Where Music Meets Violin Making: Željko Ćatić and Trio 23 at TAU Gallery

The celebration of ARDEA’s 10th anniversary brought a special event to TAU Gallery, offering audiences a different perspective on classical music. This time, the focus was not only on performance, but also on the instrument itself – the violin, its creation, its sound and the story that begins long before a musician steps onto the concert stage.

The evening welcomed Dubrovnik-based violin maker Željko Ćatić, who introduced the audience to his work and to the intricate process of creating a violin. Through his presentation, visitors gained insight into the different stages of violin making, from selecting suitable wood and working with traditional tools to shaping, gluing and applying the instrument’s final finish.

A particularly interesting part of the presentation focused on violins handcrafted by Ćatić himself. Among them were instruments named “Paula” and “Pasko”, each carrying a personal and family story and illustrating how precision, craftsmanship and emotion can come together in the art of violin making.

Following the story of how an instrument is created, the evening continued with the very reason it exists – music.

The Čapljina audience was treated to a performance by Trio 23, featuring Paula Ćatić on violin, Đive Ćatić on cello and Damjan Vlašić on piano. The young musicians performed works by Luka Sorkočević, Johann Sebastian Bach, Niccolò Paganini, Clara Schumann and Astor Piazzolla, bringing together different periods and musical styles in a varied concert programme.

A particularly meaningful moment came with Paula Ćatić’s performance on the “Pasko” violin, an instrument crafted by her father, Željko Ćatić. The audience therefore had a rare opportunity to first discover the story behind the making of an instrument and then hear its voice come to life in performance.

Although Trio 23 has been performing together for a relatively short period, its members have already achieved notable success. Their previous appearances include performances at the Vatroslav Lisinski Concert Hall in Zagreb and the Rector’s Palace in Dubrovnik. As laureates of the national chamber music competition, they have also received the prestigious Oskar znanja award. Their artistic development is guided by mentors Dora Kamber, for violin and chamber music, and Vanda Đanić, for cello.

The event at TAU Gallery brought together two sides of the same artistic world: the patience, precision and craftsmanship required to create a fine instrument, and the talent, knowledge and dedication needed to bring that instrument fully to life through music.

Through events such as this, ARDEA continues to expand its concert and educational programme during its anniversary year, bringing classical music closer to audiences not only through performance, but also through the people, knowledge and craftsmanship behind it.

Below, you can view a photo gallery from the evening at TAU Gallery.

‍