Ljubljana Festival - at the heart of your experience

We are counting down the days to the 66th Ljubljana Festival. Running from 28 June to 7 September and with a top-notch program, the Festival will fill Ljubljana with an exciting atmosphere of concerts and other events, spanning a wide variety of genres and featuring some of the world's top artists. One of the largest festivals in Europe, the Ljubljana Festival begins on 28 June, at Congress Square, with the world premiere of Sfera Mundi - Voyage Around the World, a co-production with the famous theatre company, La Fura dels Baus, and directed by Carlus Padrissa.

 

Photo: Festival Ljubljana

Another notable event near the start of the Festival will be the performance by the Munich Philharmonic, on 1 July, at Cankarjev Dom (Cultural and Congress Centre). Don't miss this unique opportunity to hear one of the finest performances of Bruckner's Symphony in D minor, also known as Die Nullte ("Zeroth"), with the orchestra conducted by Grammy Award winner, Paavo Järvi.

Photo: Festival Ljubljana

Latvian opera star, Kristīne Opolais, performs a concert of opera arias on 4 July. One of the most sought-after sopranos in the international opera scene, she will appear with the RTV Slovenia Symphony Orchestra, under the baton of Italian conductor, Sesto Quatrini, whom she describes as radiating passion and the love of music.

Photo: Festival Ljubljana

The very next evening, on 5 July, opera lovers will have the chance to hear Hasanaginica, the most beautiful (and most translated) ballad from Bosnia-Herzegovina. In 2000, the librettist Nijaz Alispahić used the original text as the basis for an eponymous three-act opera in collaboration with the extraordinarily prolific Bosnian composer, Asim Horozić. The main roles in this Sarajevo National Theatre production will be sung by soprano Adema Pljevljak-Krehić and bass Leonardo Šarić.

The program then continues with numerous other major events and world-famous names, including: the Filarmonica della Scala orchestra from Milan, the Royal Concertgebouw Orchestra from Amsterdam, opera stars Diana Damrau and Marcelo Álvarez, the Eifman Ballet from Saint Petersburg, the groups Laibach and Voca People, choreographer Edward Clug, veteran baritone Leo Nucci in the role of Rigoletto, and many others.

Spend carefree and unforgettable summer moments at the outstanding events of the 66th Ljubljana Festival.

For more information and online ticket sales visit www.ljubljanafestival.si. Tickets are also on sale at the Križanke Box Office, Eventim outlets and Petrol service stations.

 

Summer pulse above the city

The central tourist spot in the city - the Ljubljana Castle - is preparing a varied cultural and artistic program for the summer. In this Dragon Year, do not miss the central exhibition about the Ljubljana dragon, the dragons in Slovenia and the dragons of the world - The dragon of all the dragons, and as part of the accompanying program, an exhibition of the illustrations of Lila Prap, Dragons?!
The walls of the castle halls - the Palacij Hall and the Estates halls - will this summer be decorated by one of the most sought-after fashion photographers Giampaol Sgure, whose trust is shown by the most prestigious fashion shows in the world.

Photo: Ljubljanski grad

During sunny weekends, both local and foreign visitors to Ljubljana Castle are invited to the Castle Reading Room, a pleasant and quiet corner, in the safe shelter of the castle walls and the defensive trench, where they can abandon the light summer atmosphere in the company of a friend, a book!

More at www.ljubljanskigrad.si

 

Film under the stars 2018

During the summer, at Ljubljana castle, film stars als shine. In cooperation with the City of Ljubljana and the public institution Ljubljana Castle, Kinodvor will again prepare a selection of some of the most acclaimed movies of the cinematographic season, projected at the annual cinema under the stars. In the Castle courtyard, the first public screening on Slovene screens this year will be five movie delicacies.

Photo: Domen Pal

All the films are shown in their original language with Slovenian subtitles. Movies in which the language is not English will be also subtitled in English.

Film under the stars: Every evening from 5 to 28 July 2018, at 21.30 in the courtyard of Ljubljana Castle. Ticket prices: € 4.50 and € 5.50 for pre-shifts and special projections.

 

Open-air cinema at Congress Square 2018

Following the example of two distinguished city markets in Bologna and Locarno, Ljubljana annually offers inhabitants and visitors free screenings of the seventh art highlights. The performances, that each year attract many local and foreign visitors, are dedicated to the important anniversaries and events in the city and film. In the hallmark of Kinodvor's 10th anniversary, the Open-air Cinema at Congress Square will be extended to a fourth evening, and so this year there will be four timeless film classics.

Photo: Nik Rovan

Films are shown in the original language with Slovenian subtitles. Movies in which the language is not English will be subtitled also in English.

Open-air cinema at the Congress Square: every evening from 27 to 30 August 2018, at 9 pm at the Congress Square. Entrance is free.

 

PRESTIGIOUS EU PRIZE FOR CULTURAL HERITAGE / EUROPA NOSTRA AWARD 2018 FOR A JEWEL OF SLOVENIAN CULTURAL HERITAGE - PLEČNIK HOUSE

Among this year's winners of the 2018 EU Prize for Cultural Heritage / Europa Nostra Awards, Europe's top honour in the field was Plečnik House, located in Ljubljana's neighbourhood of Trnovo. In May 2018, the European Commission and Europa Nostra, the leading European heritage network, announced 29 laureates from 17 countries that have been recognised for their impressive accomplishments in conservation, research, dedicated service, education, training and awareness-raising.

Photo: Matevž Paternoster/MGML

Plečnik House was awarded for its programs and activities in the latter fields - the jury highlighted that, "the elaborate educational program attached to the conservation of the house, ensured the existence of a secure learning environment for continuing education for various target groups of visitors, as well as encouraging a broader appreciation of architectural heritage. The social value and benefits of the project are reflected in the integration of various social groups into the different activities of Plečnik House". They added that, "the museum has also been dedicated to increasing awareness of Plečnik across Europe and the world."

This is definitely another good reason to visit the unique Plečnik House this summer.

 

New permanent exhibition on the millennia of Ljubljana's history

A new permanent exhibition at the City Museum of Ljubljana, Ljubljana. History. City., shows a chronological overview of the Ljubljana basin area, from prehistory to today. The exhibition can be understood as the museum's identity card, an important document of Ljubljana, and a new space where locals and tourists can meet and research the city.

The exhibition gives emphasis to the museum artefacts and a clear chronological presentation. Visitors can admire the world's oldest wooden wheel with an axle, as well as the medal commemorating the formal declaration of Ljubljana as the capital of the Republic of Slovenia.

Photo: Nik Rovan

The exhibition offers local and foreign visitors the opportunity to learn about the history of Ljubljana and draws attention to the city's important geostrategic position and to the extraordinary events in the history of the area, from prehistory to the 20th century. Among all important moments, Emperors, Kings and Presidents, visitors of the exhibition also encounter everyday life in the city, as the exhibition presents the lives of the people who lived in the city and left their mark on it. Several longstanding local peculiarities can also be found at the exhibition, which differentiates the people and city from other European cities.

Photo: Nik Rovan