THE 100TH ANNIVERSARY OF THE BIRTH OF THE COMPOSER VLAHO PALJETAK

Motif: Portrait of Vlaho Paljetak Vlaho Paljetak was born in Dubrovnik in 1893, he graduated from a teaching college in Arbanasi near Zadar, and, for a brief period , worked as a teacher on the islands of Hvar and Vis. In 1918 he moved to Zagreb anf got a job in the Croatian National Theatre as an opera prompter. He spent the rest of his working life in the prompter's pit helping forgetful opera singers. Paljetak was a singer-songwriter, too. He was to became the most popular singer in Croatia over a period of twenty-five years. It was through performances in Zagreb's popular cabarets that Paljetak and his guitar won the hearts of all classes in society. He gave his listeners a mixture of cheap tears and sincere emotion; his music held the irresistible charm of the Mediterranean and an incomparable musical talent. Paljetak was not only a popular singer, but also a fine songwriter. Certainly the greatest compliment paid to Paljetak is the fact that his songs "Fala", "Popevke sem slagal", "Adio Mare" and "Marijana" are considered to be original folk-songs. The stamp was printed in sheets of 20 pieces each. HPT issued a first day cover (FDC) and a commemorative sheet.