Vlado Kreslin, voice, acoustic guitar, harmonica; Iztok Cergol, accordion, violin, saxophone, mandolin, acoustic guitar; Mileta Grujić, piano; Samo Budna, violin; Anton Tonč Feinig, Hammond; Matej Sušnik, electric and acoustic guitars; Domen Gracej, trumpet; Andraž Mazi, pedal steel guitar; Luka Ovsec, percussion; Andrej Sobočan, cymbals; Boštjan Rous, clarinet, saxophone; Luka Jerončič, electric bass guitar, double bass; Gašper Peršl, drums

Vlado Kreslin, returning to Cankarjev dom’s Gallus Hall for his thirty-fourth three-concert project, is a Slovenian poet, musician and troubadour who celebrates freedom, community, solidarity and the joy of living. After decades of music-making, he continues to surprise us and offer encouragement in our rapidly changing world with his new compositions. A musical phenomenon, Vlado Kreslin has been lifting the veil of mystery and baring his soul for decades with his directness, his poetry and his voice, holding a mirror to us all, allowing us to see ourselves in a way that is so subtle and refined that it’s all done unconsciously. Yet, we long for his music time and again. 

Flame, the creator, an eternal symbol of rebirth, connects humanity and nature in hope, power and the eternal circle of life. The flame dancer, a restless spirit, meets no end in the ashes, only eternal light. It is said that his step is mighty, his dance incomparable. It sounds so wrong, the Flame Dance, simple and trapped, and yet this apparent incongruity makes us face our own truth, according to which the flame and the dance are not just a spark and a step, but a transformation and an eternal movement, the pulse of the world.

The France Marolt Academy Folklore Group will set the Linhart Hall stage ablaze, shedding light on many Slovenian customs and traditions taking place from winter to summertime. With this year's concert, Flame Dance, the group sets out to explore the ritual roles of fire, which initiated humans into a world of countless beliefs. Its destructive nature has intrigued humanity since time immemorial, feeding the myth about its immense power, a single spark of which humans have seized to ignite the smallest of flames. And they only had to dance around it.
 

Raiven in the Gallus Hall – raw freedom. This musical alchemist turns everything upside-down – no rules, no apologies. Sound, movement, a point in time – nothing else counts. Mystical stories of women come alive through untamed energy. An experience for everyone seeking unbounded feeling. Raiven takes us to the edge of emotion, to the depths where sound and movement merge into one. A hedonist manifesto.

We are delighted to announce a spectacular musical evening. Following a series of successful concerts in Zagreb, Vienna, and Budapest, the world's largest tamburitza orchestra will perform for the Slovenian audience. The concert, titled Croatian Tamburitza Rhapsody, will fill the stage of Gallus Hall with one hundred carefully selected musicians. They will perform works by renowned composers of classical, pop, and rock music, as well as virtuosic pieces from the Croatian cultural tradition. This broad showcase of Croatian popular music, also beloved in Slovenia, will be enriched by star guests: vocal soloists Vlado Kreslin and Amira Medunjanin, alongside Croatian pianist Matej Meštrović.

Since 2009, when TED launched the global TEDx initiative, TEDxLjubljana has been a platform in Slovenia for fresh, innovative, bold, inspiring, underrepresented, and courageous ideas. Their mission is to help create a future we all want to live in. By curating and sharing ideas on stage, they aim to contribute to building a better society.

This year marks TEDxLjubljana’s 15th anniversary, having hosted nearly 200 speakers across more than 38 events on a wide range of topics.

Are you ready to rise to the challenge and make a positive impact on the world?
Join us at TEDxLjubljana 2024, where you'll meet extraordinary speakers who push boundaries and inspire positive change in their communities and beyond.

The event features inspiring talks on diverse topics like investment, leadership, poetry, and linguistics. Before the official program kicks off at 6 PM, enjoy a warm networking session, followed by an afterparty in the Grand Reception Hall of Cankarjev dom.

Be part of a community of over 1,500 attendees brought together by innovative ideas, boundary-pushing insights, and the spirit of connection at TEDxLjubljana.

This year’s stage will welcome 11 remarkable speakers:

• Matic Ačko – Designer, photographer, writer, and performer
• Dr. Nina Črnivec – Climate scientist
• Marja Milič – Advocate for financial literacy
• Marko Drobnjak – Researcher at the intersection of language and law, and advocate for open science
• Melanie Seier Larsen – Managing Director and Partner, Boston Consulting Group
• Aljaž Bastič – TV director and assistant professor of TV direction at UL AGRFT
• Aljaž Celarc – Mentor, motivator, regenerative farmer, and passionate self-builder
• Dr. Zala Lenarčič – Leader of a research group exploring the deepest mysteries of the quantum world
• Dušanka Prelc Premate – President of the Slovenian Association for Therapy with Dogs (Tačke pomagačke) and therapy dog handler
• Marko Podgornik Verdev – Entrepreneur and author
• Dr. Jure Knez – President and co-founder of Dewesoft

The program will be enriched with musical performances by Jet Black Diamonds, as well as singer-songwriters Manca Berlec and Blaž Mencinger, creating an unforgettable atmosphere. DJ LYUT and DJ Čorba will keep the energy alive before the event, during breaks, and after the program, encouraging attendees to connect with speakers and event partners.

Connect with TEDxLjubljana on their Instagram, Facebook, Linkedin and TikTok profiles.

RTV Slovenia Symphony Orchestra
Luka Faulisi, violin
Tomaž Sevšek, organ

RAVEL: Bolero
CHAUSSON: Poeme Op. 25
RAVEL: Gypsies 
SAINT-SAËNS: Symphony no. 3 

Join us for an evening of French music as we celebrate the 150th anniversary of the birth of the great Maurice Ravel. The event will begin with an introduction to his most famous work, Bolero, which presents a special challenge for the orchestra. Following that, the talented young violinist of Italian descent, Luka Faulisi, will perform Ravel's virtuoso composition Tzigane and Ernest Chausson's passionately expressive Poem. To conclude the evening, you will be treated to Saint-Saëns' magnificent Organ Symphony.
 

RTV Slovenia Symphony Orchestra
Dejan Lazić, piano

SIBELIUS: Finlandia
CHOPIN: Piano Concerto No. 2
MENDELSSOHN: Symphony No. 5

The December concert will begin with a symphonic poem by Jean Sibelius, symbolizing Finnish national pride and independence. Pianist Dejan Lazić will return as a guest, performing folk motifs and lyrical melodies from Chopin's well-known concerto. Mendelssohn's Reformation Symphony will also be featured, showcasing the composer's skillful instrumentation and melodies that reflect historical and religious themes.

Dawid Runtz, conductor
Nikola Pajanović, violin

BARTÓK: Violin Concerto No. 2
LUTOSŁAWSKI: Concerto for Orchestra

In cooperation with the Embassy of the Republic of Poland

The young violinist, Nikola Pajanović, showed exceptional musical talent from a young age. He has won numerous awards at domestic and international competitions and has performed on prestigious concert stages. Additionally, he has mastered Bartók's complex Second Violin Concerto, which is included in his extensive repertoire. 
It has been almost 70 years since the first performance of one of the most famous works by the Polish composer, Witold Lutosławski.

RTV Slovenia Symphony Orchestra
Danjulo Ishizaka, cello

KUMAR: Forehead of the Alps for symphony orchestra
SHOSTAKOVICH: Concerto for cello and orchestra No. 2
BRAHMS: Symphony no. 2

The Chromatics season in composer Aldo Kumar's jubilee year will open with his composition "Forehead of the Alps," influenced by the Polish avant-garde. The virtuoso German cellist Danjulo Ishizaka will perform a challenging and powerful concerto by Dmitri Shostakovich. The concert's second part will feature one of Brahms' most popular works.