Countrywide Events

Western SLOVAKIA

Bratislava
CONCERT: DAYS OF California in Bratislava brings two attractive charity concerts to the capital city, the proceeds of which will go to the Výskum rakoviny (cancer research) foundation. On July 1, the San Jose Youth Symphony will perform the works of Don Gillis, Franz Liszt, Louis Moreau Gottschalk and Tchaikovsky at 19:00 in the Concert Studio of the Slovak Radio Building, conducted by Yair Samet with a piano solo by Sofija Nedic. The second concert, on July 3 at 19:00 in the same venue, offers the El Camino Youth Symphony, conducted by Camilla Kolchinsky with Yujin Ariza on violin, playing the works of Rossini, Sibelius, and Shostakovich. Tickets for each concert cost €4 and can be purchased through www.ticketportal.sk.

Bratislava
JAZZ: Festival Music Square – Within the Bratislava Cultural Summer festival, Polish musician Agnieszka Twardoch will perform jazz pieces with musicians from Slovakia (Štefan Bugala, Michal Buga-la) and the Czech Republic (Robert Balzar, Pavel Wlosok-CZ/US, Karel Ružiška-CZ/US).
Starts: July 4, 20:00; Main Square. Admission: free. More info: www.bkis.sk.

Bratislava
ORGAN FESTIVAL: Bratislavský organový festival / The Bratislava Organ Festival will feature on the first evening Slovak organist Marek Vrábel, as well as foreign (Czech, Swiss, German, Hungarian, Italian and Japanese) organists, with most concerts taking place in the Bratislava Castle Music Hall, and others in the Big Hall of the Reduta building.
Starts: July 7-21, 17:00; Music Hall of Bratislava Castle / Reduta. Admission: €5-€10. Tel: 0905/397-306; www. mjuzik.eu.

Bratislava
CLASSICAL MUSIC: Galakoncert Violin Orchestra Bratislava – This special concert features soloists Eugen Botoš (violin), Miroslava Raita (cimbalom), Mária Eliášová and Ján Babjak (vocals) and the Violin Orchestra Bratislava, performing works by Brahms, Khachaturian, Paganini, Franz Lehár, Emmerich Kálmán and tunes from musicals.
Starts: July 7, 20:00; Main Square. Admission: free. More info: www.bkis.sk.

Bratislava
HISTORICAL FENCING: Šermiarske utorky v Starej Radnici / Fencing Tuesdays in the Old Town Hall – This event features fencing duels as well as re-enactments of medieval combat and the torturing of witches, in addition to a fire show, as performed by the Corvus Arma – Havrani troupe.
Starts: Every Tuesday, beginning July 2, 18:30, 19:30; in the courtyard of the Old Town Hall. Admission: €1-€2. More info: www.bkis.sk.

Bratislava
JAZZ: Jazz Pops Up – František Báleš, Vlado Máčaj, Milan Ruček and Jana Dekánková will play their jazz arrangements of classical rock and pop hits.
Starts: July 6, 21:00; Lemon Tree restaurant, Hviezdoslavovo Square 7. Admission: free. Tel: 0948/109400; www.lemontree.sk.

Bratislava
LIVE MUSIC: Orchester Bratislava Hot Serenaders – The 18-member musical ensemble plays American music of 1920s and 1930s in the style of the period, with one exception – the compositions of Slovak singer František Krištof Veselý, who had most of his hits in 1940s.
Starts: July 7, 19:00; Slovak National Gallery, Amphitheatre (Café Berlinka in the event of bad weather). Admission: €11. More info: www.sng.sk.

Bratislava
EXHIBITION: Bez Veľkého piatku by nebolo nič veľké / Without Good Friday, Nothing Would Be Good – This overview of the work of Slovak sculptor Juraj Mertuš honours the arrival of Ss Cyril and Methodius to Slovak territory 1150 years ago.
Open: Tue-Sun 15:00-19:00 until July 15; Galéria F7, Franciscan /Františkánske Square 7. Admission: free. Tel: 02/5443-3335, www.kulturastaremesto.sk.

Bratislava
EXHIBITION: Arte di Dante – This exhibition introduces – for the first time in Slovakia – the works of 20 artists associated in a popular union of artists from Florence, Italy, called Società delle Belle Arti – Circolo degli Artisti di Firenze “Casa di Dante”.
Open: Mon-Fri 14:00-18:00 until July 26; Pálffy Palace, Zámocká 48. Admission: free. More info: www.citylife.sk.

Pezinok
WINE/GASTRONOMY: Víno a levanduľa / Wine and Lavender – This one-time event offers a visit to a vineyard over the town of Pezinok, where wine and lavender combine to create a Mediterranean atmosphere. Ticket includes voucher for wine tasting.
Starts: July 6, 13:00-21:00; Nad Rozálkou, Stará Hora. Admission: €10. More info: www.mvc.sk.

Central SLOVAKIA

Východná
FESTIVAL: THE BIGGEST event focused on Slovak folklore, music, dance and crafts is the Folklore Festival Východná, which enters its 59th year on July 4 (lasting until July 7). The festival weekend presents folklore troupes from all over Slovakia, as well as from abroad, and features demonstrations of shepherding, milk-processing, and tastings of the fresh products. Workshops, a photo exhibition, a theatre performance and other events are also part of the festival in Východná, a village near Liptovský Hrádok. Tickets cost €3-€10 for one day, and €11-€24 for the whole festival. More info: www.festivalvychodna.sk/en.

Banská Štiavnica
CLASSICAL MUSIC: Festival Bachovej hudby / Bach Tribute – The festival organised by Ars é vitae brings a selection of Bach’s music to two impressive sites in Banská Štiavnica – the Ascension of Virgin Mary Church and St Catherine of Alexandria Church.
Starts: July 3-7, 19:00 (10:30 on Sunday); Ascension of Virgin Mary Church and St Catherine of Alexandria Church. Admission: €4-€5 for one concert, €10 for entire festival. Tel: 0911/149-961; www.bachtribute.com.

Banská Bystrica
PARKOUR: Parkour Meeting Banská Bystrica 2013 – The third year of this big event for all lovers of this unique sporting art brings together so-called traceurs from the central-European region. Parkour involves running and jumping over natural hurdles and managing any obstacle that stands in one’s way. The event is being organised in several places around the city.
Starts: July 5-8; various sites. Admission: free for onlookers, registration fee for traceurs. More info: www. parkour.sk.

Banská Bystrica
CLUBBING: de Le Grand – Charismatic DJ and producer (hits like Let Me Think about It and Metrum!) offers a unique show and DJ party.
Starts: July 5, 21:00; Ministry of Fun, Na Troskách 25 (Europa SC). Admission: €29. More info: www.ministryoffun.sk; www.ticketportal.sk.

Eastern SLOVAKIA

Košice
CLASSICAL MUSIC FESTIVAL: Schengen Meridian – The 5th year of the festival of youth orchestras and choirs takes place between June 29 and July 7, bringing more than 150 young musicians from Slovakia, Poland, Ukraine, Russia and the Czech Republic to Košice and other towns in eastern Slovakia,
Starts: June 29-July 7; various sites and towns. Admission: various. More info: www.sengenskypoludnik.eu; www.kosice2013.sk.

Košice
JEWISH GUIDED TOURS: Židovské Košice / Jewish Košice – For the first time, guided tours of Jewish monuments in Košice will take place on both Saturday and Sunday, with each day offering a different route through different sites from Košice’s once thriving Jewish community.
Starts: July 6-7, tour at 17:00 is also in English; State Scientific Library, Hlavná 10. Admission: €1.75 (in advance, purchased at MiC in Dargov Shopping Centre or Carrefour SC), €2.99 at the site. Tel: 055/ 6229-904, 055/16-186; www.potulka.sk.

Košice
CLASSICAL MUSIC: Posolstvo slova / Mission of the Word – A special concert of the State Philharmonic hails the 1150th anniversary of the arrival of Ss Cyril and Methodius to the territory of current Slovakia. The concert includes a performance of a piece by Dvořák and the world premiere of the eponymous Symphony for tenor, bass and big orchestra by Slovak composer Mirko Krajči, as conducted by Marián Lejava.
Starts: July 4, 19:30; State Philharmonic, Moyzesova 66. Admission: €2-€4. Tel: 055 / 6220-763; www.en.sfk.sk.

Prešov/Hanušovce nad Topľou
MOTORBIKE MEETING: Motozraz Výhon-Debrica – This event brings together motorcyclists and features a parade through the town, and also includes a parachuting show, a dog training and a programme for children and adults.
Starts: July 6, 9:00; U Hricka, Mierová 640. Admission: free for attendees. More info: www.kamdomesta.sk.