Martha Argerich, Charles Dutoit and Slovenian Philharmonic Orchestra

Martha Argerich is regarded as one of the most distinguished pianists of our time, known for her exceptional intensity, wide tonal range and expressive freedom that goes beyond mere technical virtuosity. She established her international reputation at an early age with victories at the most prestigious competitions, including the Chopin Competition in Warsaw, and through a long concert and recording career spanning a broad repertoire from the Baroque to the twentieth century. On stage she will be joined by the Swiss conductor Charles Dutoit, the 103^rd recipient of the Royal Philharmonic Society Gold Medal, who has worked with leading orchestras around the world and built an extensive discography over the course of his career. On this occasion he will conduct the Ljubljana Festival’s resident orchestra, the Slovenian Philharmonic Orchestra.

The evening opens with the dazzling Roman Carnival Overture, a stand-alone reworking of music from Berlioz’s opera Benvenuto Cellini, in which the composer combines lyrical melody with the lively energy of the Roman carnival. This is followed by Maurice Ravel’s Piano Concerto in G major, infused with influences of jazz and Basque folk music. Bravura passages, orchestral colour and rhythmic vitality are interwoven across its three contrasting movements. The second half of the programme is devoted to Ottorino Respighi’s magnificent Roman triptych, composed between 1916 and 1928. Fountains of Rome  depicts the city’s fountains at different times of the day, Roman Festivals depicts scenes of celebration, and Pines of Rome  depicts well-known settings in the city with pine trees.