When the fields awaken new colors of spring

The summer of 2026 promises to bring a unique blend of classical music and cinematic soundscapes as the leading Slovenian chamber ensemble Ensemble Dissonance prepares two high-profile concerts featuring internationally renowned musicians. These performances will take place on July 27 and 29 at venues in Ljubljana, offering audiences a journey through contrasting musical worlds ranging from deep Russian romantic melancholy and virtuosic French brilliance to refined Viennese classics and emotionally powerful film masterpieces. On the first evening, scheduled for Monday, July 27 at 8 PM in the Unions Hall, violinist Vadim Repin and pianist Petar Laul will lead Ensemble Dissonance through a carefully curated program. Repin, known for his mastery of the violin, has been praised by legendary musician Yehudi Menuhin, who once described him as simply perfect and the best violinist he had ever heard. Repin is particularly notable for his dedication to Stradivarius violins but also for his connection to Slovenia, having played on an original Tartini violin during one of his visits to the National Museum. Joining Repin will be Petar Laul, a pianist recognized for his exceptional skill and ability to perform all 32 Beethoven piano sonatas within a single year—a feat critics have called a true “athletic triumph of the spirit.” The ensemble will accompany them through expanded variations on themes from Tchaikovsky’s Anton Arensky, the lyrical Reminiscence of a Beloved Place by Pyotr Ilyich Tchaikovsky, and the rhapsodic and virtuosic Gypsy Fantasy for Violin, Guitar, and Harp by Maurice Ravel. The evening will conclude with the exquisite and colorful Concert for Violin, Piano, and Guitar by Ernest Chausson. The second concert, set for Wednesday, July 29 at 8 PM in the special ambiance of the Križevniška Church, will feature flutist, soloist, and educator Jurga Zorž and Ensemble Dissonance, which brings together top Slovenian chamber composers under its umbrella. This event will welcome two additional distinguished musicians: violinist Vasily Melnikov, a long-time professor at the Ljubljana Academy of Music, and cellist Bernardo Brizani, known for international successes and studies in Germany and Italy. This extraordinary collaboration will present a dynamic fusion of classical repertoire, film scores, and new Slovenian works. The program will open with the playful Quartet for Flute and String Trio No. 1 in D major by Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart and the virtuosic Concerto for Cello and Orchestra No. 1 in C major by Joseph Haydn. After an intermission, the audience will enter into a vivid, stylistically open soundscape. Following the Divertimento No. 2 by Joseph Haydn, French Impressionist influences will be introduced with Syrinx for Flute Solo by Claude Debussy and Pavane for a Dead Princess by Maurice Ravel. This will be followed by the charming Labod from the Carnival of the Animals Suite by Camille Saint-Saëns. The highlight of the evening will be the premiere performance of the new work Waves for Flute and Guitar by versatile domestic composer Jani Golob. The concert will conclude with iconic film themes from Schindler's List by John Williams and from the movie Mission by Ennio Morricone. Tickets for the 74th Ljubljana Festival are available online at ljubljanafestival.si, at the Križanka cash register, at Petrolo’s service stations, and other Eventim sales points. Members of the Ljubljana Festival Club are entitled to a 10 percent discount on events of the 74th Ljubljana Festival. The discount does not apply to co-productions. The Ljubljana Festival reserves the right to change the program. More information can be found at ljubljanafestival.si.