The unveiling of the statue was an introductory act of the Kogoj Days 2019. The bust, created by academic sculptor Metod Frlic, will stand outdoors in the Kanal and is currently stored in a repository.
Anton Nanut
In his extensive career, Anton Nanut (1932–2017) led under his baton more than two hundred internationally acclaimed ensembles, such as the Vienna Symphony, Saint Petersburg Philharmonic Orchestra (then known as the Leningrad Philharmonic Orchestra), Staatskapelle Dresden and the Berlin Symphony Orchestra. He shared the stage with many renowned musicians and among them Mstislav Rostropovich, Nikita Magaloff, Henryk Szeryng, Sviatoslav Richter, Dubravka Tomšič and David Oistrakh. His musical output features hundreds of studio recordings of classical masterpieces, though Nanut had a special affinity for Slovenian contemporary works, which he promoted.
Many of his recordings were released in the USA by the record label Stradivari Classics. His musical output is marked by unique interpretive skills, which left an indellible mark on Mahler’s symphonies and Slovenian contemporary works. In 2011, his efforts earned him the prestigious Prešeren Lifetime Achievement Award.
He studied at the Ljubljana Academy of Music, where he earned his conducting diploma in the class of prof. Danilo Švara. His conducting career, which first began with the Dubrovnik City Orchestra, quickly took off when he appeared as guest conductor in London, Prague and Warsaw and toured with his Dubrovnik orchestra in Hungary, Italy and Austria. Later he led the Slovenian Philharmonic Orchestra and toured Italy, Austria, Belgium, Germany, Poland, the Soviet Union and USA. He also led the RTV Slovenia Symphony Orchestra for a period of 18 years and performed with the orchestra at international venues, including Carnegie Hall.
While teaching conducting at Ljubljana Academy of Music, he influenced many young conductors, such as Stane Jurgec, Marko Vatovec, Andraž Hauptman and Marko Letonja.
In 1980, he initiated the festival of contemporary music, Kogoj’s Days, together with composer Marijan Gabrijelčič. The festival is dedicated to the influential expressionistic Slovene composer Marij Kogoj. Nanut filled the role of artistic director of the festival for more than a decade and focused on the commission and presentation of contemporary works. The festival still takes place at Kanal ob Soči, Nanut’s birthplace, where he is an honorary member of society, not only because of the festival, but also because of his influential contribution. At Kanal ob Soči his musical endeavours began in tragic circumstances. As an eleven-year-old he was asked to fill the role of local organ player and choir master to replace his father, who was taken by the authorities to a concentration camp.