On August 17, 2026, the Ljubljana Festival will host a unique musical performance titled María de Buenos Aires, bringing together Argentine bandoneonist Marcelo Nisinman and a diverse international ensemble. The concert, scheduled for 20:30 at Križanke, will feature a reinterpretation of Astor Piazzolla’s iconic work, which has long transcended its roots in tango to embrace elements of opera, jazz, and dramatic storytelling. Nisinman, who has worked with Piazzolla for years, describes the performance as “the strongest side of this ‘opera,’” emphasizing its emotional depth and complexity. The narrative centers around María, an embodiment of Buenos Aires itself, simultaneously passionate, sensual, dark, violent, mystical, and chaotic. The music does not merely accompany the story; it becomes its most direct expression. Nisinman explains that while the text and lyrics are intricate, they are not meant to be fully understood in one listening. Instead, the music serves as a bridge, reaching directly into the heart of the listener. He notes that over time, his understanding of Piazzolla’s music has deepened, yet he no longer seeks to become someone else through it. Rather, he finds himself shaped by the composer’s vision, interpreting it through his own lens of life and art. The performance will include a mix of tango, drama, and jazz, with a cast featuring soprano Luciana Mancini as María, tenor Rubén Peloni as El Payador, and baritone Daniel Bonilla-Torres as El Duende. The instrumental lineup includes violinists Daniel Rowland and Jerica Kozole, violist Maja Rome, cellist Maja Bogdanović, bassist Zoran Marković, flautist Irena Kavčič, pianist Natacha Kudrytska, guitarist Alberto Mesirca, and percussionists Špela Cvikl Flis and Jan Cibej. This fusion of talents aims to create a seamless blend of styles, reflecting the innovative spirit of Piazzolla’s work. Meanwhile, on August 12, 2026, at 20:00, the Križevniški space will be filled with the sounds of leading European orchestra musicians. The concert, part of the 74th Ljubljana Festival, will highlight Slovenian composers and performers, including flutist Brina Kafol Žust, trumpeter Andrej Žust, and bassoonist Luka Mitev. These artists, many of whom perform with prestigious Berlin Philharmonic ensembles, will present a program spanning from operatic elegance to modern innovations. Their participation in the Berlin nonet will offer audiences a journey through stylistic diversity, from the refined works of the classical era to contemporary romanticism. The concert will open with a duet for violin and cello in D major by Gioachino Rossini, followed by episodes from the concertante repertoire of Slovenian neoclassical composer Uroš Krek. The first half will conclude with the opening movement of the Godal Trio in B major by Franz Schubert, showcasing the interplay between woodwinds and strings. The second half will introduce fresh interpretations of works by young Croatian composer Veronika Reutz Drobnić, inspired by the Osor Music Evenings. The program will culminate in the Nonet in E major by French Romantic composer Louise Farrenc, highlighting her mastery of balance between winds and strings, as well as influences from Mozart and Mendelssohn. The festival continues to draw attention with its eclectic programming, offering audiences rare opportunities to experience world-class performances. Tickets for both events are available online at ljubljanafestival.si, as well as at Križanka and other authorized ticketing locations. Members of the Ljubljana Festival Club receive a 10% discount on all festival events, though discounts do not apply to selected co-productions. The festival reserves the right to modify its program as needed. As the Ljubljana Festival unfolds, it reaffirms its commitment to presenting cutting-edge artistic visions, blending tradition with innovation. Both concerts exemplify this ethos, inviting listeners to engage deeply with the music, whether through the emotive storytelling of María de Buenos Aires or the rich harmonic tapestry of the European orchestral evening.
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