Some concerts are remembered simply as beautiful evenings. Others turn into moments that quietly shape cultural history. The “In the Spirit of Beethoven” concert at Ljubljana’s historic Julij Betetto Hall belonged firmly to the latter category, DKNews.kz reports.
Organized by the Academy of Music of the University of Ljubljana in partnership with the Embassy of Kazakhstan in Slovenia, the event was far more than a classical performance. It became a meeting point of cultures, traditions, and shared values, where music spoke louder than diplomacy ever could.
A European stage, a Kazakh voice
At the heart of the evening was renowned Kazakhstani cellist and professor Eldar Saparayev, performing alongside outstanding musicians from the Berlin Philharmonic and the Zurich Chamber Orchestra. United on one stage, Tanja Sonc, Matic Kuder, Maja Rome, Zoran Marković, Miha Mitev, and Andrej Žust formed an ensemble that embodied the very idea of European musical unity.
The musicians presented one of Ludwig van Beethoven’s most radiant chamber works - the Septet in E-flat major, Op. 20. Full of elegance, vitality, and inner freedom, the piece unfolded naturally, with clarity and emotional depth. Each movement felt alive, as if Beethoven’s music were speaking directly to a modern audience, without barriers of language or time.
A hall filled with attention and emotion
Julij Betetto Hall was filled to capacity. Among the audience were members of Ljubljana’s diplomatic corps, business leaders, academics, cultural figures, students, residents of the city, and long-time friends of Kazakhstan. The atmosphere was one of focused silence and genuine anticipation, broken only by warm applause between movements.
By the final notes, the audience rose in a prolonged standing ovation. It was the kind of response that cannot be planned or staged - only earned. The full house and emotional reaction spoke for themselves, confirming how deeply classical music continues to resonate when performed with sincerity and mastery.
Heard across the entire country
The impact of the evening extended far beyond the walls of the concert hall. Thanks to a live broadcast on Slovenia’s national radio, listeners across the country were able to experience the performance in real time. In this way, the concert became a nationwide cultural moment, bringing world-class classical music - and Kazakhstan’s artistic presence - into homes and public spaces throughout Slovenia.
More than a concert
What made this evening truly special was its meaning beyond music. The concert reaffirmed Kazakhstan’s growing reputation as a country with a strong and respected classical music tradition, capable of standing confidently on Europe’s most demanding stages.
“In the Spirit of Beethoven” became exactly what its title promised - a spiritual bridge between cultures, built not through speeches or formal gestures, but through sound, harmony, and shared emotion. Long after the applause faded, the sense of connection it created remained, proving once again that great music does not simply entertain - it brings people closer together.
For many in Ljubljana, this was not just an evening of Beethoven. It was a powerful reminder that cultural dialogue, when sincere and inspired, leaves a lasting imprint far beyond the final chord.
