“The premiere of the evening deserves to be included as repertoire in a canon of the immediate present yet to be written: Vito Žuraj's ‘Automatones’ is entertaining and yet incredibly complex, well constructed and irritating in the best sense of the word – contemporary orchestral music at its finest.” Münchner Merkur, 16.10.2023
  
Powerful and meticulously crafted compositions, often incorporating theatrical elements and spatial sound concepts, characterise the work of Slovenian composer Vito Žuraj, who was born in Maribor in 1979. His music quickly gained recognition in concert halls and has been performed by renowned musical forces such as the New York Philharmonic, BBC Scottish Symphony Orchestra, Helsinki Philharmonic Orchestra, Ensemble Modern, and Klangforum Wien. He has received commissions from, among others, the Berlin Philharmonic (Anemoi), the Frankfurt Opera (Blühen, named “World Premiere of the Year” in 2023 by the magazine Opernwelt), and Ensemble intercontemporain (Ubuquité). The Bavarian Radio Symphony Orchestra commissioned his aforementioned orchestral work Automatones which was conducted by Sir Simon Rattle in 2023.

Vito Žuraj often draws inspiration from non-musical sources: as a passionate tennis player, he channels experiences from specific match situations into a growing series of works – including Changeover for instrumental groups and orchestra, which was awarded First Prize at the 57th Composition Prize of the City of Stuttgart in 2012. Other works take inspiration from the life of alchemist Johann Friedrich Böttger, the inventor of European porcelain (Der Verwandler), Sicilian fairy tales (Alavò), and culinary rituals (Hors d’œuvre for cook-performer and orchestra).

Vito Žuraj has received numerous accolades, including the Claudio Abbado Composition Prize from the Karajan Academy of the Berlin Philharmonic, a recognition award from the Art Mentor Foundation Lucerne, and the Prešeren Fund Award – Slovenia’s highest honour for artists. He was also a fellow at the German Academy Rome Villa Massimo, the International House of Artists Villa Concordia, and the Civitella Ranieri Foundation.

Vito Žuraj studied composition in Ljubljana, Dresden, and in Karlsruhe with Wolfgang Rihm. Since 2016, he has been Professor of Composition and Music Theory at the Academy of Music at the University of Ljubljana.