Flores Musicae – Medieval and Renaissance Music Festival 2025
Flores Musicae – Medieval and Renaissance Music Festival
In 2017, after six editions, the former festival entitled Days of Early Music, which succeeded the Court Music series, underwent a transformation and a revival. The festival, which takes place in Nova Gorica and in Goriška Brda, has been renamed to Flores Musicae, and Medieval music has been added to the existing Renaissance repertoire. Flores Musicae festival is the only ancient music festival in the western part of Slovenia and the only festival dedicated to medieval and Renaissance music in Slovenia.
Bor Zuljan – The artistic director of the festival Flores Musicae
The artistic director of the festival is the renowned Slovenian guitarist and lutenist Bor Zuljan, who completed his studies in guitar, lute, medieval music and music pedagogy at the Haute école de musique de Genève. The series of concerts of Slovenian and international musicians will illustrate the various traditions of the longest period in music history.
The 15th edition of the Flores Musicae festival promises a series of surprises. While in previous years the festival has welcomed programmes that deviated, to a greater or lesser extent, from the strict historical performance practice, this will be the central thread of the 2025 edition. Many musicians who specialise in what is commonly referred to as “early music” are also engaged with a variety of other genres, which they actively explore. Through creative approaches, they reinterpret early repertoires in very different ways: some reinterpret early music using modern instruments and electronic sounds; others compose new works inspired by the past; while others experiment with contemporary approaches and genres using historical instruments. As a result, the 15th edition’s programme will be the most eclectic yet – and in some cases, even electric. The all-female Swiss trio TRËİ will weave together early music, original compositions and folk traditions in a project focused on the female figure. The Australian multi-instrumentalist Anthony Romaniuk will present his extraordinary eclectic programme Perpetuum, performing on harpsichord, piano, Fender Rhodes and computer. With a saxophone quintet and a new electric lute in the hands of artistic director Bor Zuljan, the renowned singer Severa Gjurin will bring to life a programme that presents Dowland’s Lachrimae and newly composed works. Finally, the Peltomaa Fraanje Perkola trio (Finland–The Netherlands) will perform music from both of their albums, in a programme combining medieval music, Finnish folk traditions, contemporary music and jazz.
Even early music can be very contemporary!
In 2017, after six editions, the former festival entitled Days of Early Music, which succeeded the Court Music series, underwent a transformation and a revival. The festival, which takes place in Nova Gorica and in Goriška Brda, has been renamed to Flores Musicae, and Medieval music has been added to the existing Renaissance repertoire.
Together in a friendly cross-border cooperation with the DRAMSAM Centro Giuliano di Musica Antica, and with financial support from the Nova Gorica Municipality and the Ministry of Culture, we present interesting ensembles with innovative and fresh approaches to early music.
The revival of early music during warm autumn days is thus a pleasant introduction to a new concert season. Masterclasses for lute, guitar, harp, harpsichord and singing, as well as other events are held alongside concerts. These events, which include free guided tours and food and wine tastings, promote the cultural heritage of the festival venues. The early music concerts united with the gems of our cultural heritage form a very special music experience.
This year, the festival concerts will take place in our Big Hall and in three other locations, such as the the hall of Kromberk Castle, the Piano Nobile in the Renaissance Villa Vipolže (Goriška brda) and the rotunda of the national theatre SNG NG.
KROMBERK CASTLE
The hall of Kromberk Castle with the art history collection in the foreground is managed by Goriški muzej (Museum of Goriška). Although the building with its corner towers gives the impression of a castle, the entire complex was designed as a mansion or villa in the early 17th century, when it became the property of Count Coronini von Cronberg. This typical Renaissance building, whose floor plan is partly based on the Venetian model, was built on the foundations of a building from the first half of the 13th century in an area that was a fiefdom of the Counts of Gorizia until 1500. Both wars took their toll on the castle. The renovation, which began in the 1950s in several phases with extensive construction work, and the building was only restored to its former glory in the last decades of the previous century.
VILLA VIPOLŽE, GORIŠKA BRDA
Villa Vipolže, embraced by picturesque vines, has been through different makeovers during its history. It served initially as a hunters’ lodge of the Counts of Gorizia who used it for their summer vacations. Later, it was owned by the noblemen of the families Herberstein, Della Torre, Attems and Teuffenbach. In the 17th century, the Venetians renovated it into their summer residence. It then took the form of a rectangular villa with two towers at the corners and the Venetian decor. To this day, it remains surrounded by a magnificent park with a Baroque fountain.
Barbara Poša Belingar
Public relations, organization and
coordination of cultural programs
T: +386 5 335 40 13
E: pr@kulturnidom-ng.si
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E: blagajna@kulturnidom-ng.si
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