December 17, 2017
In putting this together this list I realised how close Christmas is, and how little I’ve prepared. But although I’ll probably be too busy to attend any of these events, there’s perhaps no reason why you can’t, so here’s a little of what’s going on the capital the next seven days, before the frenzy of the Christmas New Year week.
CHRISTMAS
See our guide to December for full details, or just go anywhere in the pedestrianised area and you’ll eventually come across some markets and music. One notable new edition, and running from December 18-23, 10:00 to 20:00, is the Christmas Art Market, held in the atrium of the main post office on Čopova ulica. See here for details.
Concerts at Novi trg square - 15 - 25 December, 19:00 (except 24 December), Novi trg square. Concerts featuring various pop artists.
Good Fairy - 15 - 30 Dec, 17:00 - 21:00 (except 24, 25 Dec), Mestni trg square. The Good Fairy fulfils the wishes of those who ask.
Ljubljana Primary Schools Choirs - 18 - 21 Dec, 17:00, Mestni trg square. Concerts of children’s choirs, singing in front of the Town Hall.
Christmas concert - 24 December, 17:00, Mestni trg square. The traditional Christmas concert in front of the Town Hall.
CINEMA
The new Star Wars movie is now playing at Kolesej, check here for details and see the trailer above, with Slovenian subtitles. Meanwhile, Kinodvor art cinema will be playing Michael Showalter’s latest comedy, The Big Sick, with times shown on the theatre’s website, and the trailer shown below.
EXHIBITION
The Moderna galerija’s main branch, by Tivoli, has a huge retrospective of the work of Marij Pregelj which is unmissable if you like painting. The exhibition is organised chronologically, and while all the rooms are worth visiting it’s those covering the last decade of the painter’s life, 1957-67, which are most impressive. Large works that are reminiscent of late Picasso then turn into a red room of meaty horror and beauty, with works the painter completed during his last months with cancer.
LGBT
On December 19 Metelkova’s Klub Tiffany has an evening aimed at reducing the risks associated with chemsex among men who have sex with men. With details of this and other events on the Facebook page.
On December 23, Klub Monokel and Pritličje are hosting a night of music, PoDSTREŠJE, from 21:00–06:00. Details here.
MUSIC
The pianist Edoardo Torbianelli will be playing works by Gade and Mendelssohn at 20:00, December 19, at the ZRC SAZU/SASA - Slovenian Academy of Sciences and Arts.
Zvezdana Novaković Slovena Voices and the Brothers Teofilovic (Serbia) will be playing world music at Cankarjev dom cultural and congress centre on December 21, 20:00.
The Serbian rock band Bajaga will be playing Ljubljana Exhibition and Convention Centre at 21:00, December 21.
The local folk group O´Sat Trio are performing at Pri kolovratu guesthouse, with a free show that starts at 19:00 on December 22.
Sarah Brightman will be bringing her voice, some Gregorian chanters, and special guests, to Stožice Arena on December 22, 22:00.
On December 23, at 19:30, the Cantabile Symphony Orchestra will play a Christmas concert at Cankarjev dom.
The veteran pop provocateur Magnifico will then be playing a show at the same venue on December 25 at 20:00 . Check out our feature on this interesting artist if curious.
OPERA, THEATRE & DANCE
Bizet’s Carmen will be performed on December 19 and 20 Dec, 19:00, at the Ljubljana Opera House.
It’s The Nutcracker time of year, and Tchaikovsky’s seasonal ballet is playing at the Opera House December 22, 23, and 25 at 18:00, and on the 24th at 15:00.
Lovers of flamenco should head the Pocket Teater, if tickets are still available, for Noches de Tablao III: Sacai on December 21 and 22, at 20:30. Details here.
SPORTS
December 19, 20:00, basketball. Petrol Olimpija vs Banvit B.K. (Turkey). Stožice Arena.
December 20, 19:14, hockey. HK SŽ Olimpija vs EC Adler Kitzbühel (Austria). Tivoli Sports Hall.
December 21, 19:00, basketball. Petrol Olimpija vs Krka. Tivoli Sports Hall.
December 23, 17:00, basketball. Petrol Olimpija vs Cibona (Croatia). Tivoli Sports Hall.
