awarded premiere | [4] |
| The Drowsy Chaperone | Lisa Lambert, Greg Morrison (music and lyrics); Bob Martin, Don McKellar (book) | 2019 | Author's praise for orchestral performance | [13] |
Serbian National Theatre in Novi Sad
[edit]Vesna Šouc is also engaged as a conductor at the Serbian National Theatre in Novi Sad.[2]
Symphonic, concert, and choral activity
[edit]She has performed in over six hundred concerts.[2] She has conducted all symphony orchestras in Serbia and has led the Symphony Orchestra of the Faculty of Music in Belgrade.[1] She has collaborated with numerous chamber ensembles, including the Belgrade Chamber Orchestra "Dušan Skovran", St. George Strings, RTS Chamber Orchestra, Novi Sad Chamber Orchestra, and the Chamber Orchestra of the School for Music Talents from Ćuprija.[1]
Her international career includes performances at venues such as Salle Gaveau in Paris and the Alexandrinsky Theatre in Saint Petersburg.[1] She has conducted renowned foreign orchestras: Riga Philharmonic (Latvia), MATÁV Symphony Orchestra Budapest (Hungary), Szeged Symphony Orchestra (Hungary), Presidential Symphony Orchestra Ankara (CSO, Turkey), Istanbul Symphony Orchestra (Turkey), Bursa Symphony Orchestra (Turkey), Sarajevo Philharmonic (Bosnia and Herzegovina), Banja Luka Philharmonic (Bosnia and Herzegovina), and the Narni Festival Symphony Orchestra (Italy).[1][2] She has performed in France, Germany, Russia, Italy, Denmark, Switzerland, Latvia, Greece, Slovakia, Canada, Turkey, Hungary, Slovenia, Croatia, Republika Srpska, Bosnia and Herzegovina, North Macedonia, and Spain.[1]
In the domain of choral conducting, she was the founder and conductor of the "Branko Radičević" and "Belcanto" choirs, and also led the "Lola" choir.[2]
Repertoire policy and artistic expression
[edit]Vesna Šouc's repertoire includes works from the world's classical heritage, as well as works by contemporary authors, including a large number of premiere performances.[1] Examples include the world premiere of the comic opera "Mandragola" by Ivan Jevtić[11] and the Serbian premiere of Alfred Schnittke's work in collaboration with violinist Mina Mendelson.[14]
Vesna Šouc's artistic philosophy emphasizes that "a conductor does not exist without an ensemble," highlighting the importance of teamwork and mutual trust.[3] She perceives music as a "universal language that evokes emotions."[3] Critics often highlight her "graceful, rhythmic gesturing," "captivating composure," ability to "keep everything under control with a magic wand," "defined and penetratingly musical tone," as well as "strong artistic credibility and extreme charm."[8]
Pedagogical contribution
[edit]Faculty of Music in Belgrade
[edit]Vesna Šouc is a full professor at the Conducting Department of the Faculty of Music in Belgrade and the head of that department.[2]
Guest lectures
[edit]She was a visiting professor at Bilgi University in Istanbul (Turkey) and the Academy of Arts in Banja Luka (Republika Srpska).[2]
Discography and permanent recordings
[edit]CD releases
[edit]Vesna Šouc has recorded six CDs, three of which were released by foreign labels.[1][2]
| Album Title/Description | Orchestra | Soloists | Key works on the program | Producer/Label | Year | Source |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Music of Ivan Jevtić | Novi Sad Chamber Orchestra | Eric Aubier (trumpet), Snežana Savičić (soprano) | "Que le jour est beau", "Eissplitter", 11 poems by Irène Speiser | Mandala - Harmonia Mundi (Paris) | 2003 | [15] |
| Concert with the Belgrade Philharmonic (live) | Belgrade Philharmonic Orchestra | Konstantin Bogino (piano), Paavali Jumppanen (piano) | J. Sibelius - Finlandia Op. 26, F. Poulenc - Concerto for Two Pianos and Orchestra in D minor, G. Gershwin - Rhapsody in Blue | NATAN (Belgrade) | 1999 | [15] |
| Gala Opera Concert with the Istanbul Symphony Orchestra (live) | Istanbul Symphony Orchestra | Eglise Gutiérrez, Burak Bilgili, Şenol Talinli, Özay and Önay Günay | Gala Opera Concert | Istanbul Symphony Orchestra | 2005 | [15] |
Permanent recordings for media
[edit]She has made numerous permanent recordings for domestic and foreign radio and television programs.[1] Her official website lists recordings of concerts with the RTS Symphony Orchestra, "Dušan Skovran" Chamber Orchestra, FMU Symphony Orchestra, Bursa Symphony Orchestra, Istanbul Symphony Orchestra, as well as video recordings for Radio Television of Serbia (concerts, opera "The Fearless Boy").[15]
Awards, recognitions, and critical reception
[edit]| Award/Recognition Name | Year | Institution/Rationale | Source |
|---|---|---|---|
| Charter for exceptional long-term artistic contribution | 2019 | Madlenianum Opera and Theatre | [4] |
| Annual Award of the Terazije Theatre | 2017 | For the premiere of the musical The Phantom of the Opera | [4] |
| Annual Award of the Terazije Theatre | 2016 | [4] | |
| Silver Plaque of the University of Arts | 2004 | University of Arts in Belgrade | [4] |
| Golden Badge of the Cultural and Educational Community of Serbia | 1995 | Cultural and Educational Community of Serbia | [4] |
| October Prize of the City of Zemun | 1992 | For achievements in the field of music | [4] |
| Student October Prize of the City of Belgrade | 1992 | For outstanding achievements and concert activity domestically and internationally | [4] |
| "Petar Milošević" Fund Award | 1990 | For the best final conducting exam – concert | [4] |
Vesna Šouc's concerts and theatre performances are regularly accompanied by exceptionally positive reviews.[8]
References
[edit]- ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m "Biography - Vesna Šouc". Vesna Šouc. Conductor. Retrieved 2025-05-13.
- ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m "Vesna Šouc Tričković, MMus - Faculty of Music". Faculty of Music. Retrieved 2025-05-13.
- ^ a b c "Vesna Šouc, conductor: A conductor does not exist without an ensemble". CorD Magazine (in Serbian). December 2023. Retrieved 2025-05-13.
- ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m n o "Education & Prizes - Vesna Šouc". Vesna Šouc. Conductor. Retrieved 2025-05-13.
- ^ "OPERA OF THE NATIONAL THEATRE IN BELGRADE - CASTS FOR MAY". Narodno pozorište u Beogradu (in Serbian). Archived from the original on 2016-05-26. Retrieved 2025-05-13.
- ^ "Kraljica Margo (Queen Margot)". Narodno pozorište u Beogradu (in Serbian). Retrieved 2025-05-13.
- ^ "Dama s kamelijama (The Lady of the Camellias)". Narodno pozorište u Beogradu (in Serbian). Retrieved 2025-05-13.
- ^ a b c d "Critics - Vesna Šouc". Vesna Šouc. Conductor. Retrieved 2025-05-13.
- ^ a b c "Vesna Šouc Tričković". Opera & Theatre Madlenianum. Retrieved 2025-05-13.
- ^ "COMPANY". Opera & Theatre Madlenianum (in Serbian). Retrieved 2025-05-13.
- ^ a b "MANDRAGOLA". Opera & Theatre Madlenianum (in Serbian). Retrieved 2025-05-13.
- ^ ""MADLENIANUM" OPENS JUBILEE SEASON WITH MUSICAL SPECTACLE: Jacques Offenbach's operetta "Parisian Life" premieres on October 1". Novosti (in Serbian). 2022-07-15. Retrieved 2025-05-13.
- ^ a b "American author at the Belgrade premiere". Politika (in Serbian). 2019-10-18. Retrieved 2025-05-13.
- ^ "Mina Mendelson - Home". Fakultet umetnosti Niš (in Serbian). Retrieved 2025-05-13.
- ^ a b c d "Recordings - Vesna Šouc". Vesna Šouc. Conductor. Retrieved 2025-05-13.
External links
[edit]- Official website of Vesna Šouc
- Vesna Šouc Tričković on the website of the Faculty of Music
- Vesna Šouc Tričković on the website of the Madlenianum Opera and Theatre
- Serbian conductors (music)
- Yugoslav conductors (music)
- Serbian music educators
- Recipients of the October Prize of the City of Belgrade
- Recipients of the Golden Badge of the Cultural and Educational Community of Serbia
- University of Arts in Belgrade alumni
- University of Arts in Belgrade people
- Living people