Croatian musicians died when they were 65
Here are 2 famous musicians from Croatia died at 65:
Branko Pleše
Branko Pleše (January 12, 1915-March 28, 1980) was a Croatian personality.
He was a famous dancer and choreographer, as well as the founder of the Croatian National Ballet. Born in Petrinja, Croatia, Pleše began studying dance in Zagreb at the age of 12. He furthered his training in Paris, where he studied under renowned choreographers including Serge Lifar and Bronislava Nijinska.
After returning to Croatia in 1940, Pleše founded the Zagreb Ballet Ensemble, which later became the Croatian National Ballet. He served as the artistic director and choreographer for the company for over two decades, introducing new and innovative works inspired by Croatian folklore and culture.
Pleše received numerous awards and honors during his career, including the Vladimir Nazor Award, the highest cultural honor in Yugoslavia at the time. He also served as a professor of choreography at the Academy of Dramatic Art in Zagreb.
Through his work, Branko Pleše helped establish a distinct Croatian ballet style and contributed greatly to the development of dance in Croatia.
Pleše's choreographic works were noted for their incorporation of traditional elements of Croatian folk dances, such as circle formations and movements that imitated the patterns of folk embroidery. He also drew inspiration from classical ballet and contemporary dance, leading to a style that was uniquely Croatian yet innovative and modern. Pleše's most famous works include "Narcissus," "The Nutcracker," and "Breviary."
Throughout his career, Pleše collaborated with many notable artists, including composer Igor Kuljerić and painter Vjenceslav Richter. Pleše's impact on the cultural scene in Croatia was significant, and he is regarded as one of the most important figures in Croatian dance history. After his death in 1980, the Zagreb Dance Ensemble was renamed the Branko Pleše Zagreb Dance Company in his honor. Today, the company continues to perform and tour internationally, keeping Pleše's legacy alive.
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Franjo Rački
Franjo Rački (November 25, 1828 Fužine, Croatia-February 13, 1894 Zagreb) was a Croatian writer and politician.
Rački studied history and literature at the University of Vienna and later became a professor at the University of Zagreb. His research and writings focused on Croatian history and language, particularly the Middle Ages. Rački authored several well-known works, including "The History of the Croats in Hungary, Croatia-Slavonia, and Dalmatia" and "The Croatian National Movement in the Nineteenth Century."
In addition to his academic pursuits, Rački was also involved in politics. He served as a member of the Croatian Parliament and was a prominent figure in the Croatian National Revival movement. Rački used his political platform to advocate for greater autonomy and rights for the Croatian people within the Austro-Hungarian Empire.
Today, Rački is remembered as one of the most important figures in modern Croatian history, both for his contributions to scholarship and his political activism.
He was also a key member of the Matica Hrvatska, a cultural institution that played an important role in the promotion and preservation of Croatian language, literature, and culture. Rački's scholarship was highly influential in shaping the national consciousness of the Croatian people and strengthening their sense of identity. In addition to his research and political activities, Rački was also an accomplished translator and linguist. He translated several important works of literature into Croatian, including Dante's "Divine Comedy" and Shakespeare's plays, and helped to develop the Croatian language by standardizing its grammar and orthography. Rački's legacy continues to inspire and inform Croatian culture and society to this day.
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