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Premiere of the “Mother Violin” at Slovenia’s Central State Celebration
On 23 December 2025 at 8:00pm, I had the honour of performing Beethoven’s Romance in F major with the Slovenian Philharmonic Orchestra at the Central State Celebration in honour of Independence and Unity Day at Cankarjev dom, Ljubljana.
This performance was especially memorable as it marked the official premiere of the “Mother Violin,” crafted by luthier Daniel Musek from the top wood of a more than 6,500-year-old silver fir, discovered preserved in a Slovenian bog. The extraordinary story of the ancient tree becoming a violin formed the symbolic centre of the entire ceremony.
To give the first public voice to such a remarkable instrument in one of Beethoven’s most lyrical works made the evening very special. Bringing to life the sound of an instrument carrying thousands of years of natural history, in the setting of Slovenia’s most important national celebration, was truly a privilege.
