The Duke Ellington Orchestra at Lisinski Concert Hall

Even before the tickets went on sale, the mere announcement that the Duke Ellington Orchestra was coming to Zagreb caused quite a stir among those who would come to the Lisinski Concert Hall on 4th October and enjoy some of the biggest hits by one of the greatest jazz composers of all time.

The famous Duke Ellington Orchestra will appear on the stage of the Vatroslav Lisinski Concert Hall on 4th October. Nearly 40 years after the death of the great composer Duke Ellington, the orchestra continues to delight audiences all over the world.

Music critics rank Duke Ellington among the greatest names in the history of jazz. Over the course of his impressive musical career he composed over a thousand pieces. The public still enjoys his evergreens, such as  “Mood Indigo”, “In a Sentimental Mood”, etc.

Besides being an excellent composer, Duke Ellington created his hits by adapting them to the character of the members of his orchestra, rather than to the instruments they played. He received a number of awards for his remarkable work, such as the 1966 Grammy Award for life-time achievement, and the Presidential Medal of Freedom in 1969, the highest civilian award in the United States. In 1973 he received the Legion of Honour from France.

His only son, Mercer Ellington, took over after his death in 1974 and led the orchestra until 1996. The orchestra is currently led by Duke's grandson Paul Ellington, who took over from his late father. Mercer Ellington had passed on his famous father's legacy to his son who is now spreading the family tradition all over the world.