Slovenian Philharmonic Orchestra
Solists: Joonas Ahonen, piano; Maria Leben, soprano 


Programme:
Mikheil Shugliashvili, Polychronia for ochestra (1978) 
Hans Abrahamsen, Left, alone – piano concerto for the left hand (2015)
Klemen Leben, Neoheroj | Neohero* (2026) 
Maurice Ravel, Piano Concerto for the Left Hand in D major (1930) 

In anticipation of the Beethoven Year, Klemen Leben pays tribute to the great composer with a new work for soprano, orchestra and electronics. Based on a text by Jani Kovačič, the provocative cantata is caught between the past and the future. In the hope that the latter will not be too harsh, the composition also offers some optimistic moments. The new work is placed alongside Polychronia by the avant-garde Georgian composer Mikheil Shugliashvili, as well as two piano concertos for the left hand.
 

Accompanying events:
POP 1
30 September 2026, at 6.30 pm 
Gallus Hall 
Cankarjev dom 
Presentation of compositions from the programme of NOW 1

30 September 2026
Lili Novy Glass Hall
Cankarjev dom
Post-concert gathering of the audience with composers and performers, with a selection of top-quality Slovenian wines.

Minister of Health warning: Alcohol consumption can be harmful to health!
 

Slovenian Philharmonic Orchestra

Programme: 
Ludwig van Beethoven, Simfonija št. 8 v F-duru, op. 93 
Richard Strauss, Alpska simfonija, op. 64, TrV 233

Ludwig van Beethoven’s Eighth Symphony was first performed just two months after the premiere of his Seventh Symphony. In contrast to the audience’s enthusiasm for the latter, however, the new work was met with a rather lukewarm reception. When Carl Czerny asked Beethoven why the Eighth was less popular than the Seventh, the composer retorted: “Because it is much better.” Faced with the virtuosity of the orchestra, let us first surrender to its vehemence, and then we can set off to the mountains with Richard Strauss.

One of Slovenian-Canadian most prolific musicians, singers, authors, and multi-instrumentalists will celebrate 25 years of a rich artistic journey in the 2026/2027 season. Gal’s work has always transcended genre boundaries—from original music, poetry, jazz and freely improvised music to orchestral works, folk and traditional music, world music, and numerous collaborations with top domestic and international musicians, as well as with film, theater, and dance—from radio hits to national-level academy awards and nominations.

Over a quarter century of activity, Gjurin has developed a unique musical and poetic expression that combines distinctive emotional depth, conveyed through his voice of 3 octaves, profound lyrics, instrumental virtuosity, and top-tier studio production. Among other achievements, he has performed more than 1,000 concerts in Canada, Slovenia, the U.S., Italy, Austria, Hungary, Ireland, Slovakia, Iceland, Croatia, France and Germany. His poetry has been translated into seven languages.

Gal George Gjurin – vocals, acoustic and electric guitars, bugarria, mandocello, piano, harmonica, flugelhorn, saxophones (Canada/Slovenia)
Severa Gjurin – vocals (Slovenia/Canada)
Terra Spencer – vocals, piano, acoustic guitar (Canada)
Will Gillespie – vocals, acoustic and electric guitars, banjo, harmonica (Canada)
Metod Banko – vocals
Leon Žunec – acoustic and electric guitars, bratsch, banjo, alto sax (Slovenia)
Erin Okrainec – fiddle (Canada)
4Strings Quartet – Aleksander Rogina (violin), Viviana Rogina (violin), Petar Njegovan (viola/Croatia), Valentin Rogina (cello) (Slovenia)
Brandon Ruch – electric guitar (Canada)
Niko Kostanjevec – keys, drums, percussion (Slovenia)
Tadej Kraševec – vocals, acoustic guitar (Slovenia)
Janja Brlec – zither, vocals (Slovenia)
Anja Oraže – vocals (Austria)
Susan Robinson – scenography (Canada)
Zachary Porter Itāhokow – sound, AV production (Canada)

Program:
Franz Liszt, Orfej, simfonična pesnitev št. 4, S. 98 
Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart, Simfonija št. 34 v C-duru, K. 338 
*
Richard Strauss, Sinfonia domestica, op. 53

Novo sezono bo odprl eden najprestižnejših dogodkov Zlatega abonmaja: v Ljubljani bo prvič gostoval Clevelandski orkester, član elitne ameriške družbe »velikih pet« in eden vodilnih svetovnih ansamblov. Leta 1918 ustanovljeni orkester inovativnega duha navdušuje z eleganco zvoka in umetniško dognanostjo, bogato izraznostjo in zvenečo kristalnostjo ter postavlja nova merila glasbene odličnosti pod dolgoletnim vodstvom Franza Welserja - Mösta. Nekoč glavni dirigent Londonskih filharmonikov, od leta 2024 pa častni član Dunajskih filharmonikov, bo z evropsko turnejo strnil izjemno, četrt stoletja trajajoče umetniško vodenje onkraj Atlantika. 

Premišljeno zasnovani program postavlja v ospredje virtuoznost orkestrske kohezije. Medtem ko Lisztova simfonična pesnitev razgalja skladateljevo najbolj občutljivo, a harmonsko izjemno inventivno umetniško plat, je Mozartova poslednja salzburška simfonija med njegovimi najbolj razigranimi in očarljivimi. Straussova nekoč kontroverzna avtobiografska simfonična skica pa povzdigne teme vsakdana na vzvišeno umetniško raven.

Pop zbor (The Pop Choir) is a contemporary vocal collective bringing together hundreds of singers of different ages, professions, and musical backgrounds. It was founded with the aim of making the joy of group singing accessible to a wider audience - no auditions, no sheet music, and, above all, no inhibitions. At its core are energy, connection, and a shared love of music, creating a truly unique concert experience.

The concert A Day of the Most Beautiful Dreams marks a special moment: at the end of the evening, no fewer than 450 singers will gather on the stage of Gallus Hall - making it the largest number of performers ever to appear on stage at Cankarjev dom. This remarkable scale is more than just a number; it reflects a community that transcends conventional boundaries through music, creating a powerful and richly layered sound.

The evening’s program features some of the most beloved pop and rock hits - from timeless classics to contemporary favorites - reimagined in fresh, multi-part vocal arrangements.

Global Kryner is an innovative ensemble from Vienna that uniquely blends traditional folk sounds with contemporary musical influences. With outstanding musical performance, humor, and infectious energy, they create a truly global musical experience.

The group was founded by Christof Spörk, and their debut album achieved gold status, remaining on the Austrian charts for over 40 weeks. In 2005, they received the prestigious Amadeus Austrian Music Award and represented Austria at the Eurovision Song Contest.

Following their return in 2024 with a new lineup and fresh energy, Global Kryner are opening a new chapter in their story – including the release of a new album coming soon!

Josipa Lisac is one of those artists who transcend the very notion of a singer – she is a musical universe unto herself. Her career, spanning more than five decades, has been defined by a rare combination of vocal virtuosity, radical artistic freedom, and magnetic stage presence. From her early rock years, when she emerged as a cultural icon in the former Yugoslavia, to her later explorations of jazz, chanson, ethno, and gospel, she has consistently followed her own inner compass. Her long-standing creative partnership with Karlo Metikoš resulted in a series of landmark works in regional popular music, with the album Dnevnik jedne ljubavi (1973) setting a benchmark still widely regarded as the pinnacle of conceptual rock in the region.

As distinctive as her voice is her visual style: costumes, hairstyles, and overall stage aesthetic are never mere decoration, but an integral part of the narrative she builds on stage with every note. At the same time, she remains a vital, contemporary presence – endlessly curious in her creativity. Alongside timeless songs such as Magla, Danas sam luda, Gdje Dunav ljubi nebo, Hir, hir, hir, and Tisuću razloga, she continues to create new work with striking consistency. A standout piece is the single Zamisli, released last September in collaboration with musician and producer Darko Terlević (of the Rijeka-based electronic duo The Siids), one of the most exciting figures of the new generation. 
With a fresh approach to sound, this contemporary production combines hints of electronica with Josipa’s unmistakable interpretation – unconventional, powerful, and uncompromisingly artistic.

A thousand reasons – and then some – to join her on 12 November in Cankarjev dom’s Gallus Hall.
 

From an early age, she has felt an urge to express her inner voice through performance. The moment she first stepped onto the stage, she did so with total confidence, forging her own style – uncompromising and unrestrained. Over six decades, she has moved effortlessly across genres, performing at the Sanremo Festival, recording over 20 albums, and acting in theatre and film – all by following her heart, in her own words. She has received three Grammy Awards and a Tony Award for her role as the Good Witch in the Broadway musical The Wiz. 
Throughout her career, she has been driven by personal integrity, professional autonomy, and boundless creativity, and has also given a voice to the voiceless as a UN Goodwill Ambassador. Twenty years ago, she founded her own record label, DDB Records, and became a producer. She holds honorary doctorates from prestigious music universities and was inducted into the Memphis Music Hall of Fame. Her musical credentials read like a who’s who of jazz royalty: Sonny Rollins, Dizzy Gillespie, Horace Silver, Dexter Gordon, Max Roach, Ray Charles, B. B. King...

Just as she once received advice from her role models Ella Fitzgerald, Sarah Vaughan, and Betty Carter, who taught her to be fearless and command the stage, she now passes on her experience and knowledge to younger generations. Through her Woodshed Network programme, Dee Dee has recently mentored young female jazz musicians, sharing her wisdom on surviving in the male-dominated music industry and standing up to discrimination and misogyny. Her protégées include Jazzmeia Horn and Lakecia Benjamin.

In this spirit, and as a direct response to the Gaza war, she formed the quartet We Exist!, bringing together young female musicians – pianist Carmen Staaf, bassist Rosa Brunello, as well as drummers Shirazette Tinnin and Evita Polidoro. The band’s repertoire, opposing patriarchy and social injustice, is like a journey through the history of songs of rebellion and long-unheeded warnings from the past. Dee Dee Bridgewater, now a musical icon herself, pays tribute to the timeless luminaries Roberta Flack, Nina Simone, Billie Holiday, and Abbey Lincoln, reaching for the most haunting songs in the jazz canon, such as Tryin' Times, Danger Zone, Strange Fruit, Mississippi Goddam, I Wish I Knew How It Would Feel To Be Free – all the while inviting the audience to listen to the lyrics. Truly listen.
 

Croatian stand-up comedian Goran Vinčić - Vinča is coming to Slovenia for the first time with his new show Comedy Is a Serious Thing.

Following his hit performances Dežurni krivec and Reci mi da se šališ, Vinča continues his signature observational comedy, tackling everyday situations, relationships, and social habits.

With his trademark direct style, he takes on modern life, media, and generational differences - turning ordinary conversations and misunderstandings into sharply recognizable and hilarious moments.

Performed in the original language.

After more than 150 performances of the hugely successful stand-up comedy show Women Without Filters (Ženske brez filtra), which continues to tour across Slovenia, our leading ladies are announcing a bold return and a brand-new sequel - Women Without Filters 2! This time, they take the stage even bolder, even wittier, and more unapologetically “unfiltered” than ever.

Thousands of women have already seen themselves reflected in their stories, and despite the “intimidating” title, more and more men have been bravely attending the show. Their verdict? Not only did they survive - they laughed to tears and discovered more about women and themselves than any manual could ever teach them.

Desa Muck, Tina Gorenjak, Tanja Kocman, Nuška Drašček and Lucija Vrankar are the Women Without Filters, bringing stories that belong to all of us - regardless of age, gender, or background. What unites them all is humor, laughter, and an endlessly sharp and witty take on everything this colorful life throws our way.

Script: Tina Gorenjak, Tanja Kocman and Desa Muck
Director: Ranko Babić
Cast: Lucija Vrankar, Nuška Drašček, Tanja Kocman, Tina Gorenjak, Desa Muck
Technical production: Nalluna d.o.o.
Graphic design: artboard.si
Photography: Dejan Nikolić Photography

In Slovenian, without translation.