JAPANESE DONATE INSTRUMENTS TO ZAGREB PHILHARMONIC ORCHESTRA

ZAGREB, Jan 23 (Hina) - The Zagreb philharmonic, conducted by its former head, a distinguished Japanese conductor, Kazushi Ono, held a concert in the crowded "Vatroslav Lisninski" hall on Friday night to thank for a donation it received from the Japanese Government. Ahead of the concert instruments and musical equipment were donated to the Zagreb orchestra. On this occasion, Japanese Ambassador to Croatia, Keicuke Oba, addressed the audience and musicians. He voiced satisfaction with being able to forward a gift of the Japanese Government to such a respectable orchestra as the Zagreb philharmonic is. Pointing to the ties which the Zagreb orchestra has established with Japan, the ambassador said musical cooperation could help strengthen relations between Croatian and Japanese peoples. On behalf of the Croatian authorities, an assistant to the Culture Minister, Jagoda Martincevic, thanked the Japanese Ambassador and Government. The head of the Zagreb orchestra, Andjelko Ramuscak, said the philharmonic's members would play the donated instruments - trumpets, trombones, flutes and percussion- for the first time on this occasion. The musicians were also given a new harp, microphones and other items of the musical equipment. Thanking the Japanese Ambassador, Ramuscak presented him with the orchestra's gold coin with the image of Jakov Gotovac. He also presented the conductor Ono with a golden medal for his ten-year cooperation with the Zagreb philharmonic orchestra. (hina) ms