PROGRAM
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- Johann Sebastian Bach: Cello Suite No. 6 – Prelude, Allemande, Courante (arr. Ana Gorjanc)
- Mario Castelnuovo-Tedesco: Capricho de Goya No. 20 – Obsequío a el Maestro
- Dušan Bogdanović: Sonata No. 4 – I. Appassionato, II. Lento, rubato
- Ida Presti: Danse Rythmique
- Duo: Joaquín Turina: Danzas Fantásticas: Exaltación, Ensueño, Orgía
PROGRAM NOTES
Johann Sebastian Bach: Cello Suite No. 6, BWV 1012 (arr. A. Gorjanc)
Bach’s six cello suites represent the pinnacle of polyphonic maturity and the technical limits of Baroque string instruments. The Sixth Suite in D major, originally written for a five-stringed instrument (viola pomposa or violončelo piccolo), is characterized by its remarkably bright, triumphant, and virtuosic nature. In this arrangement for classical guitar, the Prelude, Allemande, and Courante retain their ornamental luxury and dance-like step, while the guitar’s polyphony brings a fresh color and harmonic depth to Bach’s original concept.
Mario Castelnuovo-Tedesco: Caprichos de Goya, Op. 195 – No. 20: Obsequio a el maestro
In 1961, Italian composer Mario Castelnuovo-Tedesco created a monumental cycle of 24 Caprichos, inspired by the series of 80 satirical and dark aquatint prints of the same name by the great Spanish painter Francisco Goya. The piece Obsequio a el maestro (A Gift to the Master) musically interprets Goya’s 47th print, which depicts witches and disciples offering gifts to their leader. The musical language of the work is imbued with drama, sharp rhythms, and grotesque motifs that faithfully reflect the painter’s social critique and mystical atmosphere.
Dušan Bogdanović: Sonata No. 4
In his Fourth Sonata, contemporary Serbian-American composer and guitarist Dušan Bogdanović successfully merges classical formal structure with jazz elements, modern music, and the distinctive rhythms of Balkan folklore. Through the performance of the first two movements, the composer creates a powerful contrast. I. Appassionato delivers a restless, passionate, and rhythmically complex energy, whereas II. Lento, rubato offers tranquility through a meditative, improvisational character filled with fluid, lyrical melodies.
Ida Presti: Danse rythmique, Op. 27
Ida Presti is remembered as one of the greatest guitarists of the 20th century, whose brilliant virtuosity left a permanent mark on the history of the instrument. Her composition Danse rythmique (Rhythmic Dance) is dedicated to her husband and partner in their legendary duo, Alexandre Lagoya. The work is rich in specific guitar techniques, such as effective pizzicato, and features frequent shifts in tone color and registers. It is highly dynamic in character, requiring exceptional technical precision and rhythmic stability from the performer
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ABOUT THE ARTISTS
Ana Gorjanc (b. 2000)
Ana Gorjanc began her musical education at the Kranj Music School in the class of Nataša Bogataj. She continued her studies at the Conservatory of Music and Ballet Ljubljana under Igor Saje, where she was awarded the prestigious Škerjanc Prize. She is also a recipient of the “Mladi upi” (Young Talents) scholarship funded by the Triglav Insurance Company.
In July 2023, she completed her Bachelor’s degree at the Conservatory of Music in Vigo (Spain) in the class of Prof. Margarita Escarpa. In October 2025, she earned her Master’s degree from the Mozarteum University Salzburg (Austria) under Prof. Laura Young. In recent years, she has won second prize at the Velespaña Competition, first prize at the TEMSIG Slovenian National Music Competition, first prize at the Krško Guitar Days (Slovenia), and second prize at the Ida Presti Competition in Samobor. For several years, she participated in the Women’s Voices project, performed a concert series in collaboration with Jeunesses Musicales Slovenia, and appeared at the Ljubljana Festival, Postojna Guitar Week (Slovenia), Lago d’Orta Festival (Italy), and GitarISTRA Festival (Croatia). In collaboration with the Mozarteum University, she released her debut album Homage to Art, and performed Dyens’ Concerto en Si as a soloist with the Guitar Orchestra of the Academy of Music in Ljubljana. She is currently pursuing a Master’s degree in Instrumental Pedagogy at the Academy of Music in Ljubljana in the class of Prof. Tomaž Rajterič. She teaches at the Arsem Private Music School in Ljubljana and is a member of the organizing team for the Postojna Guitar Week.
Staš Čakš (b. 1997)
Staš Čakš started playing the guitar at the age of six at music schools in Rogaška Slatina and Maribor under Anja Pirjevec. He continued his education at the Conservatory of Music and Ballet Maribor in the class of Vojko Vešligaj. At just eight years old, he won a gold plaque and second prize at his first international competition. He has received numerous awards in Slovenia and abroad and has performed as a soloist with the Feguš Quartet, the Guitar Orchestra of the Conservatory of Music and Ballet Ljubljana, and the Accordion Orchestra of the Academy of Music. In 2016, he received the Dr. Roman Klasinc Award.
He studied at the Academy of Music in Ljubljana in the class of Tomaž Rajterič, graduating with honors. During his studies, he won second prize at the TEMSIG national competition and performed Piazzolla’s Double Concerto for Guitar and Bandoneon with accordionist Rok Fišer and the String Orchestra of the Academy of Music. In 2025, he won third prize at the Ida Presti Competition and first prize at the Krško Guitar Days. He has also performed in concert alongside the renowned guitarist Marcin Dylla and at the GitarISTRA festival. In June 2025, he completed his studies at the Zurich University of the Arts in the classes of Anders Miolin and Vojin Kocić. He teaches at the Conservatory of Music and Ballet Maribor.
Duo AdArt
Duo AdArt was founded in 2022 by guitarists Ana Gorjanc and Staš Čakš. They are united by a distinct artistic vision, technical excellence, and extensive concert and competitive experience. In their very first year together, they won two third prizes at international competitions: the Zé Gregorio Competition in Portugal and the Altamira Enrico Mercatali Competition in Italy. They further solidified their reputation with notable success at prestigious international competitions. In 2024, they won first prize at the Jornadas Internacionales de Guitarra de Elda in Spain; in 2025, they claimed second prize at the prestigious Martinez Competition in Iserlohn, Germany, and first prize at the Savarez-Corelli Competition in Salzburg. Most recently, they secured second prize at the Paganini Festival Competition in Parma, Italy. They have performed at major festivals and concert series, including José Tomás Petrer, Jornadas Internacionales de Guitarra de Elda (Spain), Postojna Guitar Week, Rokovo poletje, Festival Lent, and Rasgueado Ljubljana (Slovenia). Both artists are also recipients of the Lions Club Poreč Award.
Ana Gorjanc (b. 2000)
Ana Gorjanc began her musical education at the Kranj Music School in the class of Nataša Bogataj. She continued her studies at the Conservatory of Music and Ballet Ljubljana under Igor Saje, where she was awarded the prestigious Škerjanc Prize. She is also a recipient of the “Mladi upi” (Young Talents) scholarship funded by the Triglav Insurance Company.
In July 2023, she completed her Bachelor’s degree at the Conservatory of Music in Vigo (Spain) in the class of Prof. Margarita Escarpa. In October 2025, she earned her Master’s degree from the Mozarteum University Salzburg (Austria) under Prof. Laura Young. In recent years, she has won second prize at the Velespaña Competition, first prize at the TEMSIG Slovenian National Music Competition, first prize at the Krško Guitar Days (Slovenia), and second prize at the Ida Presti Competition in Samobor. For several years, she participated in the Women’s Voices project, performed a concert series in collaboration with Jeunesses Musicales Slovenia, and appeared at the Ljubljana Festival, Postojna Guitar Week (Slovenia), Lago d’Orta Festival (Italy), and GitarISTRA Festival (Croatia). In collaboration with the Mozarteum University, she released her debut album Homage to Art, and performed Dyens’ Concerto en Si as a soloist with the Guitar Orchestra of the Academy of Music in Ljubljana. She is currently pursuing a Master’s degree in Instrumental Pedagogy at the Academy of Music in Ljubljana in the class of Prof. Tomaž Rajterič. She teaches at the Arsem Private Music School in Ljubljana and is a member of the organizing team for the Postojna Guitar Week.
Staš Čakš (b. 1997)
Staš Čakš started playing the guitar at the age of six at music schools in Rogaška Slatina and Maribor under Anja Pirjevec. He continued his education at the Conservatory of Music and Ballet Maribor in the class of Vojko Vešligaj. At just eight years old, he won a gold plaque and second prize at his first international competition. He has received numerous awards in Slovenia and abroad and has performed as a soloist with the Feguš Quartet, the Guitar Orchestra of the Conservatory of Music and Ballet Ljubljana, and the Accordion Orchestra of the Academy of Music. In 2016, he received the Dr. Roman Klasinc Award.
He studied at the Academy of Music in Ljubljana in the class of Tomaž Rajterič, graduating with honors. During his studies, he won second prize at the TEMSIG national competition and performed Piazzolla’s Double Concerto for Guitar and Bandoneon with accordionist Rok Fišer and the String Orchestra of the Academy of Music. In 2025, he won third prize at the Ida Presti Competition and first prize at the Krško Guitar Days. He has also performed in concert alongside the renowned guitarist Marcin Dylla and at the GitarISTRA festival. In June 2025, he completed his studies at the Zurich University of the Arts in the classes of Anders Miolin and Vojin Kocić. He teaches at the Conservatory of Music and Ballet Maribor.
Duo AdArt
Duo AdArt was founded in 2022 by guitarists Ana Gorjanc and Staš Čakš. They are united by a distinct artistic vision, technical excellence, and extensive concert and competitive experience. In their very first year together, they won two third prizes at international competitions: the Zé Gregorio Competition in Portugal and the Altamira Enrico Mercatali Competition in Italy. They further solidified their reputation with notable success at prestigious international competitions. In 2024, they won first prize at the Jornadas Internacionales de Guitarra de Elda in Spain; in 2025, they claimed second prize at the prestigious Martinez Competition in Iserlohn, Germany, and first prize at the Savarez-Corelli Competition in Salzburg. Most recently, they secured second prize at the Paganini Festival Competition in Parma, Italy. They have performed at major festivals and concert series, including José Tomás Petrer, Jornadas Internacionales de Guitarra de Elda (Spain), Postojna Guitar Week, Rokovo poletje, Festival Lent, and Rasgueado Ljubljana (Slovenia). Both artists are also recipients of the Lions Club Poreč Awar
