Slovenian Philharmonic Orchestra
The Slovenian Philharmonic Orchestra, together with its predecessors Academia Philharmonicorum, the Philharmonic Society and the first Slovenian Philharmonic, boasts a rich tradition that positions it among the oldest institutions of its kind in Europe. Its roots date back to 1701, when local nobles, following the example of Italian societies, founded the Academia Philharmonicorum, whose main purpose was to promote the art of music. During the period dominated by the bourgeoisie, the Academia’s work was continued by the Philharmonic Society (1794), which gained a reputation as one of the best organised music societies in Central Europe. It is therefore not surprising that honorary membership of the society was accepted by Joseph Haydn, Ludwig van Beethoven, Niccolò Paganini and Johannes Brahms, among others. The main goal of the Philharmonic Society was to perform instrumental music, which gave rise to the outlines of a modern symphony orchestra.
Such an orchestra came to life fully in 1947, when the Slovenian Philharmonic Orchestra was founded, thus reviving the rich concert life that had been marked by the Philharmonic Society over the previous century and a half. The orchestra underwent constant growth, thanks largely to its Slovenian permanent conductors, including Sam Hubad, Uroš Lajovic and Marko Letonja, as well as many celebrated guest conductors, such as Carlos Kleiber, Riccardo Muti, Charles Dutoit and Daniel Harding, and soloists of the greatest international reputation.
The orchestra initially performed in the main hall of the Slovenian Philharmonic, but since 1982 it has presented regular concerts at the Cankarjev Dom Cultural and Congress Centre. It offers the Ljubljana audience a variety of subscription series, which include the standard orchestral repertoire of the eighteenth and nineteenth centuries, as well as the most contemporary music and music from earlier stylistic periods, thus bearing testimony to the musicians’ versatility. The orchestra brings together the best Slovenian musicians, who, since 1990, have been joined by many outstanding foreign instrumentalists. The domestic success and strong tradition of the orchestra can also be experienced aboard. In recent decades, the Slovenian Philharmonic Orchestra has undertaken tours and guest appearances in the most prestigious halls and renowned festivals around the world.
Since 2019, the Slovenian Philharmonic Orchestra has been the resident orchestra of the Ljubljana Festival.
Such an orchestra came to life fully in 1947, when the Slovenian Philharmonic Orchestra was founded, thus reviving the rich concert life that had been marked by the Philharmonic Society over the previous century and a half. The orchestra underwent constant growth, thanks largely to its Slovenian permanent conductors, including Sam Hubad, Uroš Lajovic and Marko Letonja, as well as many celebrated guest conductors, such as Carlos Kleiber, Riccardo Muti, Charles Dutoit and Daniel Harding, and soloists of the greatest international reputation.
The orchestra initially performed in the main hall of the Slovenian Philharmonic, but since 1982 it has presented regular concerts at the Cankarjev Dom Cultural and Congress Centre. It offers the Ljubljana audience a variety of subscription series, which include the standard orchestral repertoire of the eighteenth and nineteenth centuries, as well as the most contemporary music and music from earlier stylistic periods, thus bearing testimony to the musicians’ versatility. The orchestra brings together the best Slovenian musicians, who, since 1990, have been joined by many outstanding foreign instrumentalists. The domestic success and strong tradition of the orchestra can also be experienced aboard. In recent decades, the Slovenian Philharmonic Orchestra has undertaken tours and guest appearances in the most prestigious halls and renowned festivals around the world.
Since 2019, the Slovenian Philharmonic Orchestra has been the resident orchestra of the Ljubljana Festival.
Members of Slovenian Philharmonic Orchestra
Orchestra
1st violins
- Ana Dolžan concert master
- Miran Kolbl concert master
- Vera Belič deputy concertmaster
- Monika Ivančev deputy concertmaster
- Matic Anžej
- Oliver Dizdarević
- Žiga Faganel
- Mojca Fortin
- Katarina Jurca
- Matjaž Matevž Porovne
- Marika Sara Przybył
- Verena Rojc
- Mojca Rukavina
- Rado Šteharnik
- Milena Virijević
- Matjaž Žižek
2nd violins
- Irena Kevirkova leader
- Mario Ivanov Dimitrov deputy leader
- Rok Zgonc
- Milena Dostal
- Želimir Đonlić
- Marijana Gregorič
- Romana Kokalj
- Barbara Kolbl
- Damjana Kožar
- Ajda Kralj
- Natalija Popov Vesel
- Petar Prendžov
- Miloš Simić
- Jelena Šarc
violas
- Aleksandar Milošev leader
- Sam Burstin leader
- Maja Babnik Ravnikar deputy leader
- Tomaž Malej deputy leader
- Eva Kacjan
- Marina Kopše
- Ivan Krstić
- Zoltan Kvanka
- Roberto Paolo Papi
- Marjeta Škrjanc
- Marjetka Šuler Borovšak
- Sonja Vuković
cellos
- Andrej Petrač leader
- Igor Škerjanec leader
- Gregor Marinko deputy leader
- Ivan Šoštarič deputy leader
- Petra Greblo
- Gordana Keller
- Jošt Kosmač
- Alenka Helena Kovačič
- Alja Mandič Faganel
- Pavel Rakar
- Martin Sikur
double basses
- Petar Brčarević leader
- Jakob Ivan deputy leader
- Grega Rus deputy leader
- Maksim Bogdanov
- Borut Blaž Kantušer
- Krešimir Mikulčić
- Mateja Murn Zorko
- Blaž Zupan
flutes
- Matej Grahek leader
- Aleš Kacjan leader
- Patricija Mihelač Korica
- Jana Trošt piccolo
oboes
- Sorin Crudu leader
- Nicola Bignozzi
- Melina Todorovska English horn
clarinets
- Jurij Jenko leader
- Massimiliano Miani leader
- Dušan Sodja
- Aljaž Beguš bass clarinet
bassoons
- Paolo Calligaris leader
- Zoran Mitev leader
- Lorenzo Contaldo
- Miha Petkovšek counter bassoon
horns
- Blaž Ogrič leader
- Jože Rošer leader
- Aurelie Marie Helene Roussel
- Maja Burger Zgonc
- Robert Prednik
- Metod Tomac
trumpets
- Tibor Kerekeš leader
- Franc Kosem leader
- Dejan Glamočak
- Igor Konečnik
trombones
- Marko Ilić leader
- Domen Jeraša leader
- Žan Tkalec
- Wolf-Hagen Hoyer bass trombone
tubas
- Janez Žnidaršič
timpani
- Špela Cvikl Flis
percussion
- Barbara Kresnik
- Matevž Bajde
- Franci Krevh
harp
- Urška Križnik Zupan
- Alexandra Verbitskaya harp and key instruments