The Daniel Marušić Award is awarded, with the support of ERSTE Bank, to interpreters for the best performance of a work by a Croatian composer. At the same time, it also pays tribute to composers, whether they are living composers or those who have already become part of our musical canon.
For many years, the Osor Musical Evenings have also presented, albeit intermittently, the Andrija Patricij Petrić Award to deserving performers, composers and cultural professionals who have helped promote Croatia’s musical and cultural heritage. The first such award went to pianist Vladimir Krpan in 1981, and to composer Natko Devčić in 1984 for the first performance of The Lyrical Scene for baritone, horn and strings. It was reintroduced at the beginning of the new millennium. The award, named after the Renaissance composer from Cres, was bestowed on pianist Pavica Gvozdić (2001), art restorer Josip Velnić (2002; for his contribution to the restoration of the Osor Cathedral), and our leading ensembles, the Zagreb Quartet (2002) and the Zagreb Soloists (2005).
The winners were awarded a bronze sculpture by academic sculptor and distinguished medalist Želimir Janeš (1916–1996), depicting the Osor church, the main site of the Festival’s events, with an ensemble in front of its central altar. In 2019, at the incentive of artistic director Branko Mihanović, the award was renamed in honor of the festival founder Daniel Marušić, whose repertoire guidelines the festival continues to follow. Behind the revival of this award lies the desire to showcase the best interpretation of a piece by a Croatian composer (this is a mandatory part of the program for every performer) in order to give greater prominence to these generally insufficiently known works.
