After two months of exceptional artistic experiences, the 74th Ljubljana Festival is approaching its grand finale.
On Tuesday, 8 September 2026, at 8 p.m., the extraordinary sound of the Baltic Sea Philharmonic Orchestra will perform at the Gallus Hall of Cankarjev dom. The orchestra will perform under the baton of acclaimed American conductor Robert Treviño, joined by internationally renowned Slovenian violinist Lana Trotovšek. The closing evening promises an outstanding musical journey—from the sonic mysticism of pristine northern nature and the passionate lyricism of Romanticism to sublime symphonic grandeur.
THE INNOVATIVE ENERGY OF THE BALTIC
The Baltic Sea Philharmonic Orchestra, founded in 2008 at the initiative of conductor Kristjan Järvi, brings together musicians from countries around the Baltic Sea with a vision of connecting the region through art. The ensemble is regarded as one of the most innovative in Europe, with its members frequently performing the entire programme without music stands. This unconventional approach allows them to convey their emotional energy directly to the audience. Conductor Robert Treviño emphasises his exceptional connection with the ensemble:
“This young, highly motivated group allows me to draw upon my knowledge and experience and share them in a far more intense and intimate environment than is usually possible.”
American conductor Robert Treviño is among the most sought-after musical figures of his generation, known for his distinctive musicianship and regular collaborations with the world’s leading orchestras. Reflecting on the purpose of music and his forthcoming performance before a Ljubljana audience, he adds:
“What, then, drives me forward? Passion, love, creativity and the search for ways to bring the world closer to the greatest art form humanity has ever created.”
The soloist will be Slovenian violinist Lana Trotovšek, acclaimed for her technical mastery and profound expressive power, whose distinguished career has taken her to prestigious international stages.
A FUSION OF MYSTICAL NATURE AND ROMANTIC LYRICISM
The programme will open with an unusual work by Finnish composer Einojuhani Rautavaara, Cantus Arcticus, Op. 61, composed in 1972 and subtitled “Concerto for Birds and Orchestra”. In place of conventional ceremonial music, the work incorporates authentic recordings of birdsong from the marshlands of northern Finland. In the movements Suo (The Bog), Melankolia and Joutsenet muuttavat (Swans Migrating), the recorded sounds become an integral and equal element of the composition.
The centrepiece of the evening will be devoted to the passionate expression of Romanticism in Max Bruch’s Violin Concerto No. 1 in G minor, Op. 26, created with the technical assistance of the celebrated violinist Joseph Joachim. Its second movement, Adagio, offers one of the noblest and most lyrical melodies in the violin repertoire.
The magnificent finale to the summer will be crowned by Jean Sibelius’s Symphony No. 5 in E-flat major, Op. 82. Through his unique nature-inspired aesthetic, the Finnish master created music of untamed northern power and sublime spiritual purity. Treviño, a pupil of the great Leif Segerstam, highlights his profound personal connection with this composition:
“Symphony No. 5 has accompanied me on the conductor’s podium for more than twenty years, and the opportunity to present this work with the Baltic Sea Philharmonic is very important to me.”
The final movement features the celebrated “swan theme”, inspired by the flight of sixteen swans—an encounter from which Sibelius created one of the most recognisable symphonic conclusions in musical history.
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