Slovene Music Days Festival

Apologies for the long gap following the previous post. There is always a lot happening on the Slovenian musical and cultural scene, but we'll do the best we can to keep up with major events such as this year's Slovene Music Days festival at Philharmonic Hall, which is just coming to a close (22 - 25 April).

Slovene Music Days is an annual festival of contemporary Slovene music. This year's festival programme comprised a range of concerts of classical music featuring mainly works by contemporary Slovenian composers performed by well-known Slovene orchestras (the RTV Orchestra, the RTV Big Band, and the Slovene Philharmonic) as well as soloists.

The theme of this year's festival was about music and globalisation. For more info contact Festival Ljubljana, Tel: +386 1 241 60 00, info@ljubljanafestival.si.

Ljubljana's funicular tram

Here is a view from Ljubljana's new funicular tram, which went into operation at the end of 2006 and has proven to be a hit with tourists and locals alike. The cost for a one-way ticket on the tram, which connects the main city marketplace to the Ljubljana Castle, is 2 euro.

"The idea of building a funicular leading to the castle was first considered at the end of the 19th century by the then mayor of Ljubljana, Ivan Hribar. In his letter to the Austro-Hungarian authorities he wrote: 'As the rooms [of Ljubljana Castle] offer an enchanting view, and the castle's shady courtyard could easily be put to a good use, the castle would – if a lift was built and a fare of ten kreutzers or less was charged for a ride to the top – always be well visited, particularly so on summer evenings.' Mayor Hribar's vision, dating back to 1897, will this year turn to reality."
Via Ljubljana Life Magazine

Slovenian Day of Culture

Slovenia's Day of Culture will take place on February 8, and admission to most of Ljubljana's public museums and galleries will be free. "The Slovenian Day of Culture is a public holiday commemorating the death anniversary of France Prešeren, the greatest Slovenian poet. France Prešeren (1800-1849) was a Romantic poet who made a name for himself also for his endeavours to modernize the Slovenian language. He is particularly renowned for his sonnets."
Via Ljubljana.si

Plečnik Year in Slovenia

This year marks the 50th anniversary of the death of the Slovenia's most famous architect Jože Plečnik. In addition to the opening of a special exhibit in the National Gallery "Plečnik Year will also be marked by numerous other events held in Ljubljana. The Architecture Museum of Ljubljana has currently been re-staging its permanent Plečnik exhibition. To further mark Plečnik Year, it will run a series of lectures and expert guided tours of Plečnik's Ljubljana. The tours, available free of charge, will be run every first Saturday of the month, each time drawing special attention to a different masterpiece of Plečnik's."
Via Ljubljana.si

Holiday Concerts in Ljubljana

Between the Christmas and New Year holidays there will be an ongoing programme of live outdoor music organized by the City of Ljubljana. Two separate series of live concerts will be taking place every evening at Prešernov trg and Dvorni Trg squares, and on New Year's eve there will also be live concerts organized at Mestni trg and Kongresni trg squares.

Although most of the music has little if any connection with the holidays per se, the concerts nonetheless contribute to the festive holiday atmosphere in Ljubljana's town center (unless, perhaps, you are one of the local residents who must suffer the nightly onslaught of high decibel noise). More info can be found on the Ljubljana Tourism website.

Here is the list of scheduled events for the Prešernov trg concert programme:

Nuša Derenda (Slovenia) - pop
26.12.2006 | 20.00-22.00

Siddharta (Slovenia) - rock
27.12.2006 | 20.00-22.00

Gibonni (Croatia) - pop
28.12.2006 | 20.00-22.00

Kingston (Slovenia) - pop
29.12.2006 | 20.00-22.00

Neisha (Slovenia) - pop
30.12.2006 | 20.00-22.00

Natalija Verboten (Slovenia) - folk pop
1.1.2007 | 20.00-22.00

Oliver Dragojević (Croatia) - pop
2.1.2007 | 20.00-22.00

Fairy-Tale Town at Zvezda Park

Christmas is soon approaching, and numerous events designed for children of all ages will be taking place at various locations in Ljubljana's town center. The central point for many such happenings will be the Fairy Tale Town at Zvezda park (Kongresni trg).

"The magical events held at the Fairy-Tale Town, traditionally built in the Zvezda park, will this year be intended for both children and adults. A large pyramid erected in the centre of the Fairy-Tale Town will be housing a lush tropical garden, where visitors, surrounded by exotic plants, the sounds of birds and animals, and many other things quite unusual for Ljubljana in winter, will be able to relax and, at least for a little while, forget about the cold. Throughout the day, the Fairy-Tale Town will be hosting interesting events."

Programme of events:

* 10:30-12:30: creative workshops for children
* 16:00-17:00: programme of children's events
* 19:00-21:00: performances by street theatre groups accompanied by a musical programme

Via Ljubljana.si

Festive December

Yes, it's that time of year again... Ljubljana's festively decorated city center will come alive from 3 December to 2 January 2007 with a range of events intended for people of all ages. Here is just a short intro of what to expect. More details will follow in coming days...

The month-long festival traditionally begins on December 3 with an event called "Let's Turn on the Light!" which celebrates the start of the festive season with the lighting up of the Christmas street lights. It will culminate on 31 December with open-air New Year's Eve celebrations taking place at Presernov trg, Mestni trg and Kongresni trg, along with a traditional fireworks display launched from the Ljubljana Castle to mark the beginning of the new year.

Throughout the entire month of celebrations, decorated stalls at the marketplace and along the river will be selling trinkets and other items suitable for holiday gifts, and of course, hot drinks and snacks will be available everywhere.

CHRISTMAS CRIBS
Delightfully decorated Christmas cribs will be on display throughout the holiday season at the following locations, all with free admission:
The Church at Krizanke (11 - 21 Dec). Open every day from 10:00 to 18:00.
The Chapel of St George at the Ljubljana Castle (25 Dec - 2 Feb). Open every day from 10:00 to 18:00.
The Cathedral of St. Nicholas (24 Dec - 2 Feb).
The Franciscan Church at Preseren square (24 Dec - 2 Feb).

GRANDPA FROST PROCESSIONS
From 26-30 December at 17:00, Grandpa Frost (no relation to Jack Frost) will be parading along the following route: Krekov trg - Ciril-Metodov trg - Mestni trg - Stritarjeva ulica - Presernov trg - Wolfova ulica - Zvezda Park. Grandpa Frost (Dedek Mraz in Slovene) is a friendly old man who, like his well-known cousin Santa from up North, visits the children each year and gives them presents. Accompanied by a procession of animals and fairy-tale creatures, he will be passing through the streets of Ljubljana towards the Fairy-Tale Town at Zvezda Park.

Via Ljubljana Life Magazine.