On the tenth anniversary of the death of Trebnje opera diva Vilma Bukovec, a special exhibition is on display at the Gallery of Naïve Artists Trebnje.
The exhibition features works from the estate of Vilma Bukovec, which the artist donated to her fellow countrymen. It was organized at the initiative of the Municipality of Trebnje and the Žnurce Lace-Making Group.
The exhibition features various personal items belonging to Vilma Bukovec, including costumes and costume accessories. Among the items on display is a fan made of ostrich feathers, which she wore as Tatiana in the opera Eugene Onegin in 1948.
The significance of the exhibition was also highlighted at the opening by Sabina Tori Selan, director of CIK Trebnje, who expressed her delight that the Gallery of Naïve Artists Trebnje is hosting an exhibition dedicated to this important native of Trebnje. Students from the Trebnje Music School enriched the opening with a vocal performance.
Trebnje Opera Diva Vilma Bukovec (1920–2016)
Vilma Bukovec was born in Trebnje and, after studying solo singing, became one of the leading singers of the Ljubljana Opera Company. As a soloist, she performed both at home and abroad and received numerous domestic and international awards. After a career spanning four decades, she retired from the opera stage in 1982 and received the Prešeren Award for lifetime achievement that same year. In 2004, she was also named an honorary citizen of the Municipality of Trebnje.
Exhibition as a prelude to the “Vilma’s Evening” event
The exhibition will be on view at the Trebnje Gallery of Self-Taught Artists until December 5, 2026. It is accompanied by “Vilma’s Evening,” a musical and theatrical tribute to the artist, which will take place on Saturday, September 26, at 7:00 p.m. at the Trebnje Cultural Center.