Dear music lovers and all those who perhaps do not yet consider yourselves music lovers,
We live in a period of adaption to new living, working, social and, of course, health conditions, which, in the last year, have forced us to abandon many experiences that we used to take for granted. Due to the restriction of interpersonal contacts, we have been, among other things, greatly deprived of the possibilities of mutual communication and, consequently, mutual understanding. The live experience of the spoken word, dance movement and music have become imaginary concepts associated with the past, as they have almost disappeared from our lives. On concert, theatre and dance stages, we performing artists have stared into empty halls, while you, our valued audience, were not allowed to come into contact with us and with live art.
The Slovenian Philharmonic Orchestra spent most of the winter in front of cameras and microphones, sending out into the world music that found its way to you via the World Wide Web. Our online concerts were a consolation for many and a pleasure for others, while for some they may have been the first contact with our music, perhaps giving rise to a desire to attend real concerts.
With the onset of summer, it once again seemed that all of the above would be a thing of the past, but doubts still remain. Nonetheless, we conscientiously act as if everything is – or will be – fine again from now on. Driven by inexhaustible optimism and a desire to have direct contact with you, we are therefore approaching the 2021/22 season with the same attitude as last year: all or nothing. We have prepared a rich new selection of concert events collected in six subscription series, three of which will take place in the Gallus Hall of Cankarjev dom and three at the Slovenian Philharmonic. We have invited those conductors who really impressed us in the previous season and added a number of exceptional musical artists who will undoubtedly leave an indelible mark on the upcoming season.
With the present concert programmes, we will share with you the timeless beauty of classical music, the opulence of countless sound colours, melodies and rhythms, as well as everything that our own time has to offer. We are convinced that this is precisely what helps us make sense the trials of everyday life. We will raise the performance level of compositions from the recent and distant past in collaboration with exceptional guests in the subscription series SMS (Symphonic Masterpieces Series) and PC (Philharmonic Classics). At the same time, we will dispel the prejudices about the inaccessibility of contemporary music with a superb selection of the great sonic works of our time in the new subscription series NOW (New Orchestral Works). However, you will have to help us in this endeavour, valued listeners, by visiting the free presentations of the SIM series (Saturday Insights into Music), which will take place every Saturday before the main concerts of the NOW series. At these presentations, many things will be clarified and explained, so that the concerts of the NOW series will be a pleasure to listen to, while also satisfying your curiosity. Finally, you will have an opportunity to hear a number of fascinating musical stories about a range things at the YES! (Young Ears Series) concerts, to which we especially invite children and their families.
Each note will sound in its own moment. In our company, it will therefore be impossible for us to reproach ourselves for perhaps undervaluing the moment.
The concerts of the subscription series PC – Philharmonic Classics present the noble masterpieces of the Viennese classics, complemented by works of various stylistic periods. The concert programmes consist of compositions in which beauty, playfulness, refinement, harmony and temperament coexist idyllically.
With its opulent palette of sound colours, the large symphony orchestra will draw us into a whirlwind of diverse emotional moods at the concerts of the subscription series SMS – Symphonic Masterpieces Series. The concert programmes will mainly comprise the music of high Romanticism, complemented by works by Prokofiev, Stravinsky and Slovenian composers Demetrij Žebre and Peter Kopač.
The twentieth century was a time of turbulent change. It was marked by events such as the two world wars and man’s landing on the moon. Today, in the twenty-first century, we are battling pandemics, the Earth is polluted and global warming seems unstoppable. These and other current topics are reflected in the compositions of the subscription series NOW – New Orchestral Works. Each concert is complemented by two accompanying events: SIM – Saturday Insights into Music and a post-concert gathering. When listened to differently, each concert will make a profound impression on the memory.
From the late Renaissance to the present day, the period during which singing and instrumental music have coexisted, the most beautiful and weighty works have been created for choir and orchestra, often representing the peak of the creative work of individual composers. Vocal-instrumental compositions speak to us with a special expressiveness, which is reflected in their great popularity. In the subscription series VIP – Vocal-Instrumental Programme, the Slovenian Philharmonic Orchestra and Choir will revive some of the most glorious moments in the history of music with the sound of coexistence.
Through words and music, the Slovenian Philharmonic Choir will lead you to a deeper experience with the concerts of the subscription series MVP – Mainly Vocal Programme. The word itself has extraordinary power, and supported by melody it touches the depths of the soul. Over and over again, we each experience a range of emotions – from sorrow to joy, from melancholy to longing, from hatred to love – and with the right music we are able to relive every nuance. You are warmly invited to the world on the wings of words.
The music of the subscription series YES! – Young Ears Series will tell a variety of stories. We will shorten Saturday mornings for families and the youngest audience at the Slovenian Philharmonic, and you will learn a lot of interesting things through music.
