Concerti Sotto Le Stelle

As part of the European Capital of Culture 2025 Nova Gorica - Gorizia, the GONG Orchestra, conducted by Sandi Cej, arrives in the castle courtyard of Vipavski Križ with exceptional soloists and a breathtaking fire and dance spectacle.

As part of the European Capital of Culture 2025 Nova Gorica - Gorizia, the GONG Orchestra, conducted by Sandi Ceja, will perform on 7 June 2025 at 20:00 in the castle courtyard of Vipavski Križ. Accompanied by exceptional soloists and a fiery dance spectacle, the evening promises to be both inspiring and emotionally powerful.

Performers include soprano Nejka Čuk, harpist Ester Pavlica, the artistic group Kre.Aktiv, and dancers from the PRO DC Dance Studio. The concert will also be graced by the presence of renowned Italian composer Virginio Zoccatelli. Admission is free.

The concert is part of the Concerts Under the Stars series, subtitled United in Culture, where musicians under the baton of Sandi Cej present a rich and thematically connected musical program. The highlight of the evening will be a medley combining the Slovenian, Italian, and Austrian national anthems, as well as the Ode to Joy.

The event will begin with the official European Capital of Culture anthem for wind orchestra, composed by Vid Bavcon and selected through a competition. Most of the musical pieces were composed specifically for this occasion. In addition to Zoccatelli, several other distinguished guests are expected.

Music will weave invisible threads of connection—a core value of the GO! 2025 initiative. In the magical setting of Vipavski Križ, the music will be enhanced by dance performances from PRO DC and spectacular fire shows by Kre.Aktiv.

"The essence of the European Capital of Culture is connection," says Simon Pintar, president of the GONG Orchestra. "We were honored to receive the invitation to perform in Vipavski Križ. Our hope is that GO! 2025 will break down borders not only between Italy and Slovenia, but also strengthen local bonds. The music we will perform was composed especially for this concert, and with soprano Nejka Čuk we will also perform some timeless classics that always move us. I believe the setting will make the music sound even more magical."

All concerts are free and part of the vibrant program of the European Capital of Culture. Concerts Under the Stars are part of the GO(d)BA 2025 project (Cross-Border Wind Band Nova Gorica and Gorizia), carried out by the Goriški pihalni orkester and Casa delle Arti APS.

The project is co-financed by the European Union through the GO! 2025 Small Project Fund under the Interreg VI-A Italy–Slovenia 2021–2027 programme, managed by EGTC GO.