Coming ahead of Slovenia's being featured as the guest of honour at the Frankfurt Book Fair, the annual festival of classical music in Maribor this year focuses on the link between words and music.

The opening concert will feature the Symphony Orchestra of the SNG Maribor theatre under the baton of Simon Krečič with the brothers Nejc and Adam Kamplet on the piano.

The programme includes Georges Bizet's L'Arlésienne, Suite No. 2 and Francis Poulenc's Concerto for Two Pianos and Orchestra, as well as the symphonic work Gazele (Ghazals) by Lucijan Marija Škerjanc, which was inspired by the poetry by Slovenian Romantic poet France Prešeren.

The Frankfurt-based Ensemble Modern and Slovenian soprano Nika Gorič will give the closing concert, whicj will be dedicated to Slovenian music and literature.

Macedonian guitarist Vlatko Stefanovski and saxophonist Vasko Atanasovski are returning to the Maribor Festival with a fresh version of their project Fire & Ice. They will be joined by their sons, drummer Jan Stefanovski and cellist Ariel Vei Atanasovski.

Also back at the festival from the Balkans will be the No Borders Orchestra, touted as one of the most intriguing European ensembles of successful young musicians.

The festival will also see the premiere of the musical play for children The Star and the Heart, which was created by composers Nana Forte and Jure Ivanušič especially for the Maribor Festival based on a text by poet Milan Jesih.

Violinist Žiga Faganel, cellist Alja Mandič Faganel and pianist Nejc Lavrenčič will unravel the seemingly invisible threads that connect the work of Alfred Schnittke, Mieczysław Weinberg and Arvo Pärt.

The concert for babies and toddlers with pianist Adriana Magdovski this year features carefully selected poetry for children interpreted by actor Davor Herga.

For other details, visit the festival's website.