Novejša slovenska glasba in njeni interpreti

A serious new music culture has been very strong in Slovenia, specially in the second half of the 20th century. The foundation for this has been very much enabled by the high-level skills and application of the performers, the interpreters of the music. This has encouraged the determination and enthusiasm of the composers, as well as the attention and participation of the audiences. Performers such as the violinist Igor Ozim, the pianist Aci Bertoncelj, the conductor Ivo Petrić and the Slovenska filharmonija and RTV Symphony Orchestra have been particularly notable in this process, giving a strong platform for new music. Vocal music at this time has been less prominent in new music by younger composers because performers seemed to be more involved in interpreting the older Lieder repertory. From the time of independence and into the 21st century, conditions have changed. All the signs were there that building on the achievements of the 20th century, there was a tremendous surge of enthusiasm for ensuring that a serious music culture was reinvigorated and growing. Solo instrumentalists and singers were trained to an even higher standard, making possible techniques and interpretative skills that were barely imagined earlier. Solo performers proliferated with particular contributions from violinists, cellists, clarinettists, flautists, brass players and pianists. Composers responded with large numbers of pieces that were performed at various platforms which included new music. While the adventurous ensemble music in the 20th century was mainly restricted to the work of the Slavko Osterc Ensemble, in the 21st century a number of new ensembles have been created with a corresponding increase in opportunities for composing music for these very skilled mostly young players. As earlier, a central role in encouraging the composition of new Slovene orchestral music has been the strong performing skills of the two professional orchestras in Ljubljana, especially in the orchestras’ concert seasons and in concerts of the Slovene Music Days. The attention to vocal and choral music has also developed very strongly among composers. Some opera singers who in the past have concentrated on the classics of the opera house have now been willing to attempt more difficult new locally composed operas. This has inevitably created a greater acceptance of new music in the opera house with composers producing new works, though this has been a very gradual process. Not only do older performers now pay attention to the 19th and 20th century ‘classics’ of Slovene music, but they have branched out into more adventurous idioms and they have been joined by the younger generation.