The Ljubljana Festival is celebrating its 70th anniversary. Each year, the carefully chosen genre-spanning programme of this international festival, one of the oldest on this scale, contributes significantly to the cultural scene in Slovenia’s capital, as Ljubljana becomes a meeting point of renowned artists from Slovenia and abroad, especially in the summer months. Quality and freshness continue to be its guiding principles. Between 21 June and 8 September the festival will once again feature ballet and opera performances, musicals, chamber and symphonic concerts, the Ljubljana Festival Masterclasses, the International Fine Arts Colony, workshops for children and young people, the Ljubljana Festival on the Ljubljanica, as well as several events before the official start of the festival, and much more. In the year that is also marked by the 150th anniversary of the birth of the architect Jože Plečnik, the main venue for events will again be his Križanke Summer Theatre, his last major work in the city. Tickets are available for purchase at ljubljanafestival.si, the Križanke box office, Eventim ticket outlets and service stations of the Petrol Group.
Highlights of the 70th Ljubljana Festival will include the traditional Summer Night, the musical West Side Story, maestro Christopher Eschenbach, Béjart Ballet, La damnation de Faust under the baton of Charles Dutoit, Edward Clug, conductor Riccardo Muti, mezzosoprano Elīna Garanča, John Malkovich, the tenor Plácido Domingo, the West–Eastern Divan Orchestra conducted by Daniel Barenboim with soloist Lang Lang, the Pittsburgh Symphony Orchestra conducted by Manfred Honeck with pianist Hélène Grimaud, the tenor Juan Diego Flórez, the Thailand Philharmonic Orchestra conducted by Alfonso Scarano, violinist Lana Trotovšek and violist Maxim Rysanov with the Royal Philharmonic Orchestra of London under the baton of Vasily Petrenko, Anna Netrebko and Yusif Eyvazov, the gala concert of the Slovene Octet to celebrate their 70th anniversary, the musical The Water Man, Vlado Kreslin, and many more. The 70th edition of the summer festival will be brought to a grand close by the Vienna Philharmonic under the baton of Finnish conductor Esa-Pekka Salonen.
THE GRAND OPENING OF THE 70-YEAR JUBILEE LJUBLJANA FESTIVAL
The grand opening evening will shine the spotlight on the great contributions made by those masters of the word, acclaimed Slovenian poets, whose verses have enriched and left an indelible mark on the history of Slovenian popular music. Accompanied by the the RTV Slovenia Symphony Orchestra and Big Band conducted by Patrik Greblo, the programme of the 70th anniversary of the Ljubljana Festival will include more than 23 memorable pieces of music performed by the best Slovenian singers. We will be guided through the evening by Bernarda Žarn and Mario Galunič.
(21 June, 8.45 pm, Congress Square)
THE PENELOPIAD
The Penelopiad is the author’s transformation of a novel into a drama. The Slovenian translation was published in 2005 under the title Penelopina preja (Penelope’s Yarn). Penelope will be played by the actress Polona Juh, and the chorus of slaves directed by Živa Ploj Peršuh will include the actresses Sabina Kogovšek and Saša Pavlin Stošič, while the drama will be directed by the dramaturge and director Livija Pandur, from a renowned family of theatre artists,.
(29 May, repeated performances on 30 May, 6 June, 23 June, 12 September, 13 September, 19 September, 20 September, 22 September, 26 September, 27 September, 28 September, 29 September, 8/9 pm, Devil’s Courtyard)
MUSICAL WEST SIDE STORY
West Side Story was a considerable turn away from the existing conventions of traditional musicals, which included story, text and music. The subject matter was a topical one, the story itself ends tragically, while the music was written by the conductor and composer Leonard Bernstein, otherwise known for staging the works of the great classical composers. At the 70th Ljubljana Festival, audiences will be treated to a staging of the musical directed by the choreographer Mykal Rand accompanied by the RTV Slovenia Symphony Orchestra.
(27 June–1 July, 9 pm, Križanke)
VERDI’S MESSA DA REQUIEM
Giuseppe Verdi’s Messa da Requiem must be one of the most sublime masses ever written, perhaps second only to Mozart’s Requiem. The performance by the Slovenian Philharmonic Orchestra and Choir and the Mixed Choir of Glasbena Matica Ljubljana will be led by conductor Karel Mark Chichon. Elīna Garanča, the Latvian mezzo-soprano with a dazzling, full and luxurious voice, has been performing under Chichon’s baton for a number of years, and will be joined on stage this time by the soprano Krassimira Stoyanova, the tenor Dmytro Popov, and the bass Riccardo Zanellato.
(3 July, 8 pm, Cankarjev Dom)
JULIAN RACHLIN, A VIRTUOSO WITH HEART
The soloist will be the violinist Julian Rachlin, who will be performing on a Stradivarius from 1704. A virtuoso with heart, as described by the media, he performed as conductor and violinist with some of the most renowned orchestras. The concert will be rounded off by the romantic and youthful Adagio by Anton Lajovic and Symphony No. 5 in E Minor by Pyotr Ilyich Tchaikovsky. The man presiding over the performance by the Slovenian Philharmonic Orchestra will be the pianist and conductor Christoph Eschenbach, considered one of the world’s best active conductors for his interpretations, in which he combines intellect with a unique emotional charge.
(4 July, 8 pm, Cankarjev Dom)
I VIRTUOSI ITALIANI ORCHESTRA
I Virtuosi Italiani is a Veronese orchestra, whose repertoire consists of works that span from the Baroque up to the present day. The orchestra’s artistic excellence has been presided over since 2006 by its artistic director and violinist Alberto Martini, who will perform in the concert as soloist and conductor. The concert programme will include fragments from the operas and concerts of George Frideric Handel, Antonio Vivaldi and Francesco Saverio Geminiani. The arias will be sung by the Italian mezzo-soprano Daniela Pini, who is famous for the supple nature of her voice, which allows her to adapt effortlessly to different styles of music.
(5 July, 8 pm, St. James’s Church)
BÉJART BALLET LAUSANNE
The French dancer and choreographer Maurice Béjart introduced the concept of choreographic expressionism to modern ballet, and thereby left a significant mark on the direction and development of this centuries old art of movement. In 1960 he founded the artistic dance company Ballet du XXe Siècle in Brussels, which was renamed in 1987 to become the Béjart Ballet Lausanne. The choreography of Béjart fête Maurice features music by Ludwig van Beethoven, Anton Webern, Gioachino Rossini and traditional Jewish, Indian and Arabic music. The music, which guided the creation of the choreography, is the work of Nick Cave and Warren Ellis, and the duet Citypercussion (Thierry Hochstätter and jB Meier).
(6 and 7 July, 9 pm, Križanke)
ACOUSTIC AGAIN
To add to the festival’s jubilee, and mark the double album on which Tomaž Domicelj has gathered some of the performances he has given on six occasions in seven years on Ljubljana Festival stages, there will now be a new event with the title “Acoustic Again”. Accompanied by acoustic guitars and harmonicas, the composer of many popular hits and hundreds of other compositions will be joined by a guest, Tinkara Kovač, one of Slovenia’s best popular musicians who, in the course of her 25-year career, has also shown off her talents abroad.
(10 July, 9 pm, Devil’s Courtyard)
LE SACRE DU PRINTEMPS BY EDWARD CLUG
In celebration of its 70th anniversary, the Ljubljana Festival will also stage two ballet masterpieces by Igor Stravinsky, Le Sacre du Printemps and Les Noces. These two performances were choreographed by Edward Clug, a recipient of many awards, whose work has been enriching Slovenian culture for a number of years. Clug’s creations originate from Nijinsky’s hermetic choreographies, with which the internationally acclaimed dancer and choreographer pays tribute to this legendary artist and his role in the development of modern dance. The ballet ensemble will be accompanied by the Slovene National Theatre Maribor Symphony Orchestra and the Maribor Opera Chorus led by Simon Krečič.
(11 July, 9 pm, Križanke)
MEDITERRANEO
Tonči Huljić is considered to be a most successful, and frequently awarded, composer of popular music. He founded the band Magazin. The Tonči Huljić & Madre Badessa band combines the sound of the Mediterranean with modern electronic music, and with the use of orchestration has upgraded this to create the Mediterraneo cross-over performance, which stimulates all the senses of the human body via different channels. The image concept of the performance will be in the hands of the young multi-award-winning Slovenian film and TV director, Nejc Levstik
(12 July, 9 pm, Križanke)
ENSEMBLE.SI
The programme to be played by this ensemble of select musicians will include works from the treasure chest of chamber music of the Romantic 19th century. The Nocturne concertante in G Minor by the composer Louis-Emmanuel Jadin will introduce one of fourteen string quartets by Antonín Dvořák; the concert will be rounded off by the Italian serenade for string quartets by Hugo Wolf, and Octet Op. 80, by Heinrich Hofmann.
(14 July, 8 pm, Church of the Teutonic Knights)
LA DAMNATION DE FAUST
The famous march, gentle love songs, ecstatic hymns and drinking songs of La damnation de Faust by Hector Berlioz will be performed by the combined voices of the Ave and Megaron Chamber Choirs, Children’s Choir of Glasbena Matica and the Slovenian Philharmonic Orchestra and Choir under the baton of one of the most esteemed conductors, Charles Dutoit. Starring in the main roles are the mezzo-soprano Sophie Koch, the tenor Jean-François Borras and the bass-baritones John Relyea and Ashley Riches.
(15 July, 8 pm, Cankarjev Dom)
JOHN MALKOVICH IN THE MUSIC CRITIC
The Music Critic is a show directed by Aleksey Igudesman, in which he has combined in an entertaining and provocative manner the performances of famous works by different composers from the past and present (Bach, Beethoven, Piazzolla, Kancheli, etc.) and the first reactions to them by critics. Igudesman persuaded John Malkovich to act in the show, with the acclaimed American actor already having appeared at the Ljubljana Festival in 2017. With his charismatic performance, he perfectly acts out the dismissive and sometimes derisive attitudes of music critics towards the works of now acknowledged musical masters whom we still enjoy listening to today.
(18 July, 8 pm, Cankarjev Dom)
THE LUIGI CHERUBINI YOUTH ORCHESTRA UNDER THE BATON OF RICCARDO MUTI
The Italian conductor Riccardo Muti is considered to be one of the world’s best conductors. For almost 20 years Muti was the artistic director of La Scala in Milan, and in 2004, he founded the Luigi Cherubini Youth Orchestra. The summer festival programme includes the works of three Romantic composers, each based on poetic ideas. Georges Bizet’s Symphony No. 2 in C Major retains the symphonic form, while the Preludes are some of the first symphonic poems by Franz Liszt. Also in this form is The Enchanted Lake by Anatoly Lyadov, who found the poetic idea for this work in the world of fairy tales.
(19 July, 8 pm, Cankarjev Dom)
THE FAMOUS CARMEN
Accompanied by members of the Slovene National Theatre Maribor Symphony Orchestra, the Maribor Ballet Ensemble and the Maribor Opera Chorus led by Simon Krečič, the role of the famous Carmen will this time by performed by one of the most promising young Argentine singers, Guadalupe Barrientos. The overall concept of the performance will be managed by the opera director Juan Guillermo Nova, who is the author of many opera sets and known for expertly made and skilfully utilised projections, which blend perfectly with the physical contours of the stage.
(21 July, 8 pm, Cankarjev Dom)
THE LITTLE MATCH GIRL
In 2021, a new opera written by the Slovenian pianist, composer and improviser Tina Mauko came into the world. The artist wrote the opera’s libretto by adapting the well-known fairy tale by Hans Christian Andersen, also entitled The Little Match Girl. The opera, which will be directed by Rocc, the first Slovenian to have a university degree in opera direction, will be performed by the familiar faces of the Slovenian Chamber Music Theatre, and this time the chamber orchestra will be joined by Slovenian musicians who are adept at playing instruments from the Indian subcontinent.
(25 July, 8 pm, Church of the Teutonic Knights)
KAZAKH STATE SYMPHONY ORCHESTRA
The Kazakh State Symphony Orchestra is one of the most esteemed and renowned orchestras in the Republic of Kazakhstan. It was founded on the initiative of the famous violinist Aiman Mussakhajayeva. The orchestra includes musicians who have won various international competitions and whose musical proficiency and virtuosity have enthralled audiences around the world. The orchestra’s repertoire encompasses various styles ranging from the Baroque to contemporary music, including music by Kazakhstani composers such as Tiles Kazhgaliev, Almaz Serkebayev and Zholan Dastenov.
(26 July, 8.30 pm, Slovenian Philharmonic Hall)
ACCORDIONIST MARKO HATLAK
Marko Hatlak is a Slovenian accordionist with a rich career and numerous international projects, who audiences know well as a member of the group Terrafolk. The concert evening will round off the 100th anniversary of a revolutionary, one of the most famous musicians of the 20th century, Astor Piazzolla. The renowned solo singers Bernarda Fink Inzko and Marcos Fink will join in the performance of the composer’s vocal pieces, and the occasion will be enlivened by national champions in Latin American dances, Nika Bagon and Miha Vodičar.
(27 July, 9 pm, Križanke)
SAXES & STRINGS
Ensemble Dissonance will premiere Cartagena, a work written by Izidor Leitinger for a quartet of saxophones and string instruments. This internationally acclaimed conductor, instrumentalist, teacher and composer will also conduct his new work. The string orchestra will be joined by the Signum saxophone quartet from Cologne, whose members include Slovenian saxophonists Blaž Kemperle and Alan Lužar. The concert will begin with one of the most beautiful gems of contemporary Slovene string music, the Sonatina for Strings by Uroš Krek, who was born 100 years ago this year.
(2 August, 8 pm, Church of the Teutonic Knights)
HARPIST ALEXANDRA VERBITSKAYA
Alexandra Verbitskaya, who has accompanied the Slovenian Philharmonic Orchestra as a harpist and pianist for a number of years, will be returning to the summer festival stage. On this occasion, audiences will hear the works of Mikhail Glinka, who wrote two nocturnes especially for the harp, his The Lark, as well as an adaptation of the melancholic autumn song for the piano by Tchaikovsky and a fantasy on themes from his opera Onegin, with arrangements of the Liebestraum by Franz Liszt, an arrangement of the virtuosic Fantaisie Impromptu by Frédéric Chopin, fantasies on themes from Donizetti’s opera Lucia di Lammermoor, and two works written for the romantic harp: Impromptu by Gabriel Fauré and Valse by Joseph Jongen.
(3 August, 8 pm, Church of the Teutonic Knights)
BRANDENBURG REVISITED
Ensemble Dissonance, which brings together musicians from the Dissonance string quartet, the Slovenian Philharmonic Orchestra and the RTV Slovenia Symphony Orchestra, will recreate for listeners the works of Dave and Howard Brubeck, Georg Philipp Telemann, Giya Kancheli, Antonio Vivaldi, Samuel Barber and Johann Sebastian Bach. The performances will be conducted by the violinist Dmitry Sitkovetsky, who has played for over forty years with the Vienna Philharmonic, and now operates independently as a violinist, conductor and artistic director.
(4 August, 8 pm, Church of the Teutonic Knights)
TWO CONCERT EVENINGS WITH THE WEST-EASTERN DIVAN ORCHESTRA
The West–Eastern Divan Orchestra, whose musical creativity brings together musicians from the different cultures of the Middle East, will perform twice under the baton of pianist and conductor Daniel Barenboim. The first concert evening will feature the series of symphonic poems entitled Má vlast (My Country); the second evening will see the very first performance in Slovenia by pianist Lang Lang. He will join the orchestra in performing the Andalusian folklore-inspired Nights in the Gardens of Spain by the Spanish composer Manuel de Falla. The programme will be completed with works by the French composer Maurice Ravel, Boléro and Rapsodie Espagnole, with an additional performance of the orchestra featuring Iberia by Claude Debussy.
(7 and 8 August, 8.00 pm, Cankarjev Dom)
MAHLER IN LJUBLJANA
Mahler in Ljubljana illustrates the continuity of performing Mahler’s compositions in chamber form at Ljubljana Festival. Ensemble Dissonance, which unites members of the string quartet Dissonance and individuals from the Slovenian Philharmonic Orchestra and the RTV Slovenia Symphony Orchestra, will perform, together with Slovene soprano Nika Gorič, Mahler’s Rückert-Lieder. The concert will conclude with an arrangement of Mahler’s Symphony No. 5, with the famous fourth movement for strings and harp.
(9 August, 8 pm, Church of the Teutonic Knights)
CHAMBER ORCHESTRA SLOVENICUM
Chamber Orchestra Slovenicum, founded in 1988, originally performed Viennese classical works and strived to fulfil the stylistic demands of the period in which they were written. The orchestra has come together again this year in order to mark the 330th anniversary of the birth of one of the most distinguished Baroque virtuoso violinists, Giuseppe Tartini. The introductory Tartini’s SinfoniaD Major will be followed by his Flute Concerto in D Major. The soloist will be Slovenian flautist Jasna Nadles. The concert will be brought to a close with the famous group of violin concertos, The Four Seasons, by Antonio Vivaldi. The orchestra will be joined by the Chinese violinist Dan Zhu.
(10 August, 8 pm, Church of the Teutonic Knights)
DISSONANCE & FRIENDS
Ensemble Dissonance consists of musicians from leading Slovenian musical institutions. Founded by the cellist Klemen Hvala, the Dissonance Institute, under whose auspices the Ensemble operates, is dedicated to the promotion of chamber music in Slovenia. The Ensemble collaborates with some of the most prominent Slovenian and world-renowned artists, and on the concert evening will perform works by Felix Mendelssohn-Bartholdy, Nina Šenk and George Enescu.
(11 August, 8 pm, Church of the Teutonic Knights)
MD7 ENSEMBLE FOR CONTEMPORARY MUSIC
Twenty years have passed since the contemporary music ensemble MD7 first stepped on a concert stage. Newly composed works have primarily been performed in concerts of contemporary music, and it has also been possible to hear many premieres at the Ljubljana Festival. Upon its jubilee concert, the ensemble put together a programme featuring a selection from their repertoire of superb works as well as new pieces by Nenad Firšt, which will be performed under the baton of conductor Steven Loy, known for his insightful interpretations of contemporary music. He has been cooperating with the ensemble since 2005.
(16 August, 6 pm, Knights’ Hall, Križanke)
LJUBLJANA INTERNATIONAL ORCHESTRA
The Ljubljana International Orchestra features a unique blend of outstanding talents, cultural diversity and artistic vision. The orchestra is becoming increasingly known among young musicians and professionals, as well as leading artists worldwide. It is part of The Triple Bridge European Career Center for Artists, which supports its long-term development and strives to create an international orchestra consisting of exceptional young musicians, whom it wants to provide with the valuable experience of performing in a symphony orchestra along with renowned professors, conductors and soloists.
(16 August, 8.30 pm, Križanke)
THE LORD OF THE RINGS AND THE HOBBIT
Howard Shore, the multi-award-winning composer of film music, is the man behind the music accompanying the most famous depiction of the world of hobbits and elves to appear on cinema screens. This time we will be able to hear a concert performance of his music from the film trilogies The Lord of the Rings and The Hobbit, produced by Star Entertainment. When writing these pieces, the composer leaned on the compositional techniques of Richard Wagner. The music accompanying the film adaptations of the fantasy novels by J.R.R. Tolkien will be performed on the Križanke stage by almost 100 musicians comprising a symphony orchestra, choir and soloists, and they will also be joined on stage by a member of the films’ cast.
(17 August, 5 and 9 pm, Križanke)
PITTSBURGH SYMPHONY ORCHESTRA AND PIANIST HÉLÉNE GRIMAUD
The enigmatic French pianist, Hélène Grimaud, is admired by critics for her deeply felt interpretations, which always leave a strong impression on listeners. Together with the Pittsburgh Symphony Orchestra, conducted by their long-serving artistic director Manfred Honeck, she will perform the jazz-flavoured Concerto for Piano and Orchestra in G Major by Maurice Ravel. Alongside the piano concerto, the orchestra’s artistic director has set Symphony No. 1 in D Major by Ravel’s older contemporary Gustav Mahler, and Five Pieces for String Quartet by the Czech composer Erwin Schulhoff.
(18 August, 8 pm, Cankarjev Dom)
MAGICAL MUSIC OF HARRY POTTER
The magical world of one of the world’s most famous wizards was further enlivened in the film versions of the story of Harry Potter by the original music composed by John Williams, Patrick Dole, Nicolas Hooper and Alexandre Desplat. Now we will be able to hear their works in concert form, performed in a Star Entertainment production. Performing in the unique setting of Križanke, the orchestra will enchant the audience with select musical excerpts, such as Hedwig’s Theme, Hogwart’s Hymn, and Dumbledore’s Farewell. The evening will be made even more special by visual and magical light effects, and the musicians will be joined on stage by a member of the films’ cast.
(19 August, 5 and 9 pm, Križanke)
CONCERT OF OPERATIC ARIAS
Juan Diego Flórez will perform a concert of opera arias together with the RTV Slovenia Symphony Orchestra. Flórez first performed at La Scala in Milan, which opened the door to the world’s greatest opera stages, from Paris to the Metropolitan Opera in New York. The performance will be directed by the conductor Oksana Lyniv, who became the first female conductor on the stage of the Wagner Festival Theatre in Bayreuth, and acquired precious conducting experience in the role of assistant to the former conductor of the Bavarian State Opera, Kirill Petrenko.
(22 August, 8 pm, Cankarjev Dom)
THE WATER MAN
The story of the musical entitled The Water Man is a modernised version of Prešeren’s narrative poem of the same name. The creative team also enlisted one of Slovenia’s most successful and productive musicians, Neža Buh – Neisha, to collaborate in developing this new, modern pop-rock performance, which deals with the issue of social networks. The new musical also differs from other musicals in its ecological stance, as all the costumes made by Dominika Monte, who is behind the Incognito Design label, are made from already existing, treated materials.
(23 and 24 August, 8.30 pm, Križanke)
SLOVENIAN NATIONAL YOUTH ORCHESTRA
The Slovenian National Youth Orchestra, whose members are aged between 12 and 22, has been performing under the artistic direction of its founder and conductor Živa Ploj Peršuh since 2019. The various annual programmes are put together at a multi-day summer orchestra camp led by top orchestra musicians, and they also perform these programmes after the end of the camp. The current programme will present members of the artistic family Krajnčan. Works by the composers Gustav Holst and Arturo Márquez will also be performed at the concert.
(25 August, 8.30 pm, Križanke)
THE INSEPARABLE OPERA DUO
Inseparable in private life and on stage, Anna Netrebko and Yusif Eyvazov are returning to the Ljubljana Festival. With her astonishing vocal abilities, thrilling tone and outstanding acting talent, Anna Netrebko is an idol of the opera-going public. The tenor Yusif Eyvazov began his international career with a sensational performance as Turiddu in Mascagni’s Cavalleria rusticana in Arena di Verona, and with Otello at Ravenna Festival. The iconic duo will be accompanied by the RTV Slovenia Symphony Orchestra, conducted by Michelangelo Mazza, who regularly collaborates with the couple.
(26 August, 8 pm, Cankarjev Dom)
THAILAND PHILHARMONIC ORCHESTRA UNDER THE BATON OF AN ITALIAN CONDUCTOR
The Thailand Philharmonic Orchestra will perform Phenomenon, the work of their compatriot Narong Prangchareon, whose music is considered by critics to be modern, colourful and accessible. The concert will end with jazz-flavoured works by Leonard Bernstein (West Side Story) and George Gershwin (American in Paris). The performance will be conducted by the head and conductor of the orchestra, Alfonso Scarano, who has been artistic director and conductor for the Tuscany Opera Festival, and head conductor of the North Czech Philharmonic in Teplice.
(29 August, 8 pm, Cankarjev Dom)
PRMEIERE OF THE FILM GAJA’S WORLD 2
Gaja’s World was by far the most watched Slovenian film in 2018, and it also made it into the top ten most watched Slovenian films since Slovenia’s independence. This year, cinemas will be screening the sequel. In a pleasant and accessible way, the film draws attention to the problems encountered by children and their parents in the modern world as it deals with predicaments that are part of our everyday lives: divorce, alienation in the family and the dangers of the internet and social networks.
(30 August, 7.45 pm, Križanke)
THE FAMOUS PLÁCIDO DOMINGO RETURNS
This year, the legendary Plácido Domingo will once again enthral the Ljubljana Festival audience. The Spanish tenor and conductor has sung an incredible 150 roles over the course of his remarkable career, and to date has conducted more than 500 operas and concerts with some of the world’s top orchestras. At the 70th Ljubljana Festival he will be joined by the soprano María José Siri, who will be accompanied by the Slovenian Philharmonic Orchestra under the Spanish conductor Jordi Bernàcer.
(31 August, 8.30 pm, Križanke)
THE LONDON ROYAL PHILHARMONIC ORCHESTRA AND VIOLINIST MAXIM RYSANOV
The London Royal Philharmonic Orchestra will perform under the baton of conductor Vasily Petrenko, who has also been its artistic director since 2021, presenting a programme of Viennese classicism. One of the solo roles in the Sinfonia Concertante for Violin, Viola and Orchestra in E flat Major, K. 364 (320d) by Mozart will be performed by the Slovenian violinist Lana Trotovšek, last year’s recipient of the Prešeren Fund Award, who will be joined in a solo role by the violist and conductor Maxim Rysanov. The programme will be rounded off with symphonies by Sergei Prokofiev, “Classical” and the famous Symphony No. 5 in C Minor, Op. 67, by Ludwig van Beethoven.
(1 September, 8 pm, Cankarjev Dom)
VLADO KRESLIN AND GUESTS
Vlado Kreslin, a regular at Ljubljana Festival, first presented himself to the public at the Slovene Song Festival in 1980. Later he was active in the Martin Krpan group, and together they recorded an independently released cassette featuring songs such as To ni političen song (“This is not a political song”) and Tista črna kitara (“That black guitar”). The 1990s saw the beginning of a long and fruitful cooperation with Beltinška Banda, and Kreslin has been performing together with his backing band Mali Bogovi since 1994. In recent decades, the art of one of Slovenia’s best and most popular musicians has also crossed ethnic and international borders.
(2 September, 8 pm, Križanke)
LAIBACH
Laibach return to the stage of the Križanke Summer Theatre, this time accompanied by the RTV Slovenia Symphony Orchestra, in a performance featuring elaborate visuals and lighting effects, this year under the baton of conductor Navid Gohari.
(5 and 6 September, 8 pm, Križanke)
GALA CONCERT IN CELEBRATION OF THE SLOVENE OCTET’S JUBILEE
The Slovene Octet is a male Slovenian vocal ensemble, which has been performing a very broad and diverse choir repertoire ever since its first concert. In the course of its long and rich tradition, over 40 different singers have made up the octet. The Slovene Octet has always been an example and source of motivation for many ensembles, which were inspired to form by its sublime singing. The octet is celebrating its 70th anniversary, which they will mark with a gala concert at the Križanke Summer Theatre.
(7 September, 8 pm, Križanke)
CONCLUSION OF THE 70-YEAR JUBILEE LJUBLJANA FESTIVAL
The 70-year jubilee Ljubljana Festival will conclude with the Vienna Philharmonic, an orchestra boasting 180 years of tradition and consisting of some of the best musicians from all around the world. On this occasion, it will perform a suite by composer Maurice Ravel, Le tombeau de Couperin, and one of his last, and undoubtedly the most renowned, works, the Piano Concerto in G Major. Performing as the soloist will be a pianist and an honorary member of the Vienna Philharmonic who is highly acclaimed by the critics, with a career spanning decades: Rudolf Buchbinder. The event will conclude under the baton of elite conductor and composer, Esa-Pekka Salonen, otherwise the main conductor of the London Philharmonic Orchestra, with Symphony No. 2 in D Major, Op. 43, by Jean Sibelius.
(8 September, 8 pm, Cankarjev Dom)
ACCOMPANYING EVENTS OF THE 70th LJUBLJANA FESTIVAL
Ljubljana Festival Masterclasses
This year’s 70th Ljubljana Festival will include a series of masterclasses. These will take place at the Ljubljana Conservatory of Music and Ballet. The artistic director for the masterclasses will be
Branimir Slokar, who has nurtured many remarkable trombonists over the course of his long and fruitful career. Young musicians will be able to attend the masterclasses, led by 14 internationally renowned teachers, as soloists or members of a chamber group: Latica Honda-Rosenberg (violin), Lana Trotovšek (violin), Hariolf Schlichtig (viola), László Fenyö (cello), Božo Paradžik (double bass), Emanuel Abbühl (oboe), Felix Renggli (flute), François Benda (clarinet), Ole Kristian Dahl (bassoon), Reinhold Friedrich (trumpet), Andrej Žust (horn), Branimir Slokar (trombone), Roland Szentpáli (tuba), Epifanio Comis (piano). Between 29 July and 7 August, the young musicians will perform independent concerts.
Their teachers will introduce themselves at three concert evenings. Latica Honda-Rosenberg will perform on 26 July; joining her in a quintet ensemble will be Hariolf Schlichtig on viola, László Fenyö on cello and Božo Paradžik. On 1 August, Emanuel Abbühl will perform with flautist Felix Renggli, clarinetist François Benda, bassoonist Ole Kristian Dahl and Slovenian horn player Zora Slokar. They will be accompanied on piano by Latvian pianist Elina Gotsouliak. Trumpeter Reinhold Friedrich will take the stage on 6 August with Andrej Žust, the first Slovenian to play in the Berlin Philharmonic, with Branimir Slokar on trombone, and Roland Szentpáli on tuba; the musicians will be accompanied by the pianists Eriko Takezawa and Dalma Cseh.
(25 July–6 August, Ljubljana Conservatory of Music and Ballet)
Ljubljana Festival on the Ljubljanica
The musical performances in this attractive setting, on tourist boats along the Ljubljanica, will be given by students from Ljubljana’s Academy of Music and Conservatory of Music and Ballet, appearing in a variety of chamber ensembles.
22–24 June, the Ljubljanica
Alenka Slavinec: The Golden Age (2013–2022) of Ljubljana Festival
In celebration of its 70th anniversary, the photographer Alenka Slavinec will put on an exhibition to present to the public the past 10 years of the Ljubljana Festival. The exhibition is based on the concept envisaged by the artist upon the 60th jubilee of Ljubljana Festival, which she also honoured with a solo exhibition.
22 June–15 August, the Jakopič Promenade, Tivoli
International Fine Arts Colony
From 10 to 15 July, Križanke will host the 25th International Fine Arts Colony, led by selector Tomo Vran.
10–15 July, Križanke
Little Art Colony
From 11 to 15 July 2022, creative workshops for children will again be held at the 70th Ljubljana Festival. Participation will be free for children aged between six and fourteen who would like to learn about art.
11–15 July, Križanke
Exhibition by Tanja Pak
24 June–13 July, Church of the Teutonic Knights
Eva Petrič: Stenciling – A Memory of Tomorrow and The Oracle
17 August–1 September, Church of the Teutonic Knights
Committed to Steps
22–26 August, Križanke
Closing event on 29 August at 6 pm, Križanke
Homage to Tone Demšar: 25 Years Later
7–22 September, Church of the Teutonic Knights
SPONSORS AND SUPPORTERS
We would like to express our sincere thanks to the City of Ljubljana and its mayor Zoran Janković, without whose generous support it would not be possible to put on such a rich festival programme lasting more than two months. We would also like to express our gratitude to all our sponsors and supporters. Thanks are also due to the media for their coverage of our events, and to all who attend the festival.
Thank you for your interest in the Ljubljana Festival programme.
Ljubljana Festival reserves the right to modify the programme.
More information at ljubljanafestival.si.
Information / Public relations
Maruša Šinkovič
Tel.: +386 (0)1 241 60 18
marusa.sinkovic@ljubljanafestival.si
Živa Steiner
Tel.: +386 (0)1 241 60 08
ziva.steiner@ljubljanafestival.si
ljubljanafestival.si
www.facebook.com/ljubljanafestival
www.instagram.com/ljubljanafestival
www.youtube.com/user/TheFestivalLjubljana
The founder of the Ljubljana Festival is the City of Ljubljana, which also provides financial support.
***
General sponsor: Zavarovalnica Sava, d.d.
Sponsors of the 70th Ljubljana Festival: JP Voka Snaga, d.o.o., Energetika Ljubljana, d.o.o., NLB d.d., Petrol, d.d., Telekom Slovenije d.d., Krka, d.d., Riko d.o.o., Nova KMB, d.d., Mercator, d.d., Spar Slovenija, d.o.o., Trimo d.o.o., s.Oliver SLO d.o.o., Zavarovalnica Triglav, d.d., Lekarna Ljubljana, Javna razsvetljava, d.d., ADRIA Turistično podjetje d.o.o., Fraport Slovenija, d.o.o., Four Points by Sheraton Ljubljana Mons
Sponsors of individual events: Zavarovalnica Sava, d.d., Delo, d.o.o., NLB d.d., Petrol, d.d., Telekom Slovenije d.d., Krka, d.d., Riko d.o.o., Nova KMB, d.d., Mercator, d.d., Spar Slovenija, d.o.o., Trimo d.o.o., s.Oliver SLO d.o.o., Zavarovalnica Triglav, d.d., Terme Dobrna d.d., UniCredit Banka Slovenije, d.d., BTC d.d., Luka Koper d.d., Plinovodi, d.o.o., Technobell d.o.o., Interenergo d.o.o.
General media sponsor: Delo, d.o.o.
Media sponsors: Dnevnik, d.d., Europlakat, d.o.o., Časnik Finance, d.o.o., Media24, d.o.o., Radio 1, Radio Center, Net TV, Mediabus, d.o.o.
Partners of the 2021 Ljubljana Festival: RTV Slovenija, Slovenian Philharmonic Orchestra, Austria Trend Hotels, Radisson Blu Plaza Hotel, Ljubljana, Slovenian National Theatre Opera and Ballet Ljubljana, Silič uglaševanje Klavirjev, d.o.o., Slovene National Theatre Maribor, UL Academy of Music, Hotel Slon Ljubljana, City Hotel Ljubljana
Friends of the Ljubljana Festival: Intral, d.o.o., NP consulting, d.o.o., Teta Frida – Naturalica foods, d.o.o., Kobe studio – TV produkcija, d.o.o., Go Green – Ekoturizem, svetovanje in marketing, d.o.o.
Official wine supplier: Vinakoper, d.o.o.
Mobility partners: Avtohiša Malgaj, d.o.o., LPP, d.o.o., SŽ-Potniški promet, d.o.o.
The founder of the Ljubljana Festival is the City of Ljubljana. Member of the European Festivals Association (EFA) since 1977.
