Beekeeper and Slovenia under the Danube

A traditional children’s choir from Slovenj Gradec, led by Andrea Wieser-Laussenger, a teacher at the folk school in Borovlje and member of the local parish council, performed under the famous Podnarjeva linden tree near Podnarjevo village on Sunday. The event marked another year of the annual singing festival, which has become one of the most popular cultural gatherings in the municipality of Borovlje and the southern part of the Carinthian region. The celebration took place on July 6th, drawing music lovers from both sides of the Karawanks mountains. Among the attendees were new mayor Christian Gamsler of Borovlje and Consul of the Republic of Slovenia in Celovce, Gregor Jovan. The event was warmly welcomed by all who participated in this summer afternoon dedicated to Slovenian song and music. The tradition began in 2007 after the unexpected death of Mirko Laussegger, a singer, composer, and choir director from Slovenj Gradec, whose work had been central to the choral singing scene in the area. His friends, including Peter Waldhauser from Bodental, choir director Roman Verdel from Borovljica, and singer and journalist Franc Wakounig from Borovljica, discussed how to preserve the local musical heritage. They came up with the idea of holding an annual singing festival under the iconic Podnarjeva linden tree in early July, inviting choirs that had been directed by the late Mirko. The concept gained momentum and spread, largely due to the efforts of the Slovenian Educational Society Borovlje and the Slovenian Educational Society Vrtača from Slovenj Gradec (Windisch-Bleiberg). Over time, the event became one of the most well-known and attended festivals in the community. This year's performance under the linden tree featured a stunning backdrop of the northern wall of Vrtača. Music enthusiasts from both sides of the Karawanks filled the path around the tree, creating a vibrant atmosphere. The event was attended by notable figures such as the new mayor of Borovlje, Christian Gamsler, and the consul of Slovenia in Celovce, Gregor Jovan. A heartfelt thank you was extended to Roman Verdel, president of the Slovenian Educational Society Borovlje and longtime director of the Choral Choir of Borovlje, one of the participating choirs. The Sunday concert began with the local children’s choir, led by Andrea Wieser-Laussenger, followed by other choirs directed by Christian Laussegger, son of the late Mirko Laussegger. These included a women’s vocal group, the local men’s choir, and the Vrtačaklang ensemble, composed of singers who speak both Slovene and German. As a guest, the men’s choir from Bilka, located on the north bank of the Drava River, also performed, led by Christian, who also serves as the organist in the local church and professor at the music school in Celovce. Andrea Bergant, known for his performances with the Fantov ensemble from Praprotna, joined forces with Marjan Smrtnik, a singer from the Quintet Smrtnik and his son Damijan, to bring their unique style to the event. Their participation added a special dimension to the already rich program. The highlight of the Sunday concert was the appearance of two legends of Slovenian folk music: Andrea Bergant, a tenor from Fantov, who sang some of the most famous Slak melodies alongside his ensemble “Glas,” based in the vicinity of Oplotnice, and Alfij Nipic, along with his musicians, who represented the 18-year-old era of the Bratov Avsenik ensemble. Andrea and Alfi ensured that the Slak’s “Čebelar” and Avsenik’s “Slovenija” were performed in Podnarjevo, bringing a sense of continuity and reverence to the event.