Daria Lorenci Flatz Defends Young Singer

The public dispute between Jacques Houdek and young singer Duška Brčić-Šušak has taken on a new dimension after actress Daria Lorenci Flatz joined the discussion. She decided to side with the singer, criticizing the manner in which remarks about her vocal performance were made.

The conflict began after Houdek publicly commented on Brčić-Šušak's performance at an event dedicated to Oliver Dragojević, where she performed the song "Ostavljam te samu." His words were extremely harsh.

"This is simply wrong, the tone is distorted and ugly... Duška urgently, urgently needs to find help for her voice. I remember her as a little girl, talented, but she has always used her instrument incorrectly, always hoarse, even as a child," Houdek wrote.

The singer quickly responded, pointing out that his message frightened her, but also noting that a recent medical examination showed her vocal cords were fine.

"Maybe you don't like how I sing, maybe you don't like this song or my singing style in general, and I completely respect that. But as far as my health is concerned, everything is fine, and that's what matters most to me," Brčić-Šušak said.

Lorenci Flatz: 'If We Can't Praise, We Can Stay Silent'

Although she usually avoids public debates, Daria Lorenci Flatz made an exception this time. She believes that advice, even when given with the best intentions, should be directed privately to the person it concerns, rather than aired in public.

"Write to the woman privately in her inbox; that seems polite to me. In public, if we can't praise each other, we can stay silent," the actress wrote.

She noted that she finds it almost unimaginable that actors would publicly give each other advice in such a manner. Although she doesn't personally know Duška Brčić-Šušak and heard her sing for the first time on this occasion, she said she was extremely impressed by her performance.

"If you really want to help a colleague, it would be nice not to give her public advice. I don't think she asked for it. Duška, you're top in my book," Lorenci Flatz said.

Opera Singer Sides with Houdek

After Houdek responded that having a voice and knowing how to sing are not the same thing, opera singer and mezzo-soprano Irena Parlov joined the debate. She supported Houdek's stance and offered her own professional opinion on the vocal performance.

"I have to agree with Jacques because everyone is sending me this video. The voice isn't just vocal cords, even if they are free of nodules, polyps, etc.... Although these are by no means healthy vocal cords, and I say this with the best of intentions because I'm sorry that someone with talent can't show their full potential because something is wrong with their voice," Parlov wrote.

Parlov detailed what she saw as the problem, mentioning "swollen" and "chafed" vocal cords, and suggested that surgery might be the solution. She also warned that such a singing technique could lead to a short-lived career, concluding that it's a shame when someone with talent can't reach their full potential.