Marko Kalajanović, Baritone, Principal Opera Artist of National Theatre Sarajevo, was born in Serbia. He completed his graduate and postgraduate studies of music – including acting and stage movement – in the class of Professor Emerita Radmila Bakočević at the Academy of Fine Arts in Belgrade. After finishing academic studies, he continue vocal consultations with Maestro Paolo de Napoli in Italy.
He sang main baritone roles in Belgrade National Theatre (Serbia), in Serbian National Theatre Novi Sad (Serbia), Slovene National Theatre Maribor (Slovenia), Croatian National Theatre in Zagreb (Croatia), National Theatre Sarajevo (Bosnia and Herzegowina) and in Montenegrin National Theatre in Pogorica (Montenegro).
In 2007 and 2008 he was awarded a scholarship by the CEE Musiktheater Foundation in Vienna. He was recognized for his artistic potential by the Ministry of Youth and Sports of Serbia, and awarded the National Prize for the most successful young talent in 2008. Along with numerous awards in Serbia, he also won a Prize in the opera singing competition ‘Ondina Otta’ in Maribor, Slovenia.
He worked with distinguished opera singers, conductors and teachers, such as Paolo de Napoli, Živan Saramandić, Ljubodrag Begović, Enza Ferrari, Marko Letonja, Pietro Rizzo, David Crechenzi, Francesco Rosa, David T. Heusel, Benjamin Pioneer, Marco Boemi, Simon Robinson, Bruno Nicoli, Gianni Fabrini, and many others.
Marko’s Opera Roles include:
Renato (Un ballo in maschera, G. Verdi)
Ezio (Attila, G. Verdi)
Germont (La Traviata, G.Verdi)
Rodrigo (Don Carlos, G.Verdi)
Figaro (Il Barbiere di Siviglia, G. Rossini)
Onegin (Eugene Onegin, P.I. Tchaikovsky)
Don Giovanni (Don Giovanni, W.A. Mozart)
Papageno (Die Zauberflöte, W.A. Mozart)
Enrico (Lucia di Lamermoor, G. Donizetti)
Michonet (Adriana Lecouvreur, F.Cilea)
Marcello (La Boheme, G. Puccini)
Belcore (L’elisir d’amore, G. Donizetti)
Escamillo (Carmen, G.Bizet)
Malatesta (Don Pasquale, G. Donizetti)
Biscroma (Le convenienze ed inconvenienze teatrali – Viva la mamma, G. Donizetti)
L’impresario (Le convenienze ed inconvenienze teatrali – Viva la mamma, G. Donizetti)
Krušina (Prodaná nevěsta, Bedřich Smetana)
Ben (The Thelephone, G. Menotti)
Paul (Les Enfants Terribles, Philip Glass)
Costantino il Grande (In hoc Signo, M. Frisina)
Sima (Ero s onoga svijeta, J. Gotovac)
Redžep Aga (Na uranku, S. Binički)
Nikola Tesla (Melanholični snovi grofa Save Vladislavića, S. Božić)
Jež (Ježeva kuća, Z. Vauda)
Maestro (Iza operskih kulisa, V. Milanković)
Smail-aga Čengić (Zmaj od Bosne, A. Horozić)
Babo Alibeg (Alma, J. Osmanagić)
He was especially acclaimed for his performance in the role of Paul in Philip Glass’s opera Les enfants terribles, during its premiere in Belgrade. Critics and audience found his voice, artistic talent, charisma and passion remarkable.
In July 2012 Marko sang role of Belcore in Donizetti’s opera L’elisir d’amore at the festival ‘Opera in Piazza Giuseppe Di Stefano’ in Oderzo, Italy, with Slovene Theatre in Maribor.
As solo bariton, in February 2017 Marko sang Beethoven’s 9th Symphony at the Sapporo Concert Hall Kitara in Japan, with Young Hokkaido Philharmony. He has extensive experience in performing orthodox sacral music, and performed numerous recitals of classical music. He also sang at gala concerts and special events.
Marko is the recipient of the Annual award of the Association of Musical Artists of Serbia, as the best young artist in 2011.