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.

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

1. Das Wandern / Wandering
2. Wohin? / Where to?
3. Halt! / Stop!
4. Danksagung an den Bach / Thanksgiving to the Brook
5. Am Feierabend / Evening Rest
6. Der Neugierige / The Inquisitive One
7. Ungeduld / Impatience
8. Morgengruss / Morning Greeting
9. Des Müllers Blumen / The Miller’s Flowers
10. Tränenregen / Shower of Tears
11. Mein! / Mine!
12. Pause / Pause
13. Mit dem grünen Lautenbande / With the Green Lute Ribbon
14. Der Jäger / The Hunter
15. Eifersucht und Stolz / Jealousy and Pride
16. Die liebe Farbe / The Beloved Colour
17. Die böse Farbe / The Hateful Colour
18. Trockne Blumen / Withered Flowers
19. Der Müller und der Bach / The Miller and the Brook
20. Des Baches Wiegenlied / The Brook’s Lullaby

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.

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.