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"The numbers of sold tickets and season tickets for classical music concerts in Slovenia are impressive," explains Ingrid Gortan, Classical Music, Opera and Ballet Programme Manager in Cankarjev dom, one of the most important Slovenian music venues. Ljubljana may not be Vienna, but that's not to say that centuries' old music doesn't have a big following in the city.
Cankarjev dom hosts numerous classical music concerts despite not having an orchestra of its own. Its regular guest is the Slovenian Philharmonic Orchestra, one of the oldest philharmonic orchestras in the world and boasting a rich tradition. Its home is the legendary Slovenian Philharmonic, located in the heart of Ljubljana right next to the magnificent Kongresni Square, this year celebrating its 310th season of existence. Over the years the building has become a symbol of persistent efforts for high musical culture in Slovenia and many respectful artists became its honorary members: Josef Haydn, Ludwig van Beethoven, Carlos Kleiber and Johannes Brahms to name but a few. The orchestra, currently conducted by Emmanuel Villaume, gives 36 season concerts a year in Cankarjev dom, numerous occasional concerts and musical matinees, tours around Europe and beyond and plays at important international festivals, records CDs and hosts world-class conductors and soloists.

Several orchestras

Another major contributor to the Slovenian classical music scene is RTV Slovenia Symphony Orchestra which was established in 1955 within the Slovenian public TV and radio service. Its basic activities are archive and concert recordings - on 200 CDs and almost as many records and audio cassettes they have recorded nearly the entire Slovenian symphonic repertoire and many international pieces, receiving numerous high awards. The orchestra - conducted by En Shao since 2006 - also gives concerts home and abroad and plays various pieces, from Baroque to modern symphonic music, operas, oratorios, cantatas, stage and film music, mostly with an emphasis on Slovenian composers. Lately the orchestra has been introduced to a broader audience through crossover projects with the bands Siddharta and Terrafolk.
Ljubljana is also home to the SNG Opera and Ballet Orchestra, while the fourth of the country's orchestras, SNG Maribor Symphonic Orchestra, is based in the country's second largest city. Mostly they both perform operas, however they are also engaged in many external collaborations.

Booming Students' Creativity

Many of these orchestras' members along with conductors, composers and musical teachers got their education at the Academy of Music in Ljubljana. Established in 1939, it is the only musical academy in Slovenia and one of the very few in the world which offer their own concert cycle with season tickets. "Ever since 2003 the best students have get an opportunity to perform and express themselves in this way," says Hinko Haas, deputy dean for artistic activity who is in charge of the versatile programme consisting of symphonic, chamber and soloist concerts. "This is an important contribution to the classical music scene in Slovenia and it is very well accepted - we have nearly 400 regular audience members," adds Haas.
According to Gortan, musical education is well-developed in Slovenia and classical music reaches a fairly broad audience. However, classical music performances still depend strongly on state budget due to the fact that "classical music cannot be commercialised because it is simply too expensive. Serious musicians are topmost specialists and professionals who practice daily and devotedly, schooling is individual and expensive, their instruments are valuable, also suitable concert halls cost a lot," says Gortan. Despite these hesitations classical music scene in Slovenia seems to flourish. "We have a demanding audience and a very favourable average age of those who attend the concerts," asserts Gortan.