Participation at Festivals in Italy (Fano, Pesaro)

The Zbor sv. Nikolaja, conducted by Helena Fojkar Zupančič, participated at two choir festivals in Italy from 8th to 11th September 2004.

Initially, the choir took part in the 31st International Meeting of Polyphonic Choirs "Citta di Fano", that went on from 8th to 11th September. This highly recognized festival is attended only by the best choirs that also make television and radio appearances and record CDs. The Zbor sv. Nikolaja performed at two evening concerts in the St. Paterniano basilica, along with choirs from Italy, Poland and Estonia.

On the third day, the singers of Zbor sv. Nikolaja moved on to Pesaro, where the 3th Festival Corale "Polyphonia" took place from 10th to 19th September. They delighted the audience with another concert in the Cathedral. Artists from Spain and Italy also participated at this festival.

The Zbor sv. Nikolaja charmed laymen as well as professionals with its superb realization of compositions, written by world-fame composers. The audience was deeply touched as it listened to the delighting music and rewarded the choir by huge applauses and standing ovations. The organizers of the festival were extremely grateful that the choir had accepted the invitation and highly commended the choir's performances. As a result, the choir has been invited to future festivals in Fano and Pesaro as well as to many other festivals in Italy.



"We, the singers, were pleasantly surprised over the warm welcome Italy had given us. We had excellent working conditions and were in a very high mood. We spent our forenoon free time in the sea and in the afternoon practicing for the concert.
Never before have we performed in such large and beautiful basilica and cathedrala and our sensations were extraordinary. We gave our best on every performance and used up all of our atoms of energy on the last concert. Because we felt excellent connection between us, the conductor and the audience, our compositions were very convincing as well as emotionally charged. It's always amazing to see your music touch the audience, which was filled with enthusiasm. But the greatest surprise awaited us as we left the basilica after our first concert - a part of the audience welcomed us outside with a long roaring applause and cries of enthusiasm...
Our last night in Italy was spent enjoying each others company, dancing and night-swimming in the sea. While we were returning home, we looked back at all the fun we've had and unanimously decided one day to return to Italy."



"I am absolutely thrilled over the Slovenian choir's performance. Their singing was overwhelmingly beautiful and lively - I am most impressed. Last night was like angels singing in paradise... "

Olinto Petrucci, the organiser in Fano: "I am honored and proud to have such a great choir from Slovenia perform here in Fano. It takes some high quality singing for a choir to join this festival, but your choir has more than justified the invitation. You have dazzled us all with your relaxed and casual approach to music. It is a great reward for our work. Molto complimenti, grazia, grazia... Arrivederci in Fano... "

Simone Baiocchi, the organiser in Pesaro: "There hasn't been such a marvelous choir here in Pesaro for the last 6 years, when we were visited by the choir from Vatican. I can only say my joy is indescribable and words lose all of their meaning. I wish you a lot of success in the future and I hope we meet again in Pesaro or in Slovenia. Grazia, grazia, grazia..."