Pavle Dešpalj (1934-2021) : 
 Passacaglia and Fugue for Piano and Strings (Danijel Detoni, piano | String Section of the Symphony Orchestra of the Croatian radio and Television | Pavle Dešpalj, conductor);   Concerto for Alto Saxophone and Strings (Goran Merčep, alto saxophone | String Section of the Symphony Orchestra of the Croatian radio and Television | Pavle Dešpalj, conductor): Variations for Orchestra (Symphony Orchestra of the Croatian radio and Television | Pavle Dešpalj, conductor); Concerto for Violoncello and Strings (Pavle Zajcev, violoncello | String Section of the Symphony Orchestra of the Croatian radio and Television | Pavle Dešpalj, conductor); Concerto for Violin and Orchestra (Maja Dešpalj-Begović, violin | Symphony Orchestra of the Croatian radio and Television | Pavle Dešpalj, conductor). 2CDs.

Description: Pavle Dešpalj, the conductor and composer was born on 18 June 1934 in Blato on the island of Korčula; graduated from secondary school in Zadar in 1952; and earned a degree in composition at the Music Academy of the University of Zagreb under Prof. Stjepan Šulek in 1960. In Zadar in 1961, he founded the Zadar Chamber Orchestra and the festival called the Musical Evenings at St. Donatus. From 1962 to 1967, he was the chief conductor of the Zagreb Television and Broadcast Symphony Orchestra. He became the conductor of the Florida Symphony Orchestra and the Opera in Orlando, Florida in 1968, and served as the musical director from 1970 to 1981. From 1981 to 1986, he was the chief conductor of the Zagreb Philharmonic. From 1981 to 1983, he was also the music director of the Dubrovnik Summer Festival. From 1987 to 1995, he was full professor in conducting at the Music Academy in Zagreb. From 1995 to 1998, he was conductor of the Tokyo Geidai Philharmonic and professor at the Tokyo National University of Fine Arts. Since 1998 till 2012, he has been the chief conductor of the Croatian Chamber Orchestra. Between 2000 and 2009, he was the chief conductor of the Split Chamber Orchestra. He is furthermore guest conductor of distinguished Croatian orchestras, as well as of the Opera and the Ballet of the Croatian National Theatre. In the year 2010, he became the artistic leader and conductor of the Mozartinas – the Sunday matinees of the Slovenian Television and Broadcast Symphony Orchestra. Season 2011/2012, Mo. Dešpalj was again appointed chief conductor of the Croatian Radio and Television Symphonic Orchestra.