Serate Musicali: Tribute to Oliver

Summer, the scent of the sea, and timeless melodies of love will once again fill the enchanting setting beneath the walls of the Soardo-Bembo Palace. On Sunday, 12 July 2026, starting at 9:00 pm, Bale's main square will host the "Tribute to Oliver Dragojević", a musical evening dedicated to one of the greatest and most beloved voices of Croatian music.

The audience can look forward to an evening filled with songs that have marked generations—melodies celebrating love, the sea, and life, which continue to connect audiences of all ages. Oliver's timeless classics will be performed by singer David Danijel from Opatija, whose emotional interpretations and distinctive voice beautifully bring these songs to life, accompanied on piano by the distinguished pianist and professor Vladimir Babin.

We invite all lovers of good music to spend a memorable summer evening beneath the stars in Bale and join us in paying tribute to an artist whose songs continue to live in the hearts of audiences.

About the Performers

David Danijel

David Danijel, a singer and musician from Opatija, is known for his warm vocal tone and emotional performances that captivate audiences. Throughout his career, he has appeared at numerous music festivals, receiving awards from both professional juries and audiences, and has collaborated with some of Croatia's most renowned performers.

He has performed alongside Tereza Kesovija, Radojka Šverko, Zdenka Kovačiček, Jasna Zlokić and many other distinguished artists. He is also a frequent guest on television programmes, where he has gained wide recognition. His repertoire, performed in Croatian and several foreign languages, focuses primarily on romantic ballads that highlight both his expressive voice and musical sensitivity.

A particularly important part of his work is dedicated to multimedia concerts held at Gervais Hall in Opatija, celebrating some of the greatest names in Croatian popular music. Concerts honouring Ivo Robić, Betty Jurković, Ljubo Kuntarić and the Opatija music festivals have established him not only as an outstanding vocalist, but also as an author, presenter, director and an excellent expert on the history of Croatian popular music. Through archival recordings, video footage and conversations with musicians, friends and family members of the artists, he offers audiences a unique insight into Croatia's rich musical heritage.

Vladimir Babin

According to music critics, pianist Vladimir Babin is one of the leading representatives of his generation of Croatian pianists. He graduated in piano in 1985 from the Osijek Department of the Zagreb Academy of Music under Professor Sekošan, before completing postgraduate studies and earning his master's degree in 1989 in Belgrade under Professor Trbojević.

He has received numerous awards at piano competitions, including the University of Zagreb Rector's Award for Best Graduate. During his distinguished concert career, he has performed as a soloist, with orchestras and as a member of chamber ensembles in Croatia and abroad. He has recorded for television and radio and has released several recordings.

Since 1997, he has been a member of the faculty at the Academy of Music of the University of Zagreb. He progressed from assistant professor to full professor and served as Head and Artistic Director of the Rijeka Department from 2007 to 2017. Since the 2017/2018 academic year, he has been based at the Academy's main campus in Zagreb. To date, he has released five solo classical music CDs.