News

On Friday 15 April at 7 pm, in the Bloomsbury Central Baptist Church in London, a concert will be held in support of the children of Syria. A wealth of great music and poetry will be performed by exceptional young Slovene artists of London and their friends from around the world. You will hear the world premiere of a piece by Jan Gorjanc and another world premiere by British-Australian composer Nicholas Hennell-Foley. Also, two Slovenian cellists from Trinity, Aristel Škrbić playing marimba, Spanish harp player Anna Quiroga, and much more.

Before the concert, at 6 pm, you can meet and talk with the artists.

Join us in the exciting experience! There is no charge for entry, but please contribute generously to the collection for the children of Syria.

The 2nd edition of the Blackheath International Chamber Music Festival will take place at the All Saints’ Church Blackheath, SE3 0TY and the Church of the Ascension Blackheath, SE10 8AN from 9 to 24 April 2016.

The festival is organised by the Slovene Violinist Lana Trotovšek and features six concerts played by musician from Slovenia, UK, Japan, Belarus, Spain, China and Argentina.

For more information see: www.bicmfestival.co.uk.

Tickets can be obtained from:
https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/o/blackheath-international-chamber-music-festival-6546318691 or before the concert at the venue.

Members of The British-Slovene Society have 25% discount.

Ljubo Sirc CBE

BSS members are welcome to attend a Lecture in honour of Ljubo Sirc CBE

A Nonviolent Hero against Communism to be given by Dr Jože Dežman

 Keith Miles OBE in the Chair 

Wednesday, 2^nd March 2016 at 6.45 for 7.00 pm

House of Lords – Committee Room 4A

About the Speaker

Dr Jože Dežman, who has a BA in history and philosophy, is a member of the Board of the Gorenjski Museum in Kranj.   His fields of study are history, anthropology, and museology. He is researching the WWII, revolutionary terror, the civil war in Slovenia 1941-1945, consequences of a radical division of Slovenian society in Titoism, the processes of transitional justice, self-management, and the pilgrimage culture.  He has edited several anthologies, prepared more than 10 exhibitions, published several books and numerous articles. He was director of the Museum of Contemporary History of Slovenia 2005-2010 and director of the country’s official Archive 2012-2013. Since 2005 he has led the the Slovene Government’s Commission for Concealed Mass Graves.

If you wish to attend, please contact Lisl at CRCE to receive an invitation.

Tel: 020 7352 0559. Email: crce@trident-net.co.uk

IMPORTANT NOTE:

Please bring your invitation with you, and allow at least 30 minutes to pass security at St Stephen’s Entrance. Just ask for directions to the Committee Room when you reach Central Lobby.

A spellbound audience at the annual British-Slovene Society Prešeren Evening heard Slovene poet, singer and song-writer Vlado Kreslin celebrate his country with a magnificent concert that raised the roof at the Hotel Russell in London.

By turns wistful, touching and passionate, influenced by the gypsy traditions of his Prekmurje home, he brought diners to their feet to join him in songs which for many were familiar favourites.

Kreslin sang of a Slovenia that stretches from Goričko in the east to Piran on the Adriatic coast in the west – “not long, not broad, but deep!” He composes his own songs, often invoking the Mura river. In one he asks with haunting humility:

Instead of whom a flower blooms?

Instead of whom am I?

Whose song needs my voice?

In response to this poetic tour de force, those attending the dinner contributed a generous £496 in a raffle for the Barka charity for people with special needs in Slovenia, which the Society supports.

HE Slovenian Ambassador Tadej Rupel with his wife Valentina

Ambassador Tadej Rupel welcomed the guests (the Slovenian Embassy kindly donated wine), and Chairman David Lloyd gave a brief talk on Preseren’s greatness. After Shirlie Roden performed Kam? (Whither?) in her own rendering, Kreslin sang O, Vrba, and members of the audience studying Slovene read English translations.  

Shirlie Roden and David Lloyd, Chairman of the British-Slovene Society

The evening before, Kreslin enchanted 120 diplomats invited by the Slovenian Embassy in London, likewise to mark Prešeren’s Day. What better ambassador for his country?

Photos by Ian Božič. For more pictures see Gallery.

Marija attends the Slovene school in London. She did the first reading.

Sam found his true love in Slovenia. He is learning Slovene now and this was his first reading of a Slovene text.

There was hardly a space left at the annual British-Slovene Society’s annual Carol Service in the beautiful Wren church of St. Andrew by the Wardrobe in London on 11^th December.

Lara read a Lesson, and her brother read too.

For the first time this year, the event was organised by the Society’s new Trustee, Nadia Špendal. Her two children read Lessons, sang with the choir and took donations afterwards for the Barka charity, which looks after people with special needs in Slovenia. This year, participants donated £319.

A warm atmosphere in St. Andrew by the Wardrobe. The Gallus Consort led the singing.

Nadia’s parents flew in the same day with a large consignment of fresh potica from Slovenia for the gathering after the service. All gone! As on previous occasions, the Embassy of the Republic of Slovenia in the UK kindly donated wine.

We wish you a Happy Christmas, and all the best for the New Year!