Programme
03. 06. 2026
He puelle regie (O ROYAL MAIDENS)
01. 07. 2026
ACADEMIC CHOIR OF MARIBOR
19. 08. 2026
VOCAL ENSEMBLE HALS
16. 09. 2026
AVE CHAMBER CHOIR
07. 10. 2026
ST. NICHOLAS CHOIR LITIJA
He puelle regie
(O Royal Maidens)
03. 06. 2026 at 20.30
Church of St. Francis of Assisi
(Černetova ul. 20, 1000 Ljubljana)
Katarina Šter, voice and artistic direction
Ana Kodelja, voice
Barbara Tišler, voice
Christina Thaler, voice
Tomaž Sevšek, positive organ
Tonight’s concert presents a selection from the rich choral heritage of female monastic communities connected to the Slovenian cultural space.
The title He puellae regiae (“O Royal Maidens”) originates from a liturgical invocation and reflects how monastic spirituality understood nuns: as noble souls, “brides of Christ,” called into service of the Heavenly King. The expression does not refer to social status, but to spiritual dignity.
The programme is based on two valuable sources: Dominican antiphonaries from Radlje ob Dravi (Mahrenberg), dating from around 1700 and now preserved in the University Library in Graz, and Carthusian antiphonaries from the 16th century originating in Gosnay, France, which arrived at the Pleterje monastery in 1904 and are still kept there today.
Antiphonaries from both orders bring together chants from different periods — from Gregorian chant to later medieval offices — bearing witness to a diverse and living liturgical tradition. These monophonic chants once shaped the daily life of monastic communities; today, they are revived by an all-female vocal ensemble, thus coming closer to the original context of their creation. Part of the repertoire is performed from memory, as the nuns once did.
The programme is complemented by selected excerpts from the monastic chronicle of Radlje ob Dravi, shedding light on the spiritual and musical life of the community. Historical sources also reveal that the nuns were accomplished instrumentalists; therefore, the concert includes selected instrumental works from the broader period of the manuscripts’ origin. The ensemble is joined by harpsichordist and organist Tomaž Sevšek.
At the heart of the programme are chants dedicated to saints who held a special place in both monasteries: St. Genevieve, patroness and saviour of Paris; St. Ursula, symbol of triumph over evil; and St. Catherine of Siena, Doctor of the Church and one of the most influential women of the Middle Ages. These noble, learned, and spiritually powerful women — also called “brides of Christ” — served as role models and sources of inspiration for the nuns. Although the monasteries were largely reserved for noblewomen, music knew no strict social boundaries; communal singing created a space of unity, connection, and inner contemplation.
The concert is not merely a presentation of early music, but an attempt to bring closer the spiritual and communal world of female monastic life, and to briefly revive it within a contemporary setting.
Programme:
I. He puelle regie — Cologne’s Treasures: Saint Ursula the Martyr and the Royal Maidens
Nove laudis, antiphon for the Feast of the Presentation of the Blessed Virgin Mary (Gosnay)
He puelle regie, antiphon at Lauds for the Feast of St. Ursula (Gosnay)
Istarum collegio, antiphon at Lauds for the Feast of St. Ursula (Gosnay)
O felix Germania, antiphon at Vespers for the Feast of St. Ursula (Gosnay)
Benedictus es | Psalm Benedictus, antiphon at Lauds for the Feast of St. Ursula (Gosnay)
O flos campi, antiphon at Vespers for the Feast of St. Ursula (Gosnay)
II. Amator et sponsus virginum — Jesus, the Heavenly Bridegroom, Remains with Us Through His Promises
Luigi Battiferri (c. 1600–after 1682) — Ricercare quinto (1669)
O rex glorie | Psalm Magnificat, antiphon at Vespers for the Feast of the Ascension of the Lord (Radlje ob Dravi)
O rex gloriose, antiphon at Compline for Passion Sunday (Radlje ob Dravi)
Ego sum vestra, antiphon for the Office of the Lance and Nails (Radlje ob Dravi)
III. Media vita in morte sumus — Do Not Forsake Us, Orphans, in Times of Trial and Affliction!
Georg Muffat (1653–1703) — Toccata quarta from Apparatus musico-organisticus (1690)
Sponsa Dei Genovefa, antiphon at Vespers for the Feast of St. Genevieve (Gosnay)
Media vita | Psalm Nunc dimittis, antiphon at Compline for the Third Sunday of Lent (Radlje ob Dravi)
IV. Maxima est gloria Catharinae Senensis — The Glory of the Dominican Order: The Miracles of St. Catherine of Siena and St. Dominic
Virginis Catharinae, antiphon at Vespers for the Feast of St. Catherine of Siena (Radlje ob Dravi)
Exultabunda | Psalm Jubilate, antiphon at Lauds for the Feast of St. Catherine of Siena (Radlje ob Dravi)
Georg Muffat (1653–1703) — Ciacona from Apparatus musico-organisticus (1690)
Ad sedes regni, antiphon at Vespers for the Feast of St. Catherine of Siena (Radlje ob Dravi)
O virgo maxima, antiphon at Vespers for the Feast of St. Catherine of Siena (Radlje ob Dravi)
O lumen ecclesiae | Psalm Magnificat, antiphon at Vespers for the Feast of St. Dominic (Radlje ob Dravi)
ACADEMIC
CHOIR OF MARIBOR
Choir conductor:
Uroš Jurgec
01. 07. 2026 at 20.30
Church of St. Joseph in Poljane
(Ulica Janeza Pavla II. 13, 1000 Ljubljana)
The Academic Choir of Maribor (APZ Maribor), founded in 1964, is one of the most important representatives of student and amateur choral culture in Maribor and a recognised ambassador of Slovenian choral music abroad. The choir is composed primarily of students from various faculties, who, through dedication and a high artistic standard, have been shaping the cultural landscape of Maribor and Slovenia for decades.
The choir was originally established under the University of Maribor as the Academic Choir Boris Kraigher, adopting its current name in 1991. Over its six decades of activity, it has been led by several distinguished conductors, including Stane Jurgec, Ivan Vrbančič, Alenka Korpar, Simon Robinson, Jože Fürst, Jasmina Dobaj, and Zsuzsa Budavári Novak. From 2012 to 2024, the artistic direction was held by composer and conductor Tadeja Vulc, and in 2025 leadership was taken over by Uroš Jurgec.
APZ Maribor regularly performs at international festivals and competitions and presents several independent concerts each year. Among its most notable achievements on prestigious international stages are first place in the mixed choirs category and a special conductor’s award at the Béla Bartók International Choir Competition in Debrecen (2016), first place and a special award for best conductor at the International May Choir Competition “Prof. Georgi Dimitrov” in Varna (2018), first prize in the compulsory category in Arezzo (2018), and an award for the best performance of a contemporary composition as well as absolute first place at the Naša pesem competition in Maribor (2022). Its most recent success was in 2024 at the choir competition in Spittal an der Drau, where the ensemble achieved 3rd place in both the folk category and free programme category, as well as the highest award for the most convincing performance of a modern composition.
Programme:
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Gregorian Chant: O Sapientia (transcribed by Matej Podstenšek)
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Jacobus Handl Gallus (1550–1591): Sapientia quae ex ore Altissimi (antiphon)
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Tadeja Vulc (1978): O Sapientia (antiphon)
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Soloist: Lara Trojner
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Andrej Makor (1987): Three Spiritual Choruses (Tri dukhovniykh khora)
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II. Tebe poem (We Praise Thee) – liturgical text
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III. Otche nash (Our Father) – liturgical text
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Sergei Rachmaninoff (1873–1943): All-Night Vigil, Op. 37
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VI. Bogoroditse Devo (Luke 1:28, 42)
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Hugo Wolf (1860–1903): Six Sacred Songs (Sechs geistliche Lieder)
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V. Ergebung (text by Joseph von Eichendorff)
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Ambrož Čopi (1973): Sing Joyfully to God Our Strength (Psalm 81:1–4)
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Martin Åsander (1987): Peace (John 14:27)
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Moses Hogan (1957–2003): My Soul’s Been Anchored in the Lord (spiritual)
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Michael Barrett / Ralf Schmitt: Indodana (traditional Xhosa song)
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Katarina Pustinek Rakar (1979): Nocoj je edna lüšna noč (Tonight Is a Beautiful Night) – Prekmurje folk song from Beltinci
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Adi Danev (1933–2021): Oj Božime – Sdrindulajle (folk song from the Natisone Valleys)
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Samo Vovk (1989): Ta na Solbici (text by Samo Vovk and Barbara Grahor)
TICKETS
VOCAL ENSEMBLE
HALS
19. 08. 2026 at 20.30
Pavilion at Congress Square
(Kongresni trg, 1000 Ljubljana)
Free Admission!
Anna Anderluh, voice
Amina Bouroyen, voice
Anna László, voice
Valerie Costa, voice
The consistently authentic and moving performances of the four vocalists of HALS are marked by a natural expressiveness and immediacy that defies the perfectionist mainstream of a cappella music. They are unafraid to take risks. While each singer maintains space for individual expression and virtuosity, they never lose focus on harmonic blending and sensitive mutual interaction, often surrendering in their original compositions to unexplored landscapes of collective improvisation.
Inspired by this creative boldness and the energy of the audience, their music continuously evolves and unfolds anew in every performance. Alongside their distinctive original works, the members of HALS also reinterpret arranged pieces from jazz, world music, and contemporary classical repertoire in highly original ways.
In spring 2025, their debut album Free Fall A Cappella was released on the label Session Work Records.
The concert was supported by the Austrian Cultural Forum in Ljubljana.
FREE ADMISSION
AVE
CHAMBER CHOIR
Choir conductor: Ambrož Čopi
16. 09. 2026 at 20.30
The Great Reading Room of the National and University Library
(Turjaška 1, 1000 Ljubljana)
The Ave Chamber Choir has been active for more than four decades. It was founded in 1984 in the Ljubljana–Vič parish as the Vocal Group Ave under its founder Andraž Hauptman. Thanks to its high artistic quality, the ensemble soon expanded beyond its local environment and developed into one of the most recognisable Slovenian chamber choirs, bringing together singers from across Slovenia and from the Slovene minority abroad.
The choir has successfully performed at numerous national and international competitions and has toured extensively across Europe and worldwide — from Argentina, Chile, Egypt, and South Africa to the United States and Canada — as well as at many prestigious European festivals. It has won first prize at thirteen choral competitions.
The Ave Chamber Choir is the recipient of numerous distinguished awards, including the City of Ljubljana Award (1994), the Prešeren Fund Award (1994), the Ljubljana City Plaque (2000), the Silver Recognition Award of the Ljubljana Cultural Association (2002), and the Order of Merit of the President of the Republic of Slovenia (2014). It regularly participates in seminars and masterclasses and has served as a demonstration choir for world-renowned conductors such as Eric Ericson, Gary Graden, and Martina Batič.
The ensemble has released several recordings, most recently the double CD Ave in Concert. Over the years, the choir has been led by various conductors: following its founder Andraž Hauptman, Branka Potočnik Krajnik, Jerica Gregorc Bukovec, Marko Vatovec, Alenka Podpečan, and Gregor Klančič have each taken artistic leadership. Since 2025, the choir has been artistically directed by Ambrož Čopi.
Today, the Ave Chamber Choir is regarded as one of the leading Slovenian chamber choirs, guided by a clear vision: to maintain a high artistic standard and to actively contribute to the shaping of contemporary Slovenian choral music.
TICKETS
ST. NICHOLAS CHOIR LITIJA
Choir conductor:
Helena Fojkar Zupančič
07. 10. 2026 at 20.30
Church of St. Cyril and Methodius (Kuzmičeva 6, 1000 Ljubljana)
The St. Nicholas Choir Litija, comprising around 50 female and male singers from Litija and central Slovenia, has developed over the past fifteen years into one of the most recognisable Slovenian vocal ensembles. It is distinguished by its distinctive choral sound and high-level interpretations of repertoire from various stylistic periods. The choir regularly participates in liturgical services in its home parish and performs concerts across Slovenia, as well as on tours throughout Europe.
At national and international competitions, the choir consistently achieves top results. Among its most notable successes are:
– Winner of the Grand Prix of Nations 2026 in Maribor (2026)
– Winner of the International Gallus Competition 2025 in Maribor
– 1st prize and special award at the Maasmechelen Competition (Belgium, 2013)
– 1st prize at the Derry International Choir Festival (Ireland, 2015)
The choir has released three CDs: Božična luč (2003), Sacra religio (2007), and Eno drevce (2011). It has collaborated with numerous distinguished artists and ensembles, including David De Villiers, Paul A. Smith, André J. Thomas, Vlado Kreslin, the RTV Slovenia Symphony Orchestra, and the Collegium Musicum from Potsdam. Major projects include a performance of Carmina Burana (2010/2011) and participation in Mahler’s Symphony of a Thousand under conductor Valery Gergiev (2011).
The choir’s repertoire includes works by leading Slovenian composers such as Damijan Močnik, Ambrož Čopi, Črt Sojar Voglar, Blaž Pucihar, Nana Forte, Peter Šavli, and Katarina Pustinek Rakar.
The ensemble operates under the auspices of the Nova Kultura Litija Association and is a member of the European choral association Europa Cantat. Since its founding in 1997, it has been led by Helena Fojkar Zupančič, with the support of répétiteurs Janez Klobčar, Črt Sojar Voglar, Marta Sojar Voglar, and Tamara Avsenik.
