This year's festival program prominently showcases Slovenian music and artists. And Maribor, a town with a population of fewer than 150,000, stands tall as it presents a diverse array of astonishing talents! The stage will be graced by the young and immensely promising pianist duo, Nejc Kamplet and his younger sibling, Adam Kamplet, who are taking European concert stages by storm. Making a triumphant return is the internationally renowned composer, Vito Žuraj, alongside the brilliant soprano, Nika Gorič. The synergy between pianist Adriana Magdovski and thespian Davor Herga promises a captivating experience for our youngest audiences. The spotlight will be on Maribor's dynamic creative power-duo: composer Nana Forte and her partner, the versatile actor, musician, and director, Jure Ivanušič. The world premiere of their music play Zvezda in srce (The Star and the Heart), commissioned by Festival Maribor, will be brought to life by the Carpe Artem Music Collective and members of the Maribor Puppet Theatre ensemble. And last, but certainly not least, the father-son duo of saxophonist Vasko and violoncellist Ariel Vei Atanasovski will enthral audiences with a fresh rendition of the Fire and Ice project, which originally set the festival ablaze in 2012, when Maribor proudly held the title of Culture Capital of Europe.
Furthermore, the enchanting experience of strolling along the City's Musical Paths will seamlessly connect this diverse ensemble of artists – individuals whose prodigious talents, boundless imagination, and remarkable creativity define our town's present – with their predecessors. Walking in the footsteps of the musicians, composers, ensembles, and orchestras whose melodies once resonated through these same streets, squares, and halls, hidden treasures are destined to be unveiled, and captivating stories shared.
In this unique interplay between the past and the present, the future takes shape – a symphony of possibilities!
Text by: Maja Pirš