11 Facts About Ivan Zajc

Ivan Dragutin Stjepan Zajc was born in Fiume, modern-day Rijeka, Croatia.

Ivan Zajc's family migrated from Pressburg, Kingdom of Hungary ; his father, Johann Zaytz, was of Czech descent, and his mother, Anna Bodensteiner was of German descent.

Ivan Zajc studied in Milan from 1850 to 1855, under the supervision of Stefano Ronchetti-Monteviti, Alberto Mazzucato, and Lauro Rossi.

Ivan Zajc was awarded first prize at his graduation examination for the opera La Tirolese, which was performed on stage in the same year.

In 1860, his opera Amelia ossia Il Bandito was met with great success, though two years later, after a prolonged illness, Ivan Zajc chose to move to Vienna, where opera and theatre were flourishing.

Ivan Zajc's eight-year stay there was marked by further success, though he settled for composing operettas rather than operas.

Yet it was in Vienna that Ivan Zajc became involved with the Croatian academic society Velebit and frequently met with young Croatian students.

Ivan Zajc was an excellent vocal teacher and succeeded in training several prominent singers.

Ivan Zajc was an exceptionally prolific composer, as evidenced by almost 1000 works, from Op.

Ivan Zajc is credited with reviving Croatian music during a period of musical stagnation after the collapse of the Illyrian Movement and raising it to the artistic level where it stands today.

Ivan Zajc's efforts paved the way for new and significant Croatian musical achievements in the early 20th century, which Zajc himself lived to see up to his death on December 16,1914 in Zagreb.