Darko Domitrović and Miro Gavran received the international Golden Lion Award for Culture and Literature in Venice

The “Menotti ArtFestival Spoleto”, one of the most important international arts festivals held annually in Spoleto, Umbria, honored two Croatian artists during its award ceremony in Venice on Saturday, May 23. Composer Darko Domitrović and writer Miro Gavran received the international Golden Lion Award for Culture and Literature for their artistic work on the musical “Byron”.

Darko Domitrović accepted both awards at the ceremony held at Scoletta dei Calegheri in Venice.

During the event, a recording of Domitrović’s composition “Stelle perdute” was presented for the Italian-speaking market, released by Hit Records with lyrics by Italian poet Teresa Acquaviva. The composition is performed by Darko Domitrović, Ana Rucner and Sandra Bagarić.

Upon receiving the prestigious international award, Domitrović said:
“I feel truly honored that the work of Gavran and myself has been recognized in Italy as well. Our musical ‘Byron’ previously won the Croatian Theatre Award for Best Musical and Operetta and enjoyed a successful run at Komedija Theatre. What especially makes me happy is the realization that what Miro and I create is appreciated beyond the borders of our homeland. The award ceremony in Venice was a moment of joy for me, but also an opportunity to meet outstanding artists who have established themselves on the international scene.”

Following the success of “Byron,” Gavran and Domitrović continued their collaboration last year with the musical stage legend “The Coronation of King Tomislav,” premiered in Tomislavgrad, Mostar and Split in a co-production by HNK Mostar, HNK Zagreb and the Council of Branches of Matica hrvatska in Bosnia and Herzegovina.