Irena Grafenauer (Ljubljana, 19. lipnja 1957.) slovenska je flautistica i jedna od najistaknutijih europskih umjetnica kasnog 20. i ranog 21. stoljeća. Svjetski ugled stekla je kao solistica, komorna glazbenica, pedagoginja i diskografska umjetnica. U povijest je ušla kao prva žena koja je postala solo-flautistica Simfonijskog orkestra Bavarskog radija, jednog od najuglednijih orkestara na svijetu.
Rođena u glazbenoj obitelji, flautu je počela svirati u ranom djetinjstvu. Školovanje je započela kod profesora Borisa Čampe, a već s 15 godina maturirala je u Srednjoj glazbenoj školi u Ljubljani. Diplomirala je i završila poslijediplomski studij na Akademiji za glasbu u Ljubljani, a potom se dodatno usavršavala kod legendarnih flautista Karlheinza Zöllera i Aurèlea Nicoleta. Upravo je njihov utjecaj snažno oblikovao estetiku njezina tona, osjećaj za fraziranje i stilski senzibilitet.
Već kao vrlo mlada umjetnica privukla je međunarodnu pozornost, pobijedivši sa sedamnaest godina u svim kategorijama na Međunarodnom natjecanju glazbene mladeži u Beogradu. Godine 1978. osvojila je prvu nagradu na Svjetskom natjecanju flautista u Ženevi te posebno priznanje za interpretaciju djela svih stilskih razdoblja. Do tada, to posebno priznanje nije bilo dodijeljeno nijednom natjecatelju čak 35 prethodnih godina! Uslijedile su potom nagrade „Stern des Jahres“ (1979), Prešernova nagrada (1980) i nagrada „Orlando“ na Dubrovačkim ljetnim igrama (1985).
Godine 1977., s dvadeset godina, postaje solo-flautistica Simfonijskog orkestra Bavarskog radija kao prva žena, prva strankinja i jedna od najmlađih glazbenica na toj poziciji. U deset godina rada u orkestru surađivala je s vodećim dirigentima epohe, među kojima su Rafael Kubelik, Sir Colin Davis, Karl Böhm, Bernard Haitink, Wolfgang Sawallisch i Daniel Barenboim.
Nakon desetljeća intenzivnog orkestralnog rada napušta orkestar kako bi se u potpunosti posvetila svojoj rastućoj solističkoj, ali i pedagoškoj karijeri. Nastupala je diljem Europe, SAD-a, Japana i Australije, s vodećim orkestrima poput Berlinske filharmonije, Europskog komornog orkestra i Academy of St Martin-in-the-Fields. Posebno su značajne njezine suradnje s Leonardom Bernsteinom, Sandorom Véghom i Gidonom Kremerom, s kojim od 1981. redovito sudjeluje i na „Lockenhaus“ festivalu u Austriji. Tih se godina sve više posvećuje i izvođenju komorne glazbe, s vrhunskim glazbenicima poput Marije Graf, Olega Maisenberga, Roberta Levina, Helmuta Deutsha, Eliota Fiska i Cherubuni kvarteta.
Njezin izvođački opus obuhvaća iznimno širok repertoar: od Bacha, Mozarta, francuskog repertoara 19. i 20. stoljeća, do slovenskih skladatelja te suvremene glazbe. Njezine izvedbe ponajviše se cijene zbog toplog i pjevnog tona, besprijekornog legata, stilske elegancije, tehničke preciznosti i snažne emocionalne inteligencije utkane u interpretaciju djela. Posebnim pohvalama ovjenčana su njezina diskografska izdanja, osobito Mozartova djela. Primjerice, njezina snimka Mozartovog Koncerta u G-duru (KV 313) danas se smatra referentnom izvedbom tog djela među flautistima, kao i svim stručnjacima i ljubiteljima klasične glazbe. Irena Grafenauer ukupno je snimila 30 albuma, među kojima se ističu sudjelovanje u pojedinim izdanjima ekskluzivne serije od deset ploča za kuću Philips te pojedinih izdanja cjelokupnih Mozartovih djela od 180 ploča.
Godine 1987. postala je redovna profesorica flaute na Visokoj školi za glazbu Mozarteum u Salzburgu, jednoj od najprestižnijih glazbenih institucija u svijetu. Poznata po svojoj pedagoškoj preciznosti, sugestivnosti i karizmi, odgojila je generacije istaknutih europskih flautista.
U rodnoj Sloveniji nagrađena je najvišim državnim i kulturnim priznanjima, uključujući Zlatni častni znak slobode (2003), priznanje za Slovenku godine (2004), Prešernovu nagradu za životno djelo (2005), počasni doktorat Sveučilišta u Ljubljani i počasno članstvo Slovenske filharmonije.
Irena Grafenauer (Ljubljana, 19 June 1957) is a Slovenian flautist and one of the most distinguished European artists of the late 20th and early 21st centuries. She gained international renown as a soloist, chamber musician, teacher, and recording artist. She entered music history as the first woman ever to become principal flautist of the Bavarian Radio Symphony Orchestra, one of the world’s most prestigious orchestras.
Born into a musical family, she began playing the flute in early childhood. She first studied with Professor Boris Čampa, and at just fifteen graduated from the Secondary School of Music in Ljubljana. She went on to earn both her diploma and postgraduate degree at the Ljubljana Academy of Music, after which she continued her studies with the legendary flautists Karlheinz Zöller and Aurèle Nicolet. Their influence profoundly shaped the aesthetic of her tone, her sense of phrasing, and her stylistic sensitivity.
Already as a very young artist she attracted international attention, winning in all categories at the International Competition of Musical Youth in Belgrade at the age of seventeen. In 1978 she won first prize at the International Flute Competition in Geneva, as well as a special award for the interpretation of works from all stylistic periods. Remarkably, this special award had not been granted to any competitor in the previous 35 years! This was followed by the “Stern des Jahres” award (1979), the Prešeren Award (1980), and the “Orlando” Prize at the Dubrovnik Summer Festival (1985).
In 1977, at the age of twenty, she became principal flautist of the Bavarian Radio Symphony Orchestra, the first woman, the first foreigner, and one of the youngest musicians ever to hold the position. During her ten-year tenure, she worked with leading conductors of the era, including Rafael Kubelík, Sir Colin Davis, Karl Böhm, Bernard Haitink, Wolfgang Sawallisch, and Daniel Barenboim.
After a decade of intensive orchestral work, she left the orchestra to devote herself entirely to her growing solo and teaching career. She performed throughout Europe, the United States, Japan, and Australia with leading ensembles such as the Berlin Philharmonic, the European Chamber Orchestra, and the Academy of St Martin-in-the-Fields. Particularly notable were her collaborations with Leonard Bernstein, Sándor Végh, and Gidon Kremer, with whom she has appeared regularly at the Lockenhaus festival in Austria since 1981. During these years she increasingly dedicated herself to chamber music, performing with outstanding musicians such as Maria Graf, Oleg Maisenberg, Robert Levin, Helmut Deutsch, Eliot Fisk, and the Cherubini Quartet.
Her repertoire encompasses an exceptionally wide range: from Bach and Mozart to the French repertoire of the 19th and 20th centuries, Slovenian composers, and contemporary music. Her performances are especially admired for their warm, singing tone, impeccable legato, stylistic elegance, technical precision, and the strong emotional intelligence woven into her interpretations. Her recordings, particularly those of Mozart, have been highly acclaimed. For example, her recording of Mozart’s Concerto in G major (K. 313) is now regarded as a reference interpretation by flautists, experts, and lovers of classical music alike. In total, Irena Irena Grafenauer has recorded a total of 30 albums, among which notable highlights include her participation in certain releases of the exclusive ten-record series for Philips, as well as in some editions of the complete Mozart works spanning 180 records.
In 1987 she became Professor of Flute at the Mozarteum University Salzburg, one of the world’s most prestigious music institutions. Renowned for her pedagogical precision, persuasiveness, and charisma, she has trained generations of prominent European flautists.
In her native Slovenia she has received the country’s highest national and cultural honors, including the Golden Order of Freedom (2003), the Slovenian Woman of the Year recognition (2004), the Prešeren Lifetime Achievement Award (2005), an honorary doctorate from the University of Ljubljana, and honorary membership of the Slovenian Philharmonic.