On 27 June 2017, on Congress Square, Carmina Burana opened the 65th Ljubljana Festival which is going to be the centre of cultural events throughout the summer.

The magnificent scenic cantata for symphony orchestra, choir and soloists Carmina Burana was performed on the stage at Congress Square by the La Fura dels Baus theatre group from Barcelona led by conductor Josep Vicent.

 
Mayor Zoran Janković hosting the conductor Josep Vicent after the opening of the festival at the City Hall.

This year’s Ljubljana Festival is bringing numerous other top events: among others, the famous mezzosoprano Elīna Garanča is performing again in Ljubljana, a regular guest on major opera and concert stages around the world. Opera evenings can be experienced with the operetta The Gypsy Princess, the chamber opera Wedding, the opera Madama Butterfly performed by the China National Opera House from Beijing and the staging of the third and fourth part from the tetralogy The Ring of the Nibelung performed by the Mariinsky Theatre Orchestra. The programme is also going to be marked by renowned soloists and orchestras. The St. Petersburg Philharmonic Orchestra conducted by Yuri Temirkanov and the Mariinsky Orchestra conducted by Valery Gergiev are coming to Ljubljana. Performing soloist are pianists Martha Argerich, Gian Maria Bonino, Anastasya Terenkova, Stephan Kiefer and Akane Sakai, violoncellist Nie Jiapeng, violinists Dimitrij Sitkovecki and Lana Trotovšek, flautists Boris Bizjak, Claudi Arimany, Michael Martin Kofler, Martin Belič and Massimo Mercelli, Richard Galliano on the accordion, Mojca Zlobko Vajgl on the harp, and we will also hear the young soprano Nika Gorič. There are also chamber performances by the Trio Astra, the Belgrade Philharmonic String Quartet, the Ulysses String Quartet, the MD7 Contemporary Music Ensemble, the Chamber Orchestra Franz Liszt and the Slovenian Philharmonic String Chamber Orchestra. In charge of a more relaxed atmosphere are Roby Lakatos with an evening of Gypsy music, Tomaž Domicelj with his new arrangements, Marko Hatlak together with singer and songwriter Iztok Mlakar and Vlado Kreslin. The group Sam's Fever is bringing to life the memories of the king of rock and roll Elvis, a musical evening titled Highlights of West End and Broadway Musicals will please the fans of legendary hits. Also on the calendar are the monodrama The Immaculate, homage to director Tomaž Pandur who last year passed away unexpectedly, and an evening in the company of the eminent actor John Malkovich joining the Aquilani Soloists ensemble.

The complete programme is available on the website of the Ljubljana Festival!

Welcome!