Slovenian Philharmonics: 300 Years of Excellence

The history of the Slovenian Philharmonics began under the name Academiae Philharmoni- corum Labacensis in 1701, while in 1908 an independent Slovenian Philharmonic Society was founded. The 110-year old building at Congress Square in Ljubljana took one year for its renovation, with the official re-opening taking place on 25 September. Two goals were tackled in the project, namely to improve both the acoustics and working conditions within the building. One of the key novelties is a pipe organ set behind the stage, first anticipated in the 1936 plans by famous Slovenian architect Jože Plečnik.

IMAGE: Slovenian Philharmonics

One of the key novelties is a pipe organ set behind the stage, first anticipated in the 1936 plans by the famous architect Jože Plečnik. (S. Plavevski/FA Vitrum)

Renovation work started in July 2000 and wound up in September 2001. (S. Plavevski/FA Vitrum)

Not many symphonic orchestras in the world can pride themselves on an intensive and 300- year-long tradition. (S. Plavevski/FA Vitrum)

IMAGE: Slovenian Philharmonics

The jubilee 300th season started on 11 September with a presentation of Eric Tanguy, the most interesting French composer of the younger generation, who visited Ljubljana for the performance of his piece Intrada at the concert opening this season. On 13 and 14 September, the orchestra performed a composition by Tanguy in the cultural centre of Cankarjev dom in Ljubljana, followed by a composition by American composer John Adams and Maurice Ravel's Bolero. Festivities also extended to Klagenfurt in Austria, where the orchestra performed on 12 September. The Orange Subscription Series started on 21 September in Cankarjev dom in Ljubljana with the Festive Overture by composer Lucijan Marija Škerjanc, who was the director of the institution between 1950 and 1955. This was homage to the composer's 100th anniversary. To this end, the Slovenian Philharmonics also presented a new CD Espressivo, molto cantabile that includes some of Škerjanc's pieces.

The State is Indebted to the Orchestra

On 25 September, the Slovenian Philharmonics also opened the renovated building at the Congress Square. President Milan Kučan in officially opening the revitalised building said that the Slovenian symphony orchestra has almost everything a top-quality orchestra needs, namely a long and bright tradition, a demanding repertoire, internationally recognised artistic leadership, excellent Slovenian soloists and composers, as well as a faithful audience. What they lack, however, is high quality musical instruments which is something that the donor campaign underway is bound to change. They also lack adequate salaries, therefore the state is indebted to them, Kučan added.

Mojca Menart, who became Director of the Slovenian Philharmonics in November 1998, was pleased and honoured to see the end of the project of thoroughly renovating the building, although only minor works were originally planned. Menart thanked the former and incumbent Culture Ministers Jožef Školc, Rudi Šeligo and Andreja Rihter, respectively, who in the past two years have shown a sympathetic understanding of the renovation project of the 110-year-old building.

Renovation work started in July 2000 and wound up in September 2001. The project was co- financed by the Culture Ministry, which contributed SIT 600 million (EUR 2.7 million) for the renovation, while the City of Ljubljana gave SIT 22 million (EUR 100,000). Some funds were provided by the Philharmonic Society itself.

In addition, the orchestra has also signed an agreement with the Slovenian national radio broadcaster, Radio Slovenija, on more extensive and long-term co-operation. While continuing with live broadcasts, the radio is also to upgrade its archival recordings of the orchestra's concerts.

The Renaissance as the Beginning of Music

Not many symphonic orchestras in the world can pride themselves on such an intensive and long-standing tradition as that of the Slovenian Philharmonics. One of Europe's top polyphonists Jacobus Gallus Carniolus emerged during the Renaissance and this is considered the start of Slovenia's music development. In 1701, styled on the model of Italian academies, the artistic association Academia Philharmonicorum was founded as one of the first in Europe. It is considered the first predecessor to today's Slovenian Philharmonic.

By the end of the 18th century the association ceased to exist and was replaced by the Philharmonic Society (Philharmonische Gesellschaft), founded in 1794. The Society's orchestra was completed with professional musicians and its repertoire was enriched with works by the most significant composers in Europe such as Haydn, Mozart and Beethoven, Schubert, Schumann, Brahms and Lizst. Many renowned soloists gave concerts in Ljubljana, headed by the composer and conductor Gustav Mahler, and giving new artistic stimuli to the orchestra.

Regular Member of World Festivals

The first prominent European musician to become an honorary member was Joseph Haydn, the next was Ludwig van Beethoven whose letter of thanks, together with a transcript of the score for the Pastoral Symphony, is still kept in the National University Library. Later, honorary membership was gratefully accepted by the famous violinist Niccolo Paganini and the composers Johannes Brahms and Antonin Dvořak. In 1908, an independent Slovenian Philharmonic Society was founded.

Led by Czech conductor Vaclav Talich and renowned guest conductors like Gustav Mahler and Fritz Reiner in the first decades of the 20th century, the Slovenian Philharmonics attained a top level of musical reproduction. After Talich's departure, in the period between the two wars, the Slovenian Philharmonics' activities were formally abandoned.

In 1947 activity resumed with the re-establishment of an independent Slovenian Philharmonic orchestra and its choir. Since then, the orchestra's quality has been consistently confirmed by its many guest concerts in the greatest cultural centres of the world. Among its most successful guest tours were two one-month tours to the USA, in 1977 and 1980, both ending with polished concerts in the famous Carnegie Hall in New York.

The Slovenian Philharmonics also justifies its reputation in the European symphonic scene by participating in great international musical festivals such as Wiener Festwochen, Maggio Musicale Fiorentino, the Prague Spring Festival, the Warsaw Autumn and the Dubrovnik Summer Festival.

World Music Days

The International Society of Contemporary Music from Amsterdam has confirmed that Slovenia, a member of the Society since 1992, is to prepare the World Music Days. Between 26 September and 3 October 2003, Slovenia will host the oldest festival of modern music, then celebrating its 80th anniversary. The jubilee festival has since 1997 been prepared by the Slovenian Section for Modern Music at the Slovenian Composers' Associations in co- production with Cankarjev dom. The festival, entitled New Music for the Third Millennium, will feature over 40 events in eight days in Ljubljana, Postojna, Piran, Maribor, Bled and Kostanjevica na Krki. The around 24 concerts will be performed by some 750 artists, including Marijana Lipovšek, Irena Grafenauer, the Slovenian Philharmonics, the Symphonic Orchestra of RTV Slovenija, the SNG Opera and Ballet Ljubljana, the Slavko Osterc ensemble and Carmina Slovenica.

Slovenia Weekly, No. 2, January 15, 2002