Slovene Philharmonic

History

The Slovene Philharmonics traces its illustrious heritage back to the Academia Philharmonicorum, which was founded in Ljubljana in 1701 on the model of the Italian academies. The Academy chose for its emblem the organ of its patron, St Cecilia, and its seal incorporated the motto Receat, mentique perennia monstrat ('It entertains, and reveals eternal things to the mind'). Its members were drawn from the aristocracy and from the town's intelligentsia, and according to reports by contemporary chroniclers, after several years of practice and with a great deal of enthusiasm the Academy began staging performing symphonic compositions by European, particularly Italian Baroque masters. By the end of the 18th century the Academy ceased to exist and was replaced in 1794 by the Philharmonische Gesellschaft (Philharmonic Society), one of the first establishments of this kind within the Habsburg empire. The Society's orchestra comprised well-versed professional musicians whose repertoire was enriched with works by the most significant composers in Europe at that time, including Haydn, Mozart, Beethoven, Schubert, Schumann, Brahms and Liszt. Many renowned soloists gave concerts in Ljubljana, headed by composer and conductor Gustav Mahler, giving new artistic stimuli to the orchestra. In its desire for international input into its ambitious activities the Philharmonic Society sought prominent European musicians as honorary members. The first was Joseph Haydn who gratefully presented the Society with a score of his Missa in Tempore belli. Next was Ludwig van Beethoven whose letter of thanks together with a transcript of the score for his Pastoral Symphony is still kept in the National and University Library (NUK). At a later stage, honorary membership was gratefully accepted by violinist Nicolò Paganini and by composers Johannes Brahms and Antonin Dvorak. A very important phase in a three century-long history of the Slovene Philharmonics took place in the mid-19th century when a process of independent Slovene musical activities was initiated by the Music Society (1892), leading to the foundation of the first independent Slovene Philharmonic Society (1908-1913). Thereafter, under the leadership of Czech conductor Vaclav Talich and renowned guest conductors like Gustav Mahler and Fritz Reiner in the first decades of the 20th century, the Slovene Philharmonic Society attained a high level of musical reproduction.

In the period between the two wars following Talich's departure, the activities of the Slovene Philharmonic Society were formally abandoned. However, in 1947, on the initiative of composer Marjan Kozina, conductor Samo Hubad and musicologist Vlado Golob, a resolution was passed on the formation of the Slovene Philharmonics, with a symphony orchestra, a mixed (until 1976) and youth choir (until 1952), a string quartet and an agency which organised concerts (this became independent in 1952). The first concert by the new Slovene Philharmonic Orchestra, led by Spanish conductor Salvador Bacarisse, took place on 13 January 1948.

In 1999 the Slovene Chamber Choir, founded in 1991 by Dr Mirko Cuderman, was formally incorporated into the Slovene Philharmonics, facilitating more detailed and long-term planning both of the choir's own concert programme and of joint performances of the great vocal-instrumental works with the Slovene Philharmonic Orchestra.

The Slovene Philharmonic Orchestra is one of the leading orchestras in Central Europe, it traces its illustrious heritage back to the 18th Century. The Society's orchestra reached an impressive standard under the leadership of Czech conductor Václav Talich and became very well known, however following Talich’s departure its activity declined in the period between two wars. The orchestra was re-established in 1947 and was thereafter led by many renowned conductors, among them Bogo Leskovic, Samo Hubad, Oskar Danon, Lovro Matačič, Uroš Lajovic, Milan Horvat, and from 1995 through to 2004 Marko Letonja who left to became Music Director and Chief Conductor of the Symphony Orchestra Basel. From 2005 until 2008 the Orchestra has been led by renowned American conductor George Pehlivanian.

Venue

Performances are held at Slovene Philharmonics Halls and often at Cankarjev dom Culture and Congress Centre

The Slovene Philharmonics Hall incorporates two venues - the Velika dvorana (Great Hall) and the Mala dvorana (Small Hall).

Type of venue: Concert hall; main use: concerts, music theatre and dance performances, ceremonies; seating: 507 seats, comprising 345 stalls, 162 balcony; performing area: raised open platform 11.54m W x 9.8m D; lighting: basic concert rig only; sound: basic PA system only; stage equipment: Diocesan Organ Workshop Maribor organ (1999) with 2,614 pipes and 40 registers; backstage: dressing rooms accommodating 150-200 persons total, technical staff available; climate control: air-conditioned and heated; availability: available for hire

Type of venue: Recital room; main use: chamber music concerts, lectures, seminars, press conferences; seating: 200 removable seats total; performing area: flexible within total area 10m x 6m x 2.5m H to ceiling; lighting: recessed ceiling lighting only; sound: basic PA system; backstage: facilities shared with Great Hall; availability: available for hire.

Programme

Today the Slovene Philharmonics is a national institute which incorporates the Slovene Philharmonic Orchestra, the Slovene Philharmonic String Chamber Orchestra and the Slovene Chamber Choir. To date the Orchestra has performed nearly 40 subscription concerts in the Gallus Hall at Cankarjev dom Culture and Congress Centre as well as one-off concerts on special occasions and musical matinees for young audiences. The Orchestra also has over 40 CD recordings to its credit.

Projects

International cooperation

External links

http://www.filharmonija.si

Slovene Philharmonic

Contents

History

Venue

Programme

Projects

International cooperation

See also

External links

Operated by

Financed by