On July 12th, Vollmaier took the stage at the historic MPS studio in Villingen-Schwenningen, Germany.
He played the Bösendorfer Imperial grand piano, filling the space with his music. The concert was divided into two parts.
In the first part, he performed "Vollmaier: Kind of Laibach," followed by his new project titled "Error."
The entire performance was captured using vintage high-end recording equipment.
On the 14th of February, Vollmaier (pre)premiered a new composition at MENT titled "Vollmaier: Error." It was once again performed as a single movement, a format he has been refining over the past few years. Exploring form and musical dramaturgy, Vollmaier integrates electronic elements into the acoustic sound of the piano, proposing new directions and alternative solutions in its expression.
On the 30th of August, we created a performance: a solo piano concert in the gravel pit called Marald-Marsel in Radlje ob Dravi, with the support of the Cultural Association Radlje, the Ministry of Culture of Slovenia, ArsFest and Yamaha.
"From forests and autumn pastures,
from glaciers and from yellow wheat,
it should flow through all the senses
into our life, strength, spirit, meaning, value."
(H. Hesse)
A new project, a piano recital, premiered on the 11th of April 2023 in the Gallus Hall of Cankarjev Dom (SI). Vollmaier invited his closest collaborators to create an audio-visual performance based on the works of Ligeti and Beuys.
On the 7th of April 2023, Vollmaier released a single that is part of the "Vollmaier: Ligeti" piano recital.
Vollmaier's artistic contribution has been recognized by one of the world's renowned piano manufacturers (and other musical instruments) - Yamaha.
Release date: 19/06/2020
Genre: Contemporary classic
Formats: CD / Vinyl / Digital
Label: Nika
Listen
Buy LP
Buy CD
"The piano ain't got no wrong notes."
Thelonious Monk
"Agree with that. But Laibach ain’t got no right notes either."
Laibach
Imagine what it would be to carve out a piano classic from the 'industrial' monolithic Laibach sound structure. Vollmaier does not tackle this challenge, as one might expect, through preparation or electronic interventions, but by seeking inspiration from the virtuoso pianists Glenn Gould and Vladimir Horowitz, as well as in one of his professors (formerly an associate of the Laibach band as well) Aci Bertoncelj. He is faithful to the original music by testing the extreme limits of both the
performer and instrument. Laibach's linear rigor breaks precisely with industrial precision and physical perseverance, but the final result is, surprisingly, even more monolithic, though an absolutely subtle structure, woven only with the black and white keys of an elegant machine, a concert piano which is for Vollmaier larger than life.
link: concert at 61. Jazz festival Ljubljana in Cankarjev dom (short version, 30min)
(Kind of Laibach was prepared and rehearsed in Japan piano center in Ljubljana)
Sašo Vollmaier (1982), pianist, composer, performer, voice teacher
Vollmaier graduated from the Academy of Music in Ljubljana (Slovenia) in 2008. In 2003, he met "Pantheatre" (Paris, FR). This collaboration opened new areas and possibilities in voice work, which he pursued as an accompanist for singers, working in the opera department of the Slovene National Theatre in Maribor, teaching in various musical institutions, and performing with several musicians in different musical formations.
He joined the Slovenian avant-garde music group Laibach from 2007 to 2013 as a keyboard player. His experience with Laibach was crucial in understanding the elements of industrial music, fostering curiosity about politics, increasing self-awareness, and providing an opportunity to express himself in this particular musical genre.
In 2013 he moved to France for personal and professional development.
Vollmaier met Viviane Gay in Paris, an actress and singer with whom he began creating music-theatre pieces, developing his presence on stage as a performer through his voice, movement, and music.
His voice work brought him back to Malérargues (Centre Artistique International Roy Hart), where he started giving classes, collaborating with other voice teachers, and performing concerts. In the same year, he began a project called "Generation" as a musical director with performers/singers: Kaya Anderson, Carol Mendelsohn, Marianne Le Tron, Ian Magilton, Saule Ryan, and David Goldsworthy. This project allowed him to engage with the Roy Hart Theatre in terms of presence, fragility, expression, authenticity, and curiosity.
In autumn 2014, he started teaching at Accademia dell’Arte in Arezzo (IT), invited by Kevin Crawford, the MFA program director. Vollmaier teaches musical aspects and encourages students to invent their own language while working on presence, voice, and movement. This structure allows him to define his direction.
In the same year, he began collaborating with Susanne Weins, giving voice and movement workshops in Düsseldorf and creating their own theatre productions (Bewegte Oktaven, Fragile Breath, Melancholia, etc.), most of which were directed by Sabine Seume (*1963 - †2021).
He works as a voice teacher & pianist/accompanist mainly in France, Germany, Italy, Brazil, Switzerland, Slovenia, ...
"VOZK" is the name of an electro-acoustic project created by Izidor Leitinger, Luka Jamnik, and Sašo Vollmaier (2013-20XX).
Vollmaier’s accomplishments include theatre and cartoon scores, choral arrangements, marching orchestras, big bands, and work as a studio musician (Laibach, Bratko Bibič, Silence, Funtango, radio/TV broadcasts, etc.).
In August 2019, he moved back to Slovenia.
His first solo project is inspired by the music/themes from Laibach. Vollmaier created a solo piano piece, called "Kind of Laibach". The album was recorded from 2nd-4th of March (2020) in pianoroom and released by Nika Records.
In May 2021, he added his interpretation of F. Nietzsche's "Hymnus an die Freundschaft" to his repertoire.
On August 13th, 2021, he released a new single (video created by Benjamin Kreže):
Vollmaier : Odsev
YT video
On November 9th, 2021, he composed and arranged for piano and chamber orchestra, inspired by the compositions of Slovene composer Josip Ipavec for the project "Dvakrat Josip" (Prva vrsta) with members of the RTV Slovenia Symphony Orchestra. The composition was broadcast live.
Vollmaier: Če mogel bi (1/3)
YT video
On March 11th, 2022, he released a new single:
Vollmaier : Nietzsche
YT link
On April 11th, 2023, Vollmaier premiered his new project called "Vollmaier: Ligeti; How to Explain Ligeti to a Dead Audience" in collaboration with Komposter, Things I Miss, Luka Jamnik, Marko Turel, Matjaž Bajc, and Nika Hölcl. Coproduction: Cankarjev dom.
A couple of days earlier, on April 7th, the new single "Vollmaier: Feng Cha" was released. The video was created by Komposter.
YT video
"Klasje" (Wheat) is a (non)classical piano concert where Manca Udovič, Blaž Avsenik, and I have joined together as composers and pianists. Multimedia artist Anja Romih enhances the performance with visualizations. The concert premiered on March 28th, 2024.
On February 14th, Vollmaier premiered a new composition at MENT titled "Vollmaier: Error." It was performed as a single movement, a format he has been refining over the past few years. Alongside exploring form and musical dramaturgy, Vollmaier integrates electronic elements into the acoustic sound of the piano, proposing new directions and alternative solutions in its expression.
short CV (Chronological from the present to the past)
Download biography and photos in hi-res for press usage. If using photographs, please credit them with the name of the photographer.
Sašo Vollmaier is a performer in the field of performance art.
His performances include sound design on stage, with interventions of movement, spoken word, and vocal expression. Vollmaier's latest sound concept was presented during the Performance Art Week in Venice (December 2019) and is titled "Fragile Breath."
Vollmaier works internationally as a voice teacher. It was his passion for voice work that led Sašo to the "Centre Artistique International Roy Hart" (a research and study center), where, as the Musical Director of the performance "Generation," working with the founding members of the Roy Hart Theatre, Sašo gained a profound appreciation for the power of presence, fragility, expression, authenticity, and curiosity. These are the core tenets of his teaching today.
He composes and arranges music for various musical, dance, and theatre performances. Vollmaier actively collaborates with different musical formations, bands, singers, music enthusiasts, and developers. He primarily collaborates with Luka Jamnik (composer and producer).
| Tue, 22 Jul 2025 > Sun, 27 Jul 2025 |
The art of interpretationMalérargues, FR
Voice/movement workshop |
| Tue, 5 Aug 2025 > Sun, 10 Aug 2025 |
Move your sound within a musical shapeMalérargues, FR
Voice&movement wotkshop |
| Fri, 23 Jan 2026 |
Orfej in Evridika, poetični spektakel / Orpheus and Eurydice, poetical spectacle (Premiere)Gallusova dvorana/Gallus Hall, Cankarjev dom, Ljubljana (SI)
Poetični spektakel Orfej in Evridika temelji na novi besedilni interpretaciji dramatičarke Urše Majcen in glasbeni partituri skladatelja Saša Vollmaierja, ki v režiji Jana Krmelja in koreografiji Iztoka Kovača raziskuje format glasbenega gledališča. Na presečišču različnih medijev in umetniških postopkov se ustvarjalci dotikajo tem smrti in življenja po njej ter raziskujejo možnosti njune umetniške reprezentacije.
Based on a dramatic reinterpretation by playwright Urša Majcen and a musical score by composer Saša Vollmaier, the poetic spectacular Orpheus and Eurydice by director Jan Krmelj and choreographer Iztok Kovač explores the format of musical theatre. At the intersection of different media and artistic processes, the artistic team address the themes of death and life after death, exploring the possibilities of their artistic representation. How do we see, hear, think and feel death and
the afterlife in art? How to understand "not looking back" in the context of the stage? What are the connections between the underworld as the abode of the dead and the theatrical stage as a canvas for fleeting and transient images?
Režiser: Jan Krmelj
Perzefona: Nataša Tič Ralijan Koprodukcija: Cankarjev dom, Mestno gledališče ljubljansko, En-Knap |
| Sat, 24 Jan 2026 |
Orfej in Evridika, poetični spektakel / Orpheus and Eurydice, poetical spectacleGallusova dvorana/Gallus Hall, Cankarjev dom, Ljubljana (SI)
Poetični spektakel Orfej in Evridika temelji na novi besedilni interpretaciji dramatičarke Urše Majcen in glasbeni partituri skladatelja Saša Vollmaierja, ki v režiji Jana Krmelja in koreografiji Iztoka Kovača raziskuje format glasbenega gledališča. Na presečišču različnih medijev in umetniških postopkov se ustvarjalci dotikajo tem smrti in življenja po njej ter raziskujejo možnosti njune umetniške reprezentacije.
Based on a dramatic reinterpretation by playwright Urša Majcen and a musical score by composer Saša Vollmaier, the poetic spectacular Orpheus and Eurydice by director Jan Krmelj and choreographer Iztok Kovač explores the format of musical theatre. At the intersection of different media and artistic processes, the artistic team address the themes of death and life after death, exploring the possibilities of their artistic representation. How do we see, hear, think and feel death and
the afterlife in art? How to understand "not looking back" in the context of the stage? What are the connections between the underworld as the abode of the dead and the theatrical stage as a canvas for fleeting and transient images?
Režiser: Jan Krmelj
Perzefona: Nataša Tič Ralijan Koprodukcija: Cankarjev dom, Mestno gledališče ljubljansko, En-Knap |
| Mon, 26 Jan 2026 |
Orfej in Evridika, poetični spektakel / Orpheus and Eurydice, poetical spectacleGallusova dvorana/Gallus Hall, Cankarjev dom, Ljubljana (SI)
Poetični spektakel Orfej in Evridika temelji na novi besedilni interpretaciji dramatičarke Urše Majcen in glasbeni partituri skladatelja Saša Vollmaierja, ki v režiji Jana Krmelja in koreografiji Iztoka Kovača raziskuje format glasbenega gledališča. Na presečišču različnih medijev in umetniških postopkov se ustvarjalci dotikajo tem smrti in življenja po njej ter raziskujejo možnosti njune umetniške reprezentacije.
Based on a dramatic reinterpretation by playwright Urša Majcen and a musical score by composer Saša Vollmaier, the poetic spectacular Orpheus and Eurydice by director Jan Krmelj and choreographer Iztok Kovač explores the format of musical theatre. At the intersection of different media and artistic processes, the artistic team address the themes of death and life after death, exploring the possibilities of their artistic representation. How do we see, hear, think and feel death and
the afterlife in art? How to understand "not looking back" in the context of the stage? What are the connections between the underworld as the abode of the dead and the theatrical stage as a canvas for fleeting and transient images?
Režiser: Jan Krmelj
Perzefona: Nataša Tič Ralijan Koprodukcija: Cankarjev dom, Mestno gledališče ljubljansko, En-Knap |
| Tue, 27 Jan 2026 |
Orfej in Evridika, poetični spektakel / Orpheus and Eurydice, poetical spectacleGallusova dvorana/Gallus Hall, Cankarjev dom, Ljubljana (SI)
Poetični spektakel Orfej in Evridika temelji na novi besedilni interpretaciji dramatičarke Urše Majcen in glasbeni partituri skladatelja Saša Vollmaierja, ki v režiji Jana Krmelja in koreografiji Iztoka Kovača raziskuje format glasbenega gledališča. Na presečišču različnih medijev in umetniških postopkov se ustvarjalci dotikajo tem smrti in življenja po njej ter raziskujejo možnosti njune umetniške reprezentacije.
Based on a dramatic reinterpretation by playwright Urša Majcen and a musical score by composer Saša Vollmaier, the poetic spectacular Orpheus and Eurydice by director Jan Krmelj and choreographer Iztok Kovač explores the format of musical theatre. At the intersection of different media and artistic processes, the artistic team address the themes of death and life after death, exploring the possibilities of their artistic representation. How do we see, hear, think and feel death and
the afterlife in art? How to understand "not looking back" in the context of the stage? What are the connections between the underworld as the abode of the dead and the theatrical stage as a canvas for fleeting and transient images?
Režiser: Jan Krmelj
Perzefona: Nataša Tič Ralijan Koprodukcija: Cankarjev dom, Mestno gledališče ljubljansko, En-Knap |
| Wed, 28 Jan 2026 |
Orfej in Evridika, poetični spektakel / Orpheus and Eurydice, poetical spectacleGallusova dvorana/Gallus Hall, Cankarjev dom, Ljubljana (SI)
Poetični spektakel Orfej in Evridika temelji na novi besedilni interpretaciji dramatičarke Urše Majcen in glasbeni partituri skladatelja Saša Vollmaierja, ki v režiji Jana Krmelja in koreografiji Iztoka Kovača raziskuje format glasbenega gledališča. Na presečišču različnih medijev in umetniških postopkov se ustvarjalci dotikajo tem smrti in življenja po njej ter raziskujejo možnosti njune umetniške reprezentacije.
Based on a dramatic reinterpretation by playwright Urša Majcen and a musical score by composer Saša Vollmaier, the poetic spectacular Orpheus and Eurydice by director Jan Krmelj and choreographer Iztok Kovač explores the format of musical theatre. At the intersection of different media and artistic processes, the artistic team address the themes of death and life after death, exploring the possibilities of their artistic representation. How do we see, hear, think and feel death and
the afterlife in art? How to understand "not looking back" in the context of the stage? What are the connections between the underworld as the abode of the dead and the theatrical stage as a canvas for fleeting and transient images?
Režiser: Jan Krmelj
Perzefona: Nataša Tič Ralijan Koprodukcija: Cankarjev dom, Mestno gledališče ljubljansko, En-Knap |
| Thu, 29 Jan 2026 |
Orfej in Evridika, poetični spektakel / Orpheus and Eurydice, poetical spectacleGallusova dvorana/Gallus Hall, Cankarjev dom, Ljubljana (SI)
Poetični spektakel Orfej in Evridika temelji na novi besedilni interpretaciji dramatičarke Urše Majcen in glasbeni partituri skladatelja Saša Vollmaierja, ki v režiji Jana Krmelja in koreografiji Iztoka Kovača raziskuje format glasbenega gledališča. Na presečišču različnih medijev in umetniških postopkov se ustvarjalci dotikajo tem smrti in življenja po njej ter raziskujejo možnosti njune umetniške reprezentacije.
Based on a dramatic reinterpretation by playwright Urša Majcen and a musical score by composer Saša Vollmaier, the poetic spectacular Orpheus and Eurydice by director Jan Krmelj and choreographer Iztok Kovač explores the format of musical theatre. At the intersection of different media and artistic processes, the artistic team address the themes of death and life after death, exploring the possibilities of their artistic representation. How do we see, hear, think and feel death and
the afterlife in art? How to understand "not looking back" in the context of the stage? What are the connections between the underworld as the abode of the dead and the theatrical stage as a canvas for fleeting and transient images?
Režiser: Jan Krmelj
Perzefona: Nataša Tič Ralijan Koprodukcija: Cankarjev dom, Mestno gledališče ljubljansko, En-Knap |
| Fri, 30 Jan 2026 |
Orfej in Evridika, poetični spektakel / Orpheus and Eurydice, poetical spectacleGallusova dvorana/Gallus Hall, Cankarjev dom, Ljubljana (SI)
Poetični spektakel Orfej in Evridika temelji na novi besedilni interpretaciji dramatičarke Urše Majcen in glasbeni partituri skladatelja Saša Vollmaierja, ki v režiji Jana Krmelja in koreografiji Iztoka Kovača raziskuje format glasbenega gledališča. Na presečišču različnih medijev in umetniških postopkov se ustvarjalci dotikajo tem smrti in življenja po njej ter raziskujejo možnosti njune umetniške reprezentacije.
Based on a dramatic reinterpretation by playwright Urša Majcen and a musical score by composer Saša Vollmaier, the poetic spectacular Orpheus and Eurydice by director Jan Krmelj and choreographer Iztok Kovač explores the format of musical theatre. At the intersection of different media and artistic processes, the artistic team address the themes of death and life after death, exploring the possibilities of their artistic representation. How do we see, hear, think and feel death and
the afterlife in art? How to understand "not looking back" in the context of the stage? What are the connections between the underworld as the abode of the dead and the theatrical stage as a canvas for fleeting and transient images?
Režiser: Jan Krmelj
Perzefona: Nataša Tič Ralijan Koprodukcija: Cankarjev dom, Mestno gledališče ljubljansko, En-Knap |
| Mon, 2 Feb 2026 |
Orfej in Evridika, poetični spektakel / Orpheus and Eurydice, poetical spectacleGallusova dvorana/Gallus Hall, Cankarjev dom, Ljubljana (SI)
Poetični spektakel Orfej in Evridika temelji na novi besedilni interpretaciji dramatičarke Urše Majcen in glasbeni partituri skladatelja Saša Vollmaierja, ki v režiji Jana Krmelja in koreografiji Iztoka Kovača raziskuje format glasbenega gledališča. Na presečišču različnih medijev in umetniških postopkov se ustvarjalci dotikajo tem smrti in življenja po njej ter raziskujejo možnosti njune umetniške reprezentacije.
Based on a dramatic reinterpretation by playwright Urša Majcen and a musical score by composer Saša Vollmaier, the poetic spectacular Orpheus and Eurydice by director Jan Krmelj and choreographer Iztok Kovač explores the format of musical theatre. At the intersection of different media and artistic processes, the artistic team address the themes of death and life after death, exploring the possibilities of their artistic representation. How do we see, hear, think and feel death and
the afterlife in art? How to understand "not looking back" in the context of the stage? What are the connections between the underworld as the abode of the dead and the theatrical stage as a canvas for fleeting and transient images?
Režiser: Jan Krmelj
Perzefona: Nataša Tič Ralijan Koprodukcija: Cankarjev dom, Mestno gledališče ljubljansko, En-Knap |
| Tue, 3 Feb 2026 |
Orfej in Evridika, poetični spektakel / Orpheus and Eurydice, poetical spectacleGallusova dvorana/Gallus Hall, Cankarjev dom, Ljubljana (SI)
Poetični spektakel Orfej in Evridika temelji na novi besedilni interpretaciji dramatičarke Urše Majcen in glasbeni partituri skladatelja Saša Vollmaierja, ki v režiji Jana Krmelja in koreografiji Iztoka Kovača raziskuje format glasbenega gledališča. Na presečišču različnih medijev in umetniških postopkov se ustvarjalci dotikajo tem smrti in življenja po njej ter raziskujejo možnosti njune umetniške reprezentacije.
Based on a dramatic reinterpretation by playwright Urša Majcen and a musical score by composer Saša Vollmaier, the poetic spectacular Orpheus and Eurydice by director Jan Krmelj and choreographer Iztok Kovač explores the format of musical theatre. At the intersection of different media and artistic processes, the artistic team address the themes of death and life after death, exploring the possibilities of their artistic representation. How do we see, hear, think and feel death and
the afterlife in art? How to understand "not looking back" in the context of the stage? What are the connections between the underworld as the abode of the dead and the theatrical stage as a canvas for fleeting and transient images?
Režiser: Jan Krmelj
Perzefona: Nataša Tič Ralijan Koprodukcija: Cankarjev dom, Mestno gledališče ljubljansko, En-Knap |
| Wed, 4 Feb 2026 |
Orfej in Evridika, poetični spektakel / Orpheus and Eurydice, poetical spectacleGallusova dvorana/Gallus Hall, Cankarjev dom, Ljubljana (SI)
Poetični spektakel Orfej in Evridika temelji na novi besedilni interpretaciji dramatičarke Urše Majcen in glasbeni partituri skladatelja Saša Vollmaierja, ki v režiji Jana Krmelja in koreografiji Iztoka Kovača raziskuje format glasbenega gledališča. Na presečišču različnih medijev in umetniških postopkov se ustvarjalci dotikajo tem smrti in življenja po njej ter raziskujejo možnosti njune umetniške reprezentacije.
Based on a dramatic reinterpretation by playwright Urša Majcen and a musical score by composer Saša Vollmaier, the poetic spectacular Orpheus and Eurydice by director Jan Krmelj and choreographer Iztok Kovač explores the format of musical theatre. At the intersection of different media and artistic processes, the artistic team address the themes of death and life after death, exploring the possibilities of their artistic representation. How do we see, hear, think and feel death and
the afterlife in art? How to understand "not looking back" in the context of the stage? What are the connections between the underworld as the abode of the dead and the theatrical stage as a canvas for fleeting and transient images?
Režiser: Jan Krmelj
Perzefona: Nataša Tič Ralijan Koprodukcija: Cankarjev dom, Mestno gledališče ljubljansko, En-Knap |
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