by InTrieste
As summer draws to a close, the Slovenian capital will host the culmination of the 72nd Ljubljana Festival, an event of sweeping artistic ambition that has drawn audiences from across Europe and beyond. This year’s festival, running until September 3rd, offers an array of performances spanning symphonic music, film scores, jazz, and world music, featuring world-renowned artists who may not perform again soon in Italy or elsewhere.
Among the most anticipated performances is the August 27th concert by Peruvian tenor Juan Diego Flórez, a leading figure in the bel canto repertoire. With a voice that has dazzled audiences in opera houses from La Scala to the Metropolitan Opera, Flórez is known for his peerless technique and charismatic presence. This program, centered around rare arias by Donizetti, Rossini, and Offenbach, promises to be a special treat for aficionados of the classical voice. True to form, Flórez will also take up his guitar for a selection of popular Spanish songs, adding a personal touch to his performance. He will be accompanied by the Slovenian Radio Television Symphony Orchestra, under the baton of Ukrainian conductor Oxana Lyniv, a rising star on the international stage and currently the principal conductor at Bologna’s Teatro Comunale.
Following Flórez’s much-anticipated performance, the London Symphony Orchestra, conducted by Sir Antonio Pappano, will offer two distinctive programs over consecutive evenings on August 28th and 29th. Pappano, who recently concluded his highly successful tenure as Music Director of the Accademia Nazionale di Santa Cecilia in Rome, is revered for his ability to elicit nuanced performances from his ensembles. His collaboration with the London Symphony, one of the world’s most esteemed orchestras, promises to be a highlight of the festival.
The first of Pappano’s concerts will feature Elgar’s Violin Concerto, with young Norwegian virtuoso Vilde Frang as the soloist. The program will conclude with Mahler’s monumental First Symphony, a piece celebrated for its emotional depth and orchestral grandeur. The following evening, Pappano and the London Symphony will turn to a more varied program, including Berlioz’s Overture to Le Carnaval Romain, followed by Holst’s cosmic The Planets, one of the 20th century’s most evocative orchestral works. Canadian pianist Bruce Liu, the 2021 winner of the prestigious Chopin International Piano Competition, will also perform Chopin’s First Piano Concerto.
These performances will take place at Ljubljana’s Cankarjev Dom, an architectural landmark known for its exceptional acoustics and modern design. Its large concert hall has been carefully engineered to provide excellent sightlines and sound quality from every seat, ensuring that attendees will be fully immersed in the music.
While the Ljubljana Festival is less internationally renowned than some of its counterparts, such as Salzburg or Bayreuth, its dedication to excellence and diverse programming has earned it an ever-growing reputation. For those lucky enough to attend, the festival offers the opportunity to witness performances by some of the world’s finest musicians in an intimate and culturally vibrant setting.
Tickets for the festival’s major events are still available and can be purchased in Trieste at the Aurora Viaggi Agency or through Radioattività-Finmedia, which also offers a convenient bus service for Italian concertgoers. For more information, email biglietteria@radioattivita.com.
