Festival Maribor
In 2008 (4-14 September) the festival is run under the new name Festival Maribor. It is led by Richard Tognetti, violin player, conductor, composer and artistic head of the Australian Chamber Orchestra. The number of concerts has increased to 21 including morning matinees (mostly classical music recitals, afternoon concerts, some featuring unusual instruments and evening concerts, bringing together the jewels of classical music, interactive projects and Roma musical heritage with some of the finest musicians from the Eastern European Gypsy diaspora). The programme also contains symphony works following the introduction of an orchestra-in-residence - in 2008 Camerata Salzburg, which is going to perform eight concerts. Also performing will be the Ave Chamber Choir, the Swedish Brass Quintet, Mahala Raï Banda and Fanfare Ciocărlia with guest artists and more than 40 chamber musicians and soloists.
The festival in 2008 features around 200 artists from 20 different countries: Slovenia, Australia, Austria, Croatia, Sweden, China, Finland, Great Britain, Argentina, Egypt, Norway, Bulgaria, Hungary, Canada, Italy, Romania, France, Macedonia, Serbia, Bosnia and Herzegovina. The programme comprises also a number of accompanying exhibitions and other social events.
The Maribor Festival venues are the Narodni dom Hall, Maribor, Union Hall, Rotovž Square, Knights Hall at Maribor Castle, Maribor Cathedral, Casina Hall and the Old Hall at the Slovene National Theatre (SNG) Maribor and the Knights Hall at Ptuj Castle.