Ero the Joker is the best-known and most frequently performed work by Jakov Gotovac, and since its premiere in 1935, it has remained a constant presence on Croatian and international stages. This witty opera, with a libretto by Milan Begović, captivates audiences with its rich musical colour, lush orchestration, and lyrical vocal lines infused with the lively rhythms of the Dalmatian hinterland.

At the heart of the story is the resourceful Mića, a young man from a prosperous family in the Dalmatian Zagora, who disguises himself as a poor man and embarks on a romantic test to prove the sincerity of his beloved Đula’s love.

Since its premiere on October 2, 1935, at the Croatian National Theatre in Zagreb, the opera has been performed hundreds of times, translated into nine languages, and staged in more than eighty European theatres. With its humour, clarity of expression, and artistic richness, Ero the Joker inspires admiration and pride: a work whose natural setting is the Croatian countryside has won over audiences on stages around the world.

Jakov Gotovac’s music radiates the richness of folk songs, rhythms, and melodies, while the final scene, the Vrličko kolo, celebrates the beauty of movement, song, and traditional costume, bringing the performance to a close with a powerful portrayal of the Croatian national spirit.