THE ANCIENT WIND OF SOUND IN THE HEART OF SLOVENIA

Concert at the closing of the ROSTRUM International Composers’ Tribune

Miro Božič, harmonica and Neanderthal flute
Marko Hatlak, accordion
Polona Gantar, organ

Programme:

Slovenian folk song / arr.: On the lake by the Triglav

Slavko Osterc (1895–1941), Five organ pieces (Prélude, Chaconne, Caprice, Choral, Petite fugue)

Miro Božič (1971–), Improvisation on the theme of the choral Alleluia

Stanko Premrl (1880–1965), Variations on a Slowenian folk song You are beautiful, beautiful Mary’s flower

Marko Hatlak (1980–), Prelude

Slovenian folk song / Kamilo Mašek / arr.: The Bled island, a heavenly treasure

A sonic interplay of four related, aerophonic instruments – organ, concert organ, concert accordion and Neadertal’s flute, in performances of Slovenian folk and sacred music.

The concert is part of this year’s Ars organ concert series Visits of the Queen Live.

Marko Hatlak is doubtless one of the most renowned Slovenian accordionists of his generation. In the course of his abundant concert career, he headlined his own tour of the USA, performed as a soloist with the Moscow Symphony orchestra, the Jena Philharmonic, Big Band RTV Slovenia, and Slovenia’s topmost RTV Slovenia Symphony Orchestra. He was a member of some of the biggest Slovenian ensembles, from internationally acclaimed Terrafolk to Distango, Marko Hatlak & Funtango, Stefan Milenkovič, as well as Marko Hatlak in Ars tango, that made names for themselves both at home and abroad. His playing style combines elements of world music with other genres, particularly classical musical (Tango for Rachmaninov, Marko Hatlak and Funtango in Collaboration With SNG Opera in Balet Ljubljana). He played under the batons of En Shao, David De Villiers, and Marko Letonja, and shared the stage with world famous soloists, such as Stefan Milenkovich, Vlatko Stefanovski, Stefan Hussong, and Tommy Emmanuel, as well as exceptional Slovenian musicians including Iztok Mlakar, Matej Bekavec, Mojca Zlobko, Karmen Pečar Koritnik, and Irena Preda.

Miro Božič has been playing the harmonica since childhood, and has explored the possibilities of this small but sonically rich instrument through various musical genres. He performs as a soloist and chamber musician, and his constant exploration of the organ as an instrument of equal value to other instruments has often led him to collaborate with a wide variety of musicians. He collaborates in a duo with organist Polona Gantar and pianist Blaž Pucihar, where he focuses on performances of works by contemporary composers. Miro Božič has appeared in numerous concerts at home and abroad, records for national radio and has been a long-standing professional collaborator of the mouth accordion festival “(ah), TE ORGLICE”.

Polona Gantar, a renowned Slovenian organist and composer, first encountered the organ at the Organ School of the Faculty of Theology, and later graduated from the Music Pedagogy Department of the Academy of Music in Ljubljana. At the same time, she studied organ at the Carinthian Regional Conservatory in Klagenfurt, and in 2003 she completed a master’s degree in organ at the University of Music and Performing Arts in Vienna (Prof. Peter Planyavsky). During her studies and afterwards, she studied organ and improvisation in Switzerland, Austria and the Netherlands, taking part in numerous masterclasses in organ and improvisation. She performs as a soloist at home and abroad, collaborates with the most renowned Slovenian choirs (AVE Chamber Choir, RTV Slovenia Chamber Choir, Ljubljana Madrigalists, etc.) and in chamber ensembles with soloists and instrumentalists (soprano Theresa Plut, organist Miro Božič, saxophonist Betka Kotnik, flutist Martina Ruch, etc.). She regularly makes recordings for the archives and the RTV Slovenia Cassettes and Records Label. She is a music editor at Radio Slovenia’s Ars programme and organist at the Franciscan Church of the Annunciation on Tromostovje in Ljubljana.

Link to purchase the offer with concert attendance: CONCERT PACKAGE

The Concert Package Bled includes:
Boat transport from below Vila Bled starting at 12:00 PM
Entrance to the church, museum, and bell tower
Attendance at the concert at 1:00 PM in the Church of the Assumption of Mary
Refreshments after the concert