A major Ljubljana outdoor venue, listed as a cultural heritage building, Križanke’s various stages host a broad selection of music concerts, as well as dance and theatre performances. Formerly a Monastery of the Holy Cross, the abandoned complex was redesigned as the Križanke open-air theatre, with smaller concert stages. The Auditorium, Križanke’s main stage, provides the venue for premier classical, popular, ethnic and jazz music concerts. Young classical musicians traditionally perform in the Knights’ Hall, and various solo recitals and chamber concerts take place in the Baroque Church of the Knights of the Cross and in the Devil’s Courtyard.
In 1952, the Municipality of Ljubljana entrusted 80-year-old Jože Plečnik with redesigning the monastery complex, the former seat of the Order of Teutonic Knights, to accommodate the events of the Ljubljana Festival. The reconstruction, Plečnik’s last major contribution to the city, completed his overall design of Vegova Street as Ljubljana’s cultural artery. In remodelling the complex, the architect adopted the architectural style of the Renaissance, and made use of various architectural elements of demolished Ljubljana buildings. The redevelopment included two smaller yards: the Devil’s Courtyard, designed in the Mediterranean style, and a small courtyard that features an archaeological park. Failing to suit the requirements of performance events, the large courtyard was later repurposed as the Auditorium’s entrance foyer. The Auditorium was subsequently built by Plečnik’s assistant, architect Anton Bitenc, who continued Plečnik’s work.
The various illustrious musicians who have performed at Križanke include Lou Reed, Patti Smith, the Pixies, the Buena Vista Social Club, Ennio Morricone and the St Petersburg Mariinsky Theatre Symphony Orchestra under the baton of Valery Gergiev. Križanke also provides the venue for popular Slovenian music bands and musicians from the local and surrounding regions, most notably Laibach, Buldožer, Tabu, Siddharta, DJ Umek, Gramatik, Dan D, Đorđe Balašević, Riblja čorba, Massimo Savić and others. Within the context of the summer Ljubljana Festival, ballet performances by distinguished international ensembles, including Béjart Ballet from Lausanne and the Bolshoi Theatre, are annually presented in the Križanke Auditorium. Other Ljubljana Festival events featured there mainly include musicals and a traditional concert by Vlado Kreslin. Chamber concerts and solo recitals by artists that include Bernarda Bobro, musica cubicularis and the MD7 Contemporary Music Ensemble, are held in the Church of the Knights of the Cross and the Knights’ Hall.
Križanke was the venue for the celebrated Novi Rock Festival, a festival of new rock music taking place annually between 1981 and 2000 that programmed illustrious names, including Smashing Pumpkins, The Verve and Nick Cave, and above all promoted wider recognition of up-and-coming Slovenian bands and groups from Yugoslavia, including Lačni Franz, Plavi orkestar, Film, Haustor, Videosex, Borghesia, etc.
The Auditorium, Križanke’s main attraction, which accommodates up to 3500 spectators, has hosted events of such historical importance as the Jazz Festival Ljubljana, the Slovenian Song Festival and the Druga Godba world music festival.
Maia Juvanc