The interplay between words and music has been a fascinating aspect of human creativity throughout history. From ancient chants and hymns to modern-day experiments, composers have continuously sought innovative ways to express and amplify the meaning of words through music. Sound, the essence of human expression, shaped both words and melody, trying to capture the mundane and the spiritual, the rational and the emotional of humankind, thus shaping our world and our culture through centuries.
Festival Maribor 2023 – always with its finger on the moment's pulse – focuses on this ever-evolving relationship between words and music, mirroring today's complex world. With renowned musicians and carefully curated programmes we shall embark on a journey following the words and the melodies which colour our childhood, shape us as adults and influence our future by urging us to rethink the very foundations of our presence on this planet.
We are proud to announce the renowned Ensemble Modern with a programme highlighting the creativity of contemporary Slovenian composers such as Petra Strahovnik, Matej Bonin, Nina Šenk and Vito Žuraj and poets Ana Pepelnik and Aleš Šteger, as well as a premiere of Zvezda in srce (Star and Heart), a Festival Maribor commissioned musical play for children by Nana Forte and Jure Ivanušič. Violinist Žiga Faganel, cellist Alja Mandič Faganel and pianist Nejc Lavrenčič will uncover and explore intriguing connections between Alfred Schnittke, Mieczysław Weinberg and Aarvo Pärt that transcend their individual styles, while our youngest audience will enjoy an interplay of carefully selected poetry for children and music, presented by the Thespian Davor Herga and the pianist Adriana Magdovski. We will revisit the passionate collaboration of the celebrated Macedonian guitarist Vlatko Stefanovski and Duo Atanasovski exploring the echoes of the rich cultural heritage of the Balkans in modern times. The Balkan peninsula, with its fragile and eternally shifting political and economic alliances, is also the spark behind the musical explosions of the No Borders Orchestra. One of the most compelling European youth ensembles orchestras returns to our festival with their latest project Embracing Vulnerability, urging us to rethink the very foundations of our presence on this planet.
The shifting cultural, political, humanitarian, and environmental landscapes, which we are facing at this very moment, compel us to profound and thorough reflection. The complex interaction between words and music, shaping the programmes of the Festival Maribor 2023, offer a chance to do just that. To paraphrase Victor Hugo – the questions and the dilemmas of our time, reflected in our programmes, are not just impossible to stay silent about. We are obliged to address them!
Text by: Maja Pirš