Davor Nekjak by Marko Todorović 11_25

Davor Nekjak

Bariton

Soloist of the Croatian National Theatre in Zagreb
Davor Nekjak, a 27-year-old Macedonian baritone, is rapidly establishing himself as one of the most promising young opera singers in the region. A soloist of the Croatian National Theatre in Zagreb, Nekjak has already distinguished himself through a wide range of significant roles, a refined musicality, and collaborations with leading conductors, directors, and singers of the international opera scene.
He began his musical journey as a pianist, which laid the foundation for his deep musical understanding and artistry. He later pursued vocal studies at the Academy of Music in Zagreb under the mentorship of renowned soprano and pedagogue, Professor Vlatka Oršanić. During his studies, he made an early impression, debuting with the Zagreb Philharmonic and earning a nomination for the Croatian National Opera Award.

Really young at just 21 years he made his professional debut at the Croatian National Theatre in Zagreb in the role of Morales in Carmen and was awarded First Prize at the prestigious international singing competition “Mikuláš Schneider-Trnavský” in Slovakia.
In the 2021/2022 season, Nekjak joined the Opera Studio “Giorgio Surian” at the Croatian National Theatre in Rijeka, where the following year after he became a full soloist of the Rijeka Opera, performing leading baritone roles including Silvio in Pagliacci, Yeletski in The Queen of Spades, and Mercutio in Roméo et Juliette.
Since the 2023/2024 season, he has been engaged as a soloist with the Croatian National Theatre in Zagreb, where his presence on stage has been praised for its vocal warmth, expressive phrasing, and strong dramatic instincts.
Mr. Nekjak has performed over 20 operatic roles and qmong his most significant are Guglielmo (Così fan tutte), Silvio (Pagliacci), Yeletski (The Queen of Spades), Schaunard (La Bohème), Albert (Werther), and Papageno (The Magic Flute).
In the upcoming season, he is set to make his much-anticipated debut as Figaro in Rossini’s Il barbiere di Siviglia.
His growing career has brought him into collaboration with world-renowned conductors such as Maestro Pier Giorgio Morandi, and he has shared the stage with esteemed opera singers including Piotr Beczała, Željko Lučić, and Rame Lahaj. He has also worked with acclaimed stage directors like Mario Pontiggia and Arnaud Bernard, further enriching his artistic development.
With a rapidly expanding repertoire, strong stage presence, and a distinctive lyrical baritone voice, Davor Nekjak is a rising talent to watch on the European operatic stage.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lsAOy09ZUAI

Repertoire

Bach, J. S.

St. John Passion, BWV 245 – Christus
Bizet

Carmen – Morales
Britten

War Requiem – Bariton
Gotovac

Ero s onoga svijeta – Sima
Gounod

Roméo et Juliette – Mercutio
Leoncavallo

Pagliacci – Silvio
Massenet

Cendrillon – Pandolfe
Werther – Albert
Mozart

Le nozze di Figaro – Antonio
Die Zauberflöte – Pagageno
Così fan tutte – Guglielmo
Papandopulo

Amfitrion – Zeus
Puccini

Gianni Schicchi – Meister Amantio di Nicolao
La Bohème – Schaunard
Rossini

Il barbiere di Siviglia – Figaro
Strauss II

Die Fledermaus – Doctor Falke
Tschaikowski, P. I.

Pikovaya Dama – Fürst Jelezki
Verdi

Otello – Montano
Rigoletto – Marullo
Don Carlo (Italian version) – Rodrigo
Zajc

Nikola Šubić Zrinjski – Begler beg – Levi