The Radovljica Festival

Every year the small Slovenian town of Radovljica hosts a classical music festival that features both older and contemporary pieces. The 22nd annual Radovljica music festival recently came to a close and joining us now is the artistic producer and director, Tjasa Krajnc. Tjasa, what makes this festival so special?

"Since its renewal in 1997, the international Radovljica festival has presented chamber music of past eras on authentic historical instruments and stylistically as close as possible to historical performance practices. We present contrasted concert programmes, we have at the same time included contemporary music by Slovene and other composers as well as new commissions for these instruments. The artists who performed at the 22nd Radovljica festival are also internationally recognized musicians with excellent references and they have performed various diverse programmes."

Tell us how this year's festival went overall.

"The programme of the Radovljica festival 2004 was dedicated to the creativity of women musicians of international acclaim who left important traces in the world history of music from the 12th to the 21st centuries. More attention was also devoted to important initiators and cultivators of music at courts, women who worked in cloisters, important composers and performers, also spiritual songs in honour of the blessed Virgin Mary. We also presented talented composers and singers such as Francesca Caccini and Barbara Strozzi. Also, the special importance of the Radovljica festival has been developed by encouraging the creation and performance of new music by contemporary composers, and this year we heard 11 first performances of new works written especially for this performance."

What were some highlights or personal favourites of yours at this festival?

"I would say among the most wonderful experiences were the concerts by the distinguished French ensemble "Les Talens Lyriques," the British "Musica Secreta," the German "Movimento," the Italian "L'aura Soava," the Dutch "Antequera," and the concert of three outstanding British artists with the singer Catherine King, who performed a special program of music from the 12th to 21st century, giving also seven first performances."