Music Summer Festival in Bohinj
Musical Summer Bohinj is harmoniously attuned to the environment in which it comes to life each year. The exceptional acoustics of the Church of St. Martin in Srednja vas, along with the stunning natural and cultural landscape of Bohinj, invite top Slovenian and international musicians to tune their art to the rhythm of nature. Many experts have written about the proven positive effects of classical music on the body and mind – and now, we invite you to experience it for yourself.
Masterclasses
In 2025, alongside the concert program, masterclasses with renowned professors will once again be part of the festival, following the overwhelming success and positive response of last year’s edition. If you’re looking to refine your musical skills, the seminars in Bohinj offer a perfect opportunity to combine the useful with the enjoyable – all in an inspiring setting where music and nature meet in perfect harmony.
Summer concerts programme - in preparation
The Music Summer Festival in Bohinj is celebrating its 30th anniversary this year! For three decades, it has been weaving music with nature and art with experience, filling Bohinj every summer with outstanding musical events.
On this special occasion, we invite you to join us in celebrating this milestone and to experience a summer enriched by the sounds of exceptional musicians. Discover which concerts you can weave into your summer enjoyment in Bohinj this year.
Bohinj Summer Music Opening concert
The Music Summer Festival in Bohinj is celebrating its 30th anniversary this year.
Every summer, concerts by world-class, internationally acclaimed musicians take place in the idyllic setting of a small hilltop church overlooking the beautiful Bohinj valley.
The Music Summer Festival in Bohinj is celebrating its 30th anniversary this year.
Every summer, concerts by world-class, internationally acclaimed musicians take place in the idyllic setting of a small hilltop church overlooking the beautiful Bohinj valley.
Bohinj Summer Music Festival: Die schöne Müllerin
Die schöne Müllerin (The Lovely Maid of the Mill) is Franz Schubert’s first true song cycle, composed in 1823 for voice and piano. Based on a collection of lyrical poems by Wilhelm Müller, it is a quintessential Romantic masterpiece, rich in emotional depth and poetic intensity. Schubert’s treatment elevated the art song to new expressive heights and redefined the genre for generations to come.
Although Schubert didn’t compose specifically for guitar, the instrument was incredibly popular in early 19th-century Vienna, where it often accompanied private salon concerts. It’s known that Schubert himself likely did not own a piano and may have had a guitar hanging above his bed. The guitar’s delicate intimacy and lyrical character are a natural fit for many of Schubert’s songs, with some piano accompaniments sounding distinctly guitar-like.
The first complete arrangement of this cycle for tenor and guitar was made around 1980, performed worldwide by Konrad Ragossnig and legendary tenor Peter Schreier. The latest version, arranged in 2018 for baritone and guitar by American guitarist and composer David Leisner (professor at Manhattan School of Music), will be presented in Bohinj by Lucas Somoza Osterc and Žarko Ignjatović. Leisner’s version is a refined, faithful transcription that brings new life to Schubert’s original work and offers a unique challenge for performers.
The performers
Lucas Somoza Osterc, born in Buenos Aires, studied vocal technique under Victor Srugo and graduated in opera and concert singing from the Teatro Colón School of Arts. He made his debut in 2008 as Mercutio (Roméo et Juliette, Gounod) and has since performed extensively in Argentina and Europe. His credits include performances at the Dubrovnik Summer Festival, SNG Opera and Ballet Ljubljana, BBC Philharmonic, and the National Orchestra of Wales.
Žarko Ignjatović studied guitar in Zagreb, Graz, and completed postgraduate studies at the Mozarteum in Salzburg under Eliot Fisk. An accomplished soloist and chamber musician, he has performed across Europe and recorded several albums. He teaches at the University of Maribor and the Art Gymnasium in Celje. His refined artistry and experience make him an ideal interpreter of Schubert’s nuanced guitar arrangements.
Program: Die schöne Müllerin
- Das Wandern / Wandering
- Wohin? / Where to?
- Halt! / Stop!
- Danksagung an den Bach / Thanksgiving to the Brook
- Am Feierabend / Evening Rest
- Der Neugierige / The Inquisitive One
- Ungeduld / Impatience
- Morgengruss / Morning Greeting
- Des Müllers Blumen / The Miller’s Flowers
- Tränenregen / Shower of Tears
- Mein! / Mine!
- Pause / Pause
- Mit dem grünen Lautenbande / With the Green Lute Ribbon
- Der Jäger / The Hunter
- Eifersucht und Stolz / Jealousy and Pride
- Die liebe Farbe / The Beloved Colour
- Die böse Farbe / The Hateful Colour
- Trockne Blumen / Withered Flowers
- Der Müller und der Bach / The Miller and the Brook
- Des Baches Wiegenlied / The Brook’s Lullaby
Die schöne Müllerin (The Lovely Maid of the Mill) is Franz Schubert’s first true song cycle, composed in 1823 for voice and piano. Based on a collection of lyrical poems by Wilhelm Müller, it is a quintessential Romantic masterpiece, rich in emotional depth and poetic intensity. Schubert’s treatment elevated the art song to new expressive heights and redefined the genre for generations to come.
Although Schubert didn’t compose specifically for guitar, the instrument was incredibly popular in early 19th-century Vienna, where it often accompanied private salon concerts. It’s known that Schubert himself likely did not own a piano and may have had a guitar hanging above his bed. The guitar’s delicate intimacy and lyrical character are a natural fit for many of Schubert’s songs, with some piano accompaniments sounding distinctly guitar-like.
The first complete arrangement of this cycle for tenor and guitar was made around 1980, performed worldwide by Konrad Ragossnig and legendary tenor Peter Schreier. The latest version, arranged in 2018 for baritone and guitar by American guitarist and composer David Leisner (professor at Manhattan School of Music), will be presented in Bohinj by Lucas Somoza Osterc and Žarko Ignjatović. Leisner’s version is a refined, faithful transcription that brings new life to Schubert’s original work and offers a unique challenge for performers.
The performers
Lucas Somoza Osterc, born in Buenos Aires, studied vocal technique under Victor Srugo and graduated in opera and concert singing from the Teatro Colón School of Arts. He made his debut in 2008 as Mercutio (Roméo et Juliette, Gounod) and has since performed extensively in Argentina and Europe. His credits include performances at the Dubrovnik Summer Festival, SNG Opera and Ballet Ljubljana, BBC Philharmonic, and the National Orchestra of Wales.
Žarko Ignjatović studied guitar in Zagreb, Graz, and completed postgraduate studies at the Mozarteum in Salzburg under Eliot Fisk. An accomplished soloist and chamber musician, he has performed across Europe and recorded several albums. He teaches at the University of Maribor and the Art Gymnasium in Celje. His refined artistry and experience make him an ideal interpreter of Schubert’s nuanced guitar arrangements.
Program: Die schöne Müllerin
- Das Wandern / Wandering
- Wohin? / Where to?
- Halt! / Stop!
- Danksagung an den Bach / Thanksgiving to the Brook
- Am Feierabend / Evening Rest
- Der Neugierige / The Inquisitive One
- Ungeduld / Impatience
- Morgengruss / Morning Greeting
- Des Müllers Blumen / The Miller’s Flowers
- Tränenregen / Shower of Tears
- Mein! / Mine!
- Pause / Pause
- Mit dem grünen Lautenbande / With the Green Lute Ribbon
- Der Jäger / The Hunter
- Eifersucht und Stolz / Jealousy and Pride
- Die liebe Farbe / The Beloved Colour
- Die böse Farbe / The Hateful Colour
- Trockne Blumen / Withered Flowers
- Der Müller und der Bach / The Miller and the Brook
- Des Baches Wiegenlied / The Brook’s Lullaby
Bohinj Summer Music Festival: Concert by Members of the Royal Concertgebouw Orchestra
Exceptional Soloists from the Royal Concertgebouw Orchestra
Izak Hudnik Zajec (cello), Hani Song (violin), and Otoha Tabata (viola) are members of the prestigious Royal Concertgebouw Orchestra in Amsterdam. Performing as chamber musicians in this special concert, they promise an evening of intimacy, virtuosity, and artistic depth.
The Performers
Izak Hudnik Zajec, cello
Slovenian cellist Izak Hudnik Zajec joined the Royal Concertgebouw Orchestra in 2024, after completing its Academy program. He studied in Ljubljana, Salzburg, Vienna, and Zurich, under renowned mentors including Giovanni Gnocchi and Thomas Grossenbacher. A frequent soloist with orchestras such as the Slovenian Philharmonic and Zagreb Soloists, he is also an active chamber musician and Ph.D. candidate in philosophy, researching the phenomenology of music.
Hani Song, violin
Swiss violinist Hani Song has received numerous international prizes, including the Kiefer Hablitzel | Ernst Göhner Prize and the Prize of the Konzertverein Ingolstadt. As a soloist, she has performed across Europe, South America, and Russia with prestigious ensembles. In 2024, she joined the first violins of the Royal Concertgebouw Orchestra, having previously played two seasons with the Staatskapelle Berlin. Song is also the subject of three international documentaries produced by Swiss National Television.
Otoha Tabata, viola
Japanese-born violist Otoha Tabata made her solo debut in London at age 11 and has since performed in venues such as Wigmore Hall, Concertgebouw, and Queen Elizabeth Hall. She is a prize winner of the Brahms International Competition and former member of the Munich Philharmonic Academy. A graduate of the Yehudi Menuhin School and Royal College of Music, she has studied with legends such as Nobuko Imai and Andriy Viytovych, and regularly appears at leading festivals including IMS Prussia Cove and Seiji Ozawa Academy.
An Evening of Chamber Music Excellence
This concert brings together three exceptional young artists whose experiences on the world’s most prestigious stages translate into performances of emotional depth and extraordinary precision. Expect a night where classical music speaks directly – through refined artistry, deep connection, and the purest form of musical expression.
Exceptional Soloists from the Royal Concertgebouw Orchestra
Izak Hudnik Zajec (cello), Hani Song (violin), and Otoha Tabata (viola) are members of the prestigious Royal Concertgebouw Orchestra in Amsterdam. Performing as chamber musicians in this special concert, they promise an evening of intimacy, virtuosity, and artistic depth.
The Performers
Izak Hudnik Zajec, cello
Slovenian cellist Izak Hudnik Zajec joined the Royal Concertgebouw Orchestra in 2024, after completing its Academy program. He studied in Ljubljana, Salzburg, Vienna, and Zurich, under renowned mentors including Giovanni Gnocchi and Thomas Grossenbacher. A frequent soloist with orchestras such as the Slovenian Philharmonic and Zagreb Soloists, he is also an active chamber musician and Ph.D. candidate in philosophy, researching the phenomenology of music.
Hani Song, violin
Swiss violinist Hani Song has received numerous international prizes, including the Kiefer Hablitzel | Ernst Göhner Prize and the Prize of the Konzertverein Ingolstadt. As a soloist, she has performed across Europe, South America, and Russia with prestigious ensembles. In 2024, she joined the first violins of the Royal Concertgebouw Orchestra, having previously played two seasons with the Staatskapelle Berlin. Song is also the subject of three international documentaries produced by Swiss National Television.
Otoha Tabata, viola
Japanese-born violist Otoha Tabata made her solo debut in London at age 11 and has since performed in venues such as Wigmore Hall, Concertgebouw, and Queen Elizabeth Hall. She is a prize winner of the Brahms International Competition and former member of the Munich Philharmonic Academy. A graduate of the Yehudi Menuhin School and Royal College of Music, she has studied with legends such as Nobuko Imai and Andriy Viytovych, and regularly appears at leading festivals including IMS Prussia Cove and Seiji Ozawa Academy.
An Evening of Chamber Music Excellence
This concert brings together three exceptional young artists whose experiences on the world’s most prestigious stages translate into performances of emotional depth and extraordinary precision. Expect a night where classical music speaks directly – through refined artistry, deep connection, and the purest form of musical expression.
Bohinj Summer Music Festival: Žust
The Music Summer Festival in Bohinj is celebrating its 30th anniversary this year.
Every summer, concerts by world-class, internationally acclaimed musicians take place in the idyllic setting of a small hilltop church overlooking the beautiful Bohinj valley.
Every summer, concerts by world-class, internationally acclaimed musicians take place in the idyllic setting of a small hilltop church overlooking the beautiful Bohinj valley.
Bohinj Summer Music Festival: Jan Ostrý
The Music Summer Festival in Bohinj is celebrating its 30th anniversary this year.
Every summer, concerts by world-class, internationally acclaimed musicians take place in the idyllic setting of a small hilltop church overlooking the beautiful Bohinj valley.
Every summer, concerts by world-class, internationally acclaimed musicians take place in the idyllic setting of a small hilltop church overlooking the beautiful Bohinj valley.
Masterclasses with renowned professors
In 2023, three young and talented musicians – Eva Jensterle, Jerca Novak, and Urška Zupan – took on the role of coordinating the festival, bringing fresh ideas and new energy to the program. In 2024, alongside a rich concert schedule, the festival introduced masterclasses for the first time, led by the renowned professor Ilze Urbane. Due to the great interest and positive feedback, the masterclasses will continue in 2025 as well.

Flute Masterclass
The flute masterclass will be led by the renowned professor Jan Ostrý, who teaches at MUK Vienna, the Prague Conservatory, and the University of Ostrava. This year, he will be joined by guest artist Aleksandra Pleterski, a Slovenian flutist who will begin her engagement with the prestigious Vienna State Opera and Vienna Philharmonic in September 2025.
- Date: 18. – 23. August 2025
- Number of participants: 10
- Registration for the seminar: until 1 June 2025
- Price for active participation: 400 EUR
- Passive participation price: 50 €/day
Applications will be accepted until places are filled, on a first-come, first-served basis. Once your registration is submitted, we will send you payment instructions by email.
The seminar is intended for students and advanced pupils who wish to enhance their skills in professional flute performance, prepare for auditions and competitions, or refine their playing technique – all in the inspiring setting of idyllic Bohinj.
The seminar will take place in the Hall of the Joža Ažman Cultural Centre in Bohinjska Bistrica.
Each active participant will receive four individual lessons with a professor – three with Prof. Jan Ostry and one with Aleksandra Pleterski. The acclaimed accompanist Tadej Horvat will also be present during the lessons.
Additionally, participants will benefit from a breathing technique workshop led by Eva Jensterle.
- Number of participants: 10
- Registration for the seminar: until 1 June 2025
- Price for active participation: 400 EUR
- Passive participation price: 50 EUR/day
Applications will be accepted until all spots are filled, in the order in which they are received.
After submitting your application, you will receive all necessary payment instructions via email.
Accommodation during the seminar
Participants are responsible for arranging their own accommodation and meals. Lunch will be available at a reasonable price in a partner restaurant located nearby.
For further information or questions, please contact: [email protected]
If you would like to stay together with other participants, please let us know by email so that we can connect you with each other.
Registration form for the seminar
As part of the Music Summer Festival in Bohinj, a concert by Professor Jan Ostrý and pianist Tadej Horvat will take place on Thursday, July 21st at St. Martin’s Church in Srednja vas.
On Saturday, August 23rd, the final concert of the participants will be held in the Joža Ažman Cultural Hall.
For more information, please contact us at:
[email protected]