Between January and April 2017, the concert series A Cappella at the Ljubljana Castle will take place at the Ljubljana Castle. In the pleasant atmosphere of the Estates Hall, you will have an opportunity to hear masters of vocal music who know how to conjure up a genuine musical illusion just with theirs voice, with no additional instrumental accompaniment. At the end of January, we will be treated to the vocal tricks of Italian ensemble Alti & Bassi. In February, we present the a cappella choir Bee Geesus, with an evening dedicated to gospel. In March, there will be a performance by the Slovenian Octet, who this season celebrate their 65th anniversary. Finally, in April, the ensemble Bassless will perform the greatest pop hits in a cappella guise. Come and listen to vocal harmonies on Ljubljana’s highest point – you can’t get any closer to the stars!
The Slovenian Octet sang together for the first time in 1951 at the Slovenian Philharmonic, and since then has established itself as the quintessential Slovenian male vocal chamber ensemble. The basic mission of the octet is to maintain and enrich Slovenian vocal music. Its repertoire is extremely broad and varied, comprising compositions ranging from Renaissance music to the folk songs of all nations, from classicism and romanticism to contemporary compositions, many of which have been composed or arranged especially for the ensemble. Special attention is, of course, devoted to Slovenian music, both folk songs and art compositions, which the octet always presents with special enthusiasm in domestic concert halls, and is pleased to take to fellow countrymen and other fans when the ensemble performs around the world. In its six decades of operation, the octet has performed on almost all of the major domestic and international concert stages. In the long and rich period of operation up to the present day, more than 40 singers have had a place in the ensemble, all of whom have felt an extraordinary dedication and loyalty to the nation whose name they have borne. Some of these singers have been the leading Slovenian soloists of their generation and have performed in the greatest concert and opera houses in Slovenia and throughout Europe, while others have enriched the sound of the octet with their folk nature, directness and warmth.
Over the years, the excellence of the ensemble has been maintained and guided by five artistic directors: Janez Bole, Dr Valens Vodušek, Darijan Božič, Anton Nanut and Dr Mirko Cuderman. Since 2008, the octet’s artistic director has been Jože Vidic, the leader of the Slovene National Theatre Opera and Ballet Ljubljana.
The Slovenian Octet has always represented a model and motivation for numerous other ensembles, many of which have been inspired to commence their activities by the octet’s noble singing. Thus, more than a hundred such vocal ensembles have emerged in Slovenia and abroad following their example.
On its twentieth anniversary (1971), the octet initiated the Meeting of Slovenian Choirs in Šentvid pri Stični, which since its inauguration has operated continuously, connecting Slovenian vocal enthusiasts at home and abroad. To date, the octet has released sixty records, cassettes and compact discs, on which Slovenian songs have always had an important place. As a tribute to the generations of singers who have made up the Slovenian Octet, in 2007 a book by Boris Pangerc entitled The Slovenian Octet was published, in which the author thoroughly describes the operation and mission of the ensemble. Since autumn 2016, the ensemble has performed in the new line-up: Vladimir Čadež, Tim Ribič, Rajko Meserko, Janez Trilar, Jože Vidic, Darko Vidic, Janko Volčanšek and Matej Voje.
Ticket price for each individual concert: €17.00, €14.00*
Ticket price for the entire cycle: €58.00, €48.00*
The ticket price includes a return ticket for the funicular.
* students, pensioners, groups of more than 15 persons
Ticket sales: Info Centre at the Ljubljana Castle, lower funicular station, www.ljubljanskigrad.si and all www.mojekarte.si sales points (including Petrol service stations and Kompas agencies throughout Slovenia).
