The following table is inserted in Annex I:

On July 17, 2026, at 5 pm, the Križevniška church in Ljubljana will host a special concert as part of the 74th Ljubljana Festival. The performance will feature Spanish pianist Leo de María, one of the most prominent young pianists of his generation. Known for his expressive power and technical mastery, de María will present a program that spans three distinct musical worlds, offering audiences a unique journey through aesthetic periods and emotional states. The concert will open with a vivid suite titled Goyescas by Enrique Granados, a key figure in Spanish piano music during the early 20th century. Granados died tragically during World War I, and the selected fifth movement, Love and Death, draws inspiration from the atmosphere and pride of Spanish folk art depicted in the works of Francisco de Goya. The piece is noted for its ornate decoration and dramatic intensity, serving as a tragic climax to the work. Following this, the program will shift to Franz Liszt’s fantasy Po Branju Danteja from the collection L’année de grâce. The title directly references Victor Hugo’s poem, which in turn connects to Dante Alighieri’s Divine Comedy. Liszt composed the piece as a free imagination, exploring the confrontation of two entirely different worlds, dark, heavy melodies in low tones representing hell, while lighter, lyrical melodies bring hope. The technical demands and speed of playing are not ends in themselves but guide the listener through a true musical drama, from the initial infernal tension to the final relief. The highlight of the recital will be Sergei Prokofiev’s Sonata for Piano No. 8 in B-flat minor, one of his most renowned “war sonatas.” Completed in 1944, the piece was dedicated to his lifelong companion, Mirra Mendelson. The composition weaves percussive energy with lyrical escape, creating a deeply contradictory atmosphere filled with restrained tension and unrest. Renowned Russian pianist Svyatoslav Richter described the piece as the richest among all Prokofiev's sonatas, particularly due to its rich narrative depth, likening it to “a tree heavy with fruit.” Leo de María has been shaping his distinctive pianistic profile since the age of eleven. He studied under his father, León Morales, in Madrid, and later earned a master’s degree at the Mozarteum University in Salzburg under Pavel Gil. Currently, he is pursuing a doctoral degree at the University of Music in Mannheim under Rudolf Meister. His career includes over 50 international awards, including top placements at prestigious competitions in South Africa, Spain, Germany, and France. At just fifteen, de María performed his first concert with an orchestra, featuring Prokofiev’s Sonata No. 8. Since then, his performances have taken place in notable venues such as Hamburg, Salzburg, Porto, Bratislava, Lyon, Moscow, and Paris. He has also toured extensively in China and both Americas. In addition to regular concert appearances, de María leads the Elite Piano Academy Morales Herrero, teaches at masterclasses in Europe and the United States, and serves on the juries of international piano competitions. Tickets for the 74th Ljubljana Festival are available on the festival’s website, at the Križanka ticket office, and at Eventim sales points across Slovenia. Members of the Ljubljana Festival Club receive a 10% discount on festival events, though discounts do not apply to co-productions. The festival reserves the right to change the program. More information can be found at ljubljanafestival.si.