Featuring: Ana Bezjak, Jadranka Juras, Veronika Strnad
Conductor: Sigi Feigl

This year's Christmas concert of the RTV Slovenia Big Band and Symphony Orchestra promises to be a particularly special event! The combined strength of the two acclaimed orchestras will add extra spice to the festive mood.

Under the baton of the renowned Austrian conductor Sigi Feigl, the orchestras will delight the audience with elegant arrangements of evergreen Christmas songs, interlaced with elements of jazz and classical refinement.

Giving extra sparkle to the occasion, the vocal soloists Jadranka Juras, Ana Bezjak and Veronika Strnad, the talented young singer gifted with an angelic voice, will create an unforgettable musical experience. 

The orchestra and soloists will take you on a heart-warming journey into a musical wonderland, bringing a touch of magic to the festive season.
 

The tribute band Piece of Maiden, accompanied by the Muzikon Symphony Orchestra, will perform at Cankarjev dom, offering a true celebration for all fans of the legendary English band in honor of their 50th anniversary.

On this special night, guitars will blend with cellos and drums with trumpets, delivering the timeless and unmatched hits of the original Iron Maiden lineup in a fresh, symphonic arrangement. Long-loved classics like Aces High, The Trooper, Fear of the Dark, Run to the Hills, and Hallowed Be Thy Name will be reimagined, along with other songs that beautifully suit a symphonic setting.

Special guests for the concert include the original heavy metal band Centurion.

Running time: Concert lasts approximately 1 hour and 30 minutes

Oj, ta noč, milobe polna*
*O this night, full of grace / Ivan Cankar / Erotika

Join us on New Year’s Eve for an unforgettable musical experience, a harmonious synthesis of Slovenian folk music, poetry and contemporary musical creations. Under the artistic direction of accordionist and composer Janez Dovč, the Sounds of Slovenia ensemble’s new project blends rich musical tradition with new musical settings of poems by Slovenia’s greatest poets, including Simon Gregorčič, Ivan Cankar, Oton Župančič, Lili Novy, Srečko Kosovel, Edvard Kocbek and many others.

Musicians: Metod Banko (vocals, sound objects), Klemen Bračko (violin), Rudi Bučar (vocals, guitar), Sabina Cvilak (soprano), Janez Dovč (accordion, electronics), Klemen Kotar (saxophones, flute), Laura Krajnc (vocals, violin), Kristijan Krajnčan (drums, cello), Goran Krmac (tuba, bass, electronics), Petra Vidmar (marimba, percussion), Gregor Volk (vocals, guitar), Tomaž Zevnik (clarinets, reeds) and the vocal group Maroltovke.
 

Sounds of Slovenia, an ensemble bringing its special take on folk music in modern arrangements to local and global audiences since 2008, have once again come up with a special programme. The concert is an opportunity to experience the exquisite beauty of musical expressions, interweaving acoustic, vocal and electronic elements topped off by a mesmerizing lighting design.

According to 20th-century Russian composer Igor Stravinsky, “A real tradition is not the relic of a past that is irretrievably gone; it is a living force that animates and informs the present…”

"Tradition is progress preserved, and progress is tradition continued," understood Edvard Ravnikar, the giant of Slovenian Modernism who designed the building of Cankarjev dom.

Join us for this special event and usher in the New Year with music that seamlessly blends the past, present and future...

Libretto: Carl Haffner, Richard Genée after the play Le Réveillon by Henri Meilhac and Ludovic Halévy

Conductor: Ayrton Desimpelaere
Director: Krešimir Dolenčič
Choreographer: Lukas Zuschlag
Set Designer: Andrej Stražišar
Costume Designer:  Alan Hranitelj
Lighting designer: Andrej Hajdinjak
Slovene National Theatre Opera and Ballet Ljubljana soloists, choir, corps de ballet and orchestra 

Die Fledermaus (The Flittermouse or The Bat), a high-spirited tale of intrigue, disguise, surprising twists and denouements in lavish costumes, is an operatic gem, the famous masterpiece of "the Waltz King", Johann Strauss II. It has received thousands of performances all over the world, there is probably not an opera stage that has not featured this portrayal of the epicurean Viennese bourgeoisie in all its old splendour.

Johann Strauss II or Strauss The Son (1825–1899) was encouraged to try his hand at operettas by Jacques Offenbach himself, who thought that the king of Austrian light music was practically destined for this new entertainment genre. Not yet an elitist institution, 19th-century theatre attracted audiences across all classes. Strauss's first attempt received favourable reception: his operetta Indigo und die vierzig Räuber premiered in 1871, was restaged in Paris (1875), and presented in London (1877) and New York (1891). 

This was followed by Der Karneval in Rom (The Roman Carnival), which was written for the Vienna World Exhibition in 1873. It took European stages by storm despite the escalating economic depression the world was facing at the time. Among his stage works, Die Fledermaus became the classical example of Viennese operetta. It is based on a French text: the comedy Le Réveillon by the famous Meilhac-Halévy duo, who also wrote the libretto for Bizet's Carmen, opened at a Parisian theatre in 1872. In Vienna, the play was snapped up by the Carltheater, an opera house that favoured new Parisian works. 

Meilhac and Halévy's play was translated into German by Karl Haffner with an Austrian "health resort in the vicinity of a big city" as its setting (Haffner was probably referring to Bad Ischl). Then the text somehow found its way to Maximilian Steiner, impresario of the rival Theater an der Wien. Ultimately, the publishing agent Gustav Lewy thought it would be best to rework it into an operetta and offer it to Johann Strauss. Everything started to happen at lightning speed.

As theatres were facing financial constraints in the aftermath of the economic downfall of the Habsburg Monarchy, Richard Genée immediately signed a contract to finalise the text, and Strauss secluded himself in his villa in Hietzing for six weeks to compose the famous operetta. The first performance at the Theater an der Wien (5 April 1874) received lukewarm response, even being labelled a potpourri of waltzes and polkas. The Berlin performance in June enjoyed much greater success. Die Fledermaus received its New York premiere that same year. Recognised as a great masterpiece, the operetta finally won the hearts of audiences across the world. 
 

The concert lasts one hour and 45 minutes including an intermission.

Soloists:
Dan Zhu, violin
Rocío Bazán, flamenco singer

Programme:
Manuel de Falla, El sombrero de tres picos
Franz Waxman, Carmen Fantasie 
*
Manuel de Falla, El amor brujo – ballet version
Emmanuel Chabrier, Espana - Rhapsody for Orchestra
Chick Corea, arr. Emilio Solla, Armando's rumba
Chick Corea, arr. Emilio Solla, Spain

The Slovenian Philharmonic Orchestra and Cankarjev dom invite you to a New Year's musical journey through Spain. 
The traditional gala concert will weave a musical tapestry of fiery passion and joy, adding extra sparkle to the festive atmosphere.
 

This December, the vocal sensation Perpetuum Jazzile invites you to a truly special musical spectacle! On Saturday, December 28, 2024, they will host their first holiday concert at Cankarjev Dom, a performance that is sure to enchant music lovers of all ages. To ensure that the festive spirit is accessible to everyone, there will be two showings, at 4:00 PM and 8:00 PM.

Perpetuum Jazzile, one of the world’s most renowned vocal groups, will take you on an unforgettable musical journey through a mix of pop, jazz, gospel, funk, and many other genres. Their unique a cappella interpretations of globally known songs push the boundaries of musical creativity, with their rendition of "Africa" by Toto, which shot them to global fame in the world of vocal music 15 years ago.

With over 40 years of musical excellence, Perpetuum Jazzile has become synonymous with top-tier vocal artistry. Every concert dazzles with innovative arrangements, energetic performances, and emotional depth that leaves no audience member indifferent. They are also proud recipients of numerous awards both at home and abroad.

The holiday concert will be a special tribute to music, featuring timeless classics and magical Christmas melodies that will create an unforgettable festive atmosphere. The ensemble will once again showcase their remarkable vocal skills by recreating a full orchestral soundscape using only their voices, ensuring an extraordinary experience that you simply cannot miss.

The established Croatian group Four Tenors, consisting of Đani Stipaničev, Vladimir Garić, Filip Hozjak, and Marko Pecotić, accompanied by the Josip Cvitanović Orchestra, presents the audience with the greatest hits from the world’s musical treasury, spanning from the 1950s to the present day. They skillfully blend different generations and genres, and they love to pleasantly surprise their audience during concerts.

The concert lasts one hour and 45 minutes including an intermission.

Soloist: Bomsori Kim, violin

Programme:
August de Boeck, Rhapsodie Dahoméenne
Max Bruch, Violin Concerto No.1 in G minor, Op. 26 
*
Antonín Dvořák, Symphony No.6 in D major, Op. 60

The Antwerp Symphony Orchestra is the resident orchestra of the iconic Queen Elisabeth Hall. Over the decades, it has become synonymous with the sound of Antwerp, a city of diamonds, and its world-class port. The ensemble, famous for its distinctive warm sound and stylistic flexibility, fulfils its mission as a cultural ambassador of Belgium, paying special attention to Flemish musical heritage. Reflecting this dedication, the evening’s programme combines the brilliantly orchestrated Dahomeyan Rhapsody by the Flemish composer Auguste de Boeck with Dvořák's Sixth, a token of the composer's maturity and his ticket to the broad universe of symphonic music.

Two outstanding musicians are debuting with the orchestra in Ljubljana: conductor Shiyeon Sung, the first woman to win the prestigious Sir Georg Solti Competition (2006), and the first South Korean conductor to make the leap to the podium of internationally renowned orchestras; and violinist Bomsori Kim, laureate of major international competitions (including the Tchaikovsky and the Queen Elisabeth). An exclusive Deutsche Grammophon artist, Bomsori makes her Ljubljana debut with Bruch's First Violin Concerto, much-loved for its soaring melodies and passionate orchestral writing.

This spring and summer will be marked by first loves, youthful adventures, and carefree days, accompanied by the unforgettable songs of the band Šank Rock. After an incredibly successful rock tour that took them to legendary party spots, Matjaž Jelen, Bor Zuljan, Cveto Polak, and Aleš Uranjek are now preparing for an acoustic journey through Slovenian castles, cultural centers, and other music venues. On December 25th, they will perform a festive Christmas concert at Cankarjev dom.

In 1996, Šank Rock recorded an album of unplugged versions of their songs at the Bosa dama club, and for this tour, they are preparing new arrangements of hits like Metulj, Puščava sna, Pravljica o mavričnih ljudeh, Maček, Restart, and others. They will be joined on stage by renowned musicians Anja Bukovec on violin and Monika Tekavčič on cello to help create a truly romantic atmosphere. The dates and locations of the performances will soon be announced on their Facebook page, and they invite their loyal audience to start thinking about which special someone they will bring to their concert.

Programme
Zoltán Kodály, Sonatina for Cello and Piano
Johannes Brahms, Sonata in D major, Op. 78 (arr. for cello and piano) 
*
Johannes Brahms, Cello Sonata No. 2 in F major, Op. 99 
Leoš Janáček, Pohadka (Fairytale) for Cello and Piano 

Heirs to the great Hungarian school, István Várdai and Zoltán Fejérvári are firmly following in the footsteps of Hungary's musical giants, delighting the audiences as a brilliant cello and piano duo. István Várdai, Artistic Director of the Franz Liszt Chamber Orchestra and multiple award winner (ARD Munich, Tchaikovsky Competition, Geneva Music Competition), is one of the select few artists to be entrusted with a Stradivarius - Várdai plays the 1673 Stradivari previously owned by the legendary Jacqueline du Pré. A pianist known for impeccable technique and irresistible musicality, Zoltán Fejérvári has emerged as one of the most intriguing pianists among Hungarian musicians, winner of the Concours Musical International de Montréal and recipient of the prestigious Borletti-Buitoni Trust Fellowship.

The attractive programme brings a sprinkling of gems from the cello repertoire: while in Sonatina Kodály’s characteristic “Hungarianness” eloquently revisits Debussy’s impressionism, Janáček's “Czechness” in Pohadka (Fairytale) runs in parallel with the composer's deep affinity for Russian culture; conveying a national tone with his musically progressive and emotionally insightful Cello Sonata, the Classical-Romantic Brahms’ chamber-music oeuvre epitomises his genius for capturing the graceful elegance of the cello.