Dear visitors, musicians, and guests,
welcome to the 10th Koper Biennale, the international festival of contemporary music. Those of you who have followed us from the very beginning likely know that each edition features its own theme. This year, we chose planets and outer space… Sphaera mundi—the ancient idea that the universe is one grand symphony, with humanity as both a listener and an instrument within it. All dimensions of the cosmos will guide us in exploring different worlds, searching for the meaning of music, reviving ancient connections between reality and mythology, and rekindling lost dreams that once placed humanity at the center. We live in a time when the bond between nature—or the cosmos—and humanity has been severed. It is becoming increasingly difficult for people to connect with themselves or even to feel at all. The pursuit of material comfort suffocates that primary quest to discover and accept oneself as a unique being connected to "all things on Earth." The greatest wisdom has always arisen from observing nature and exploring our own emotions. We ourselves are an unexplored universe, and I believe the true purpose of life is to recognize our authentic essence. Sometimes, we only appreciate the value of something once we have lost it. Therefore, we embark on a journey through different worlds, planets, and musical works, hoping our voyage ends with the realization that we already have our own world, our own planet… our own Earth. We must learn to cherish it, as it is our only home, which we are duty-bound to hand over unharmed to future generations. We must learn to love. So, we begin on Earth, catch a glimpse of our satellite, the Moon, and journey past the other planets. I hope each of you finds a piece of yourself here—and, above all, discovers what Dante found on his journey in the Divine Comedy: "L'amor che move il sole e l'altre stelle" / "The love that moves the sun and the other stars" (Paradiso, Canto XXXIII, v. 145).
Tatjana Jercog
welcome to the 10th Koper Biennale, the international festival of contemporary music. Those of you who have followed us from the very beginning likely know that each edition features its own theme. This year, we chose planets and outer space… Sphaera mundi—the ancient idea that the universe is one grand symphony, with humanity as both a listener and an instrument within it. All dimensions of the cosmos will guide us in exploring different worlds, searching for the meaning of music, reviving ancient connections between reality and mythology, and rekindling lost dreams that once placed humanity at the center. We live in a time when the bond between nature—or the cosmos—and humanity has been severed. It is becoming increasingly difficult for people to connect with themselves or even to feel at all. The pursuit of material comfort suffocates that primary quest to discover and accept oneself as a unique being connected to "all things on Earth." The greatest wisdom has always arisen from observing nature and exploring our own emotions. We ourselves are an unexplored universe, and I believe the true purpose of life is to recognize our authentic essence. Sometimes, we only appreciate the value of something once we have lost it. Therefore, we embark on a journey through different worlds, planets, and musical works, hoping our voyage ends with the realization that we already have our own world, our own planet… our own Earth. We must learn to cherish it, as it is our only home, which we are duty-bound to hand over unharmed to future generations. We must learn to love. So, we begin on Earth, catch a glimpse of our satellite, the Moon, and journey past the other planets. I hope each of you finds a piece of yourself here—and, above all, discovers what Dante found on his journey in the Divine Comedy: "L'amor che move il sole e l'altre stelle" / "The love that moves the sun and the other stars" (Paradiso, Canto XXXIII, v. 145).
Tatjana Jercog
