Slovene Philharmonic

The Slovene Philharmonics is a music institution devoted primarily to orchestral music. Its tradition can be traced back to the early Academia Philharmonicorum and then also Philharmonische Gesellschaft, Slovene Philharmonics (1908–1913) and Ljubljana Philharmonics (1934–1941). Today the Slovene Philharmonics is a national institute which incorporates the Slovene Philharmonic Orchestra and the Slovene Chamber Choir, the leading Slovene ensembles with international reputation.

History

Academia Philharmonicorum

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 Academia Philharmonicorum 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 Academia Philharmonicorum began staging performing symphonic compositions by European, particularly Italian, Baroque masters.

Habsburg empire

By the end of the 18th century the Academia Philharmonicorum ceased to exist. In 1794 the Philharmonische Gesellschaft (Philharmonic Society) was established, one of the first institutions of this kind within the Habsburg empire. It grew out of the string quartet of non-professional musicians. The number of musician rose and in the beginning of the 19th century the well-versed amateurs and professional musicians were able to perform works by Haydn, Mozart, and Beethoven. 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 Philharmonic Society with a score of his Missa in Tempore belli. Next was Ludwig van Beethoven who sent a letter of thanks together with a transcript of the score for his Pastoral Symphony. At a later stage, honorary membership was gratefully accepted also by violinist Nicolò Paganini and by composers Johannes Brahms.

A very important phase in the 3-century-long history of the Slovene Philharmonics took place in the mid-19th century when a process of independent Slovene musical activities was initiated, leading to the foundation of the first independent Slovene Philharmonic Society (1908–1913) under the leadership of renown Czech conductor Václav Talich.

After World War Two

In the period between the two wars following Talich's departure, the activities of the Slovene Philharmonic were formally abandoned, but there were several attempts at establishing orchestral body (amateur Orchestral Society of Musical Society and Ljubljana Philharmonics). 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 Slovenian Chamber Chorus, which had been founded in 1991 as an independent body and led by Mirko Cuderman (assisted by Marko Vatovec), became part of the institution. Out of the orchetra grew also different chamber groups: Slowind Quintet, Tartini String Quartet and Slovene Philharmonic String Chamber Orchestra.

The first director of the institution was M. Kozina who was followed by L. M. Škerjanc, M. Lipovšek, C. Cvetko, D. Božič, A. Kolar, M. Gabrijelčič, B. Šinigoj and M. Menart. As new honorary members were among others elected composers U. Krek and P. Ramovš, musicians D. Tomšič-Srebotnjak and M. Lipovšek and conductors M. Horvat and C. Kleiber.

Concert halls

The site of today’s Philharmonic building was for decades dominated by the old Stanovsko gledališče (State Theatre). In 1887 the old theatre building was burnt down and new concert building was built in 1891. The preparations for the tercentenary of the Slovenian Philharmonic and its predecessors (2001/02), brought about a thorough renovation of the entire building. The restored building was inaugurated on 25 September 2001, while on 8 January 2003, on the three hundredth anniversary of the first documented performances, the newly installed organ resounded in the Great Hall for the first time.

Today performances are held at Slovene Philharmonics halls and more often at Cankarjev dom Culture and Congress Centre. The Slovene Philharmonics Hall itself incorporates two venues - the greater Kozinova dvorana (Kozina Hall) and the smaller Osterčeva dvorana (Osterc Hall).

Kozinova dvorana (Kozina 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

Osterčeva dvorana (Osterc Hall)

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.

External links

The Slovene Philharmonics website (in English)

Slovene Philharmonic

Contents