Vesna Podrug. Biography

VESNA PODRUG comes from Split in Croatia, where she received her first piano lessons from Professor G. Lentic. By the time she graduated from the Music School in Split in 1986, she had already won six first prizes at the National competitions.

As the winner of an “Ivo Pogorelich” scholarship, she was able to move to Vienna to further her studies with Professor Paul Badura-Skoda at the University for Music and the Performing Arts. In 1989 she was also awarded a scholarship from the Austrian Federal Ministery of Science and Research. She concluded her studies in 1992 and graduated with a Master of Arts degree. In autumn 2000 she completed her pedagogical education with distinction at the Vienna University of Music and Performing Arts.

Whilst studying Vesna Podrug also appeared as a soloist in many concerts, with orchestras and with various chamber music ensembles. She played together with the Vienna State Opera Orchestra (Vienna Philharmonic Orchestra), Croatian National Philharmonic Orchestra and many others; as well with Denyce Graves, Michael Kugel, Wladimir Kossjanenko, Soo Kyung Hong, Goran Listes, Isabell Bringmann, Martina Serafin, Miguelangelo Cavalcanti. She has performed in the Vienna Konzerthaus, in the Bösendorfer Hall, the Opera House in Graz, in Salzburg; played in TV and radio concerts for the ORF (Austrian Radio), at the festivals in Dubrovnik, Split, Bordeaux and also gave numerous concerts in Italy, Turkey, Great Britain and Germany.

Her first CD “Music for Viola” (Extraplatte), which was recorded with violist Wladimir Kossjanenko was released in 1999.

For many years she has combined her concert activities and accompaniment with various opera groups, master classes and competitions. Since 1998 she is engaged at the Vienna State Opera House and since 2002 at the Vienna Univesity for Music as accompanist.

In the season 2000 Vesna Podrug performed the Concerto No. 5 “The Emperor” by Ludwig van Beethoven with the Vienna State Opera Orchestra (Vienna Philharmonic) several times at the Vienna State Opera.

In 2002 her new CD “In Memoriam Shostakovich”, which she recorded with Michael Kugel was released on Extraplatte . In summer 2002 Vesna Podrug performed with the American mezzo-soprano Denyce Graves and violist Michael Kugel at the Festival in Dubrovnik.