Countrywide events

Tips for events between May 22 and 31, including a concert of top four world/ethno music Slovak bands, a festival of environmental movies, days of architecture, an opera premiere, a literary festival, two markets of traditional crafts, Marc Chagall exhibition, and more.

Monk seal, to be seen in a movie at Ekotopfilm/Envirofilm festival in Bratislava and Banská BystricaMonk seal, to be seen in a movie at Ekotopfilm/Envirofilm festival in Bratislava and Banská Bystrica (Source: Courtesy of EEF festival)

Western SLOVAKIA

 

Bratislava

JAZZ: One Day Jazz Festival – Defying its name, the One Day Jazz Festival marks its 10th year by expanding into two days and offering headliner, Israeli star and peace activist, singer Achinoam Nini aka NOA; and Ron Affif Trio, Cha bud (Slovakia) on the first night. On Friday, Slovak Juraj Griglák will play with Marcus Miller band, including Poogie Bell; Slovak drummer Martin Valihora with Icelandic Mezzoforte; and US guitarist Wayne Krantz. Starts:May 21-22, 19:00; Istropolis, Trnavské Mýto 1. Admission: €20-€35 (one day|) €40-€60 (two days). Tel: 02/5293-3321; www.ticketportal.sk.

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Bratislava

GASTRONOMY: Slovak Food Festival – Three-day gastronomy festival offers various cuisines, including traditional Slovak fare, wines and beers, shows, tastings – with food vouchers bought on the site. Starts: May 21-24; garden at Bratislava Castle. Admission: free (save for food vouchers). More info: www.slovakfoodfestival.sk.  

Bratislava

MODERN DANCE: Baggage – Dance performance exploring the “life baggage” we all carry. Choreographed and directed by Simona Machovičová, performed by Credance group and guests. Starts: May 22-23; 20:00; Elledanse theatre, T & D, Miletičova 17/B. Admission: €4-€8. Tel: 0905/969-105; www.elledanse.sk.

Bratislava

CIRCUS FESTIVAL: The “festival of modern circus” offers many genres, artists and performances from different countries, e.g. Circo Pitanga (Israel, Switzerland): Circus 1920; The Busch Clowns (Germany); Acrobarouf (Belgium, Greece, France): Scratch; Slovak marionette theatre, and more. Starts: May 22-24; Medical Garden / Medická záhrada, Špitálska. Admission: various. More info: www.cirkulart.sk.   

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Bratislava

LIVE MUSIC: Slovak singer/composer Peter Aristone who lives in Prague and works anywhere, will perform with Czech Chinaski and Slovak DESmod bands, also playing his new single No Second Time Around. Starts: May 22, 19:00; Aegon Aréna, NTC, Príkopova 4. Admission: €17-€49. Tel: 02/5293-3321; www.ticketportal.sk.

Bratislava

EXHIBITION/EVENT: Koniakow Lace – The so far biggest lace with a diameter of 5 metres, with 50 kilometres of cotton threads used to make more than 8,000 motifs – inscribed in the Guinness Book of records – will be presented in Bratislava for three days, with May 22 between 9:00-15:00 also inviting visitors to add their part of handicraft and enhance the lace. Starts: May 20-22 9:00-17:00; Polish Institute, SNP Square 27. Admission: free. Tel: 02/5443- 2030; www.polinst.sk.  

Bratislava

CLASSICAL MUSIC/CHILDREN: La Boite a Joujoux – Claude Debussy – The piece composed by Debussy for his daughter nicknamed Chouchou, and subtitled “ballet for children” will be performed by the Symphonic Orchestra of the Bratislava Conservatory, conducted by Juraj Jartim, and by puppet group Neline led by Petra Dušová. Starts: May 23, 16:00; Reduta, E. Suchoňa Square 4. Admission: €9. Tel: 02/2047- 5233; www.filharmonia.sk.

Bratislava

LIVE MUSIC/BALL: Swing May-ball – The tradition of May folk balls is long, but this one is special in that it brings the music of the 1920s-1940s, played by the Fats Jazz Band, Oriental and other dance by Lady Amina, a lecture and workshop of swing by professionals from B-Swing dance school, and more. Starts: May 23, 19:00; V-klub, SNP Square 12. Admission: €8-€12. Tel: 02/5293-3321; www.ticketportal.sk.  

Bratislava

CHOIR MUSIC: Don Cossacks – The great Choir of Don Cossacks will sing to celebrate the 70th anniversary of World War II’s end; Russian, Ukrainian and Slovak folklore, with guest –Ukrainian bandoor player Kateryna Pacher, conductor Ivan Shallyiev, and led by Peter Chudyakov. Starts: May 23, 18:00; new Evangelical Church, Legionárska 2. Admission: €8-€12 (in advance), €9-€14 on the site. Tel: 02/5293-3321; www.ticketportal.sk.

Bratislava

ETHNO/WORLD MUSIC: The Feats of Brittany – celebration of the traditional Breton night, as hailed by the Breton/Slovak band Roc’hann. Starts: May 23, 19:30; Hlava 22, Bazová 9. Tel: 0911/193-382; www.hlava22.sk.

Bratislava

CHILDREN/OTHER EVENT: Dragon Boats’ competition – The competition invites people to come and sail on their dragon-boats on a city lake. Starts: May 23, all day; Radosť complex, Štrkovec Lake, Drieňová Street. More info: www.inba.sk.

Bratislava

CLASSICAL MUSIC: Sunday Matinee in GMB – The cycle of musical matinees in the Bratislava City Gallery (GMB) this time presents Czech musicians and Czech composers: M. Töpferová (vocals), O. Nouzovský (cello), and – Japanese - Y. Ichimura (piano) play A. Dvořák, B. Smetana, L. Janáček, B. Martinú. Starts: May 24, 10:30; Mirbach palace, Františkánske Square  11. Tel: 02/5443-1556(-8); www.gmb.sk.

Bratislava

HORSE RACE: Spring Grand Prix Staropramen – The second international classical horse race offers, apart from foreign competitors, also an accompanying programme for the whole family. Starts: May 24, 14:00; Petržalské Závodisko race track, Starohájska 29. Admission: €1-€2. More info: www.zavodisko.sk.

Bratislava

FILM FESTIVAL: Ekotopfilm/Envirofilm 2015 – This year, the 42nd year of international festival of sustainable development films, Ekotopfilm, and 21st year of the international festival of environmental films joined forces, to show even more movies in two cities, Bratislava and Banská Bystrica (Europa Cinemax). Starts: May 25-29; the Tatra Hotel, 1. Mája Square 5. More info, full programme: www.ekotopfilm.sk/en.

Bratislava

CLASSICAL MUSIC/DANCE: The Chamber Opera Bratislava / Komorná Opera Bratislava will perform, with CreDance dance group, Antonio Vivaldi’s - Concerto grosso g minor and Giovanni Battista Pergolesi’s – Stabat Mater, conducted by Lukáš Kunst Lederer, choir-master Jozef Horváth, choreography Silvia Beláková.; cast: Barbora Dvorská, Judita Andelová, Silvia Beláková, Miroslav Martinovič. Starts: May 26, 19:00; Zrkadlový Háj House of Culture, Rovniankova 3. Admission: €6. Tel: 02/6381-1328 or www.kzp.sk.    

Bratislava

WORLD MUSIC: World Music from Slovakia – The crème de la crème of the Slovak world-music platform has joined forces; and in this second concert of the cycle, four groupings converge: PaCoRa Trio (Stanislav Palúch-violin, Marcel Comendant-cymbalom, Róbert Ragan-double bass); SĽUK Folk Music ensemble, Balkansambel led by Marek Pastírik (sax, du-duk, kaval, bagpipe, taragot); Folk & Bass (Mišo Veselský-keyboards, teremin, effects, vocáls, Juraj Dufek-bagpipe, folk insturments, Robo Sedílek-beats, samples, effects) to show the widest possible scale of Slovak traditional, modern and fusion folk music, inclufing VJing and light effects. Starts: May 26, 19:30; Ateliér Babylon, SNP Square 14. Admission: €8 (in advance)-€13. Tel: 02/2090-1900; www.atelierbabylon.sk.   

Bratislava

ARCHITECTURE DAYS: DAAD 2015 – The Days of Architecture and Design, an annual festival, will last for six days in 2015, offering a host of events – presentation of urban interventions, exhibitions – Eames By Vitra of US designers Charles & Ray Eames – will open by a lecture of Eames Demetrios with so far unpublished photos and films. Starts: May 26-31 (opening May 26, 19:30; Primate’s Palace). More info: www.daad.sk.

Bratislava

LIVE MUSIC: Nat Osborn – Brooklyn musician Nat Osborn brings his band to play their mix if funk, soul, rock and pop, supported by Katka Ščevlíková Band and DJ Gonsofus. Starts: May 28, 22:00; Re:fresh Club, Ventúrska 5. Admission: €4. More info: www.refreshclub.sk.

Bratislava

MEXICAN CULTURE: Days of Mexican Culture – This year, the organising troupe of Mexican dances, Magisterial, celebrates 25th anniversary – and this will be reflected also in this annual festival. Starts: May 28, 18:00; Dúbravka House of Culture, Saratovská 2/A. Admission: €5. Tel: 02/6920-3030; www.dkdubravka.sk, www.citylife.sk.

Bratislava

URBAN MARKET: Urban Market 2015, Spring Edition – This time, the Urban Market joined forces with the DAAD 2015 – The Days of Architecture and Design, while also moving to a different, albeit nearby venue. Stress will be put on creativity and design, with concerts and after-parties confirming this trend. Starts: May 29-31, Laurinská 19. Admission: €8 (for all three days, in advance – predpredaj.sk). More info: www.citylife.sk, urbanmarket.sk.  

Bratislava

FLAMENCO: Ultra High Flamenco of the Flamenco Experience series brings four Spanish (one slightly French) musicians – Paquito González (drums), José Quevedo (guitar), Pablo Martín-Caminero (double bass), Alexis Lefevre (violin) – who play top flamenco fusion, receive awards and are asked by many professionals for collaboration. Apart from ordinary tickets (€20), members of the Internations Club can enjoy the evening with a glass of Spanish Champagne Cava as a welcome drink; a table individually booked seating 4 people in the front VIP section, a bottle of wine/champagne per table and a plate of delicious Spanish fingerfood per table – for €30. Starts: May 29, 20:00; Ateliér Babylon, SNP Square 14. Admission: €20/€30 (Internations)/€80 (VIP). Tel: 02/2090-1900; www.atelierbabylon.sk, internations.bratislava@gmail.com.

Bratislava

OPERA: Ermanno Wolf-Ferrari – Jewels of Madonna / I Gioielli della Madonna – The opera in three acts, in Italian language, will premiere in the National Theatre, conducted by Friedrich Haider, directed by Manfred Schweigkofler, with cast including Miroslav Dvorský / Kyungho Kim; Jitka Sapara-Fischerová / Denisa Šlepkovská; Adriana Kohútková / Natália Ushakova; Daniel Čapkovič / Sergej Tolstov; Ivan Ožvát / Igor Pasek, and others. Starts: May 29-30; 19:00; new SND building, Pribinova 17. Admission: €8-€30. Tel: 02/2049-4290 or www.snd.sk.

Bratislava

CLASSICAL MUSIC: Bach’s Cantatas with Solamente Naturali – Organist Monika Melcová will perform, with the Solamente Naturali ensemble of early music and Vocale ensemble SoLA, the Cantatas by Bach and Oliver Messiaen. Starts: May 30, 19:30; big Evangelical Church, Panenská Street. Tickets: one hour before the concert, €4-€6. More info: www.juras.sk.  

Bratislava

LITERARY FESTIVAL: BRaK – The Bratislava Book Festival will host many Slovak and foreign - publishers, writers, illustrators, and culture organisers; offering readings, debates (e.g. with Zimbabwean Chenjerai Hove in English),  exhibitions, music events and more. Starts: May 29-31; Pisztory Palace, Štefánikova 25. Admission: €3. More info: www.citylife.sk, brakfestival.sk.

Červený Kameň Castle/ Modra-Častá

HISTORICAL FESTIVAL: Rotenstein – The “Red Castle” or Červený Kameň festival is the biggest knights’ tournament in Slovakia, complete with historical costumes, tournaments, horses, period meals, fencing and cultural programme. Starts: May 30-31; Červený Kameň / Red Castle near Modra-Častá. Admission: €7(one day)-€15 (both days). More info: http://rotenstein.sk/listky.  

Piešťany

TRADITIONAL CRAFTS: Traditional Arts and Crafts 2015 – The 7th year of this event in the spa town offers not just demonstrations of crafts and a folk market but also folklore ensembles, cimbalom music, puppet theatre, and more.Starts: May 22-24; Piešťany. More info: www.visitpiestany.sk.

Nitra

CLASSICAL MUSIC: Ars Organi – The culmination of the festival Ars Organi Nitra is the performance of bass singer Štefan Kocán with organist Mária Magyarová-Plšeková. Starts: May 24, 19:00; Piarist Church of St Ladislaus. More info: www.organfest.sk.

Trnava

CLASSICAL MUSIC: Trnava Musical Spring – Within this festival, the Varga Quartet and Austrian oboe player Gottfried Boisits will perform works of Haydn and Mozart. Starts: May 24, 18:00; Ján Koniarke gallery, Koppl Villa, Zelený Kríček 3. More info: www.trnava.sk.

 

Central SLOVAKIA

 

Banská Bystrica

TRADITIONAL CRAFTS: The Feats of Craft in Banská Bystrica – This event marks the 70th anniversary of the ÚĽUV centre of traditional arts and crafts, the 10th anniversary since its Banská Bystrica branch opened, and 10th anniversary of the Slovak folk instrument fujara on the list of UNESCO intangible cultural heritage. Thus, the daylong programme is also focused mostly on the fujara. Starts: May 28, 8:30-17:00; ÚĽUV Gallery, Dolná 14. More info: www.kamdomesta, www.uluv.sk.

Žilina

LIVE MUSIC: Princess Chelsea – The New Zealand singer/musician will stop in Slovakia within her Great Cybernetic Depression Tour, arriving May 28 in Bratislava (KC Dunaj, www.citylife.sk) and on May 27 in Žilina. Starts: May 27, 20:00 Stanica Žilina Záriečie, Závodská cesta 3. Admission: €3-5 (in advance)-€4-6. Tel: 0948/344-606; www.stanica.sk.

 

Eastern SLOVAKIA

 

Košice

URBAN ART FESTIVAL: Use The City 2015 – Košice inhabitants and visitors will experience ten days of concerts, installations, a biking trip, scrabble tournament, theatre, musical guided tour, concert on a bus, a flash mob and more – all in outdoor venues of the eastern-Slovak metropolis. Starts: May 21-31; various sites. Admission: various. More info: www.usethecity.sk.     

Košice

GASTRONOMY/WINE: Urban 2015 – The Blessing of Young Wines – The 8th year of wine-tasting in local cellars of the famous Tokaj varieties, complete with local delicacies. Starts: May 30, 9:00 Veľká Tŕňa, Malá Tŕňa, Viničky – shuttle bus is for free. Admission: €20 (including €5 for meals/drinks). Tel: 903 608 865; www.tokajregnum.sk.

Košice

EXHIBITION: Marc Chagall – Awaiting a Miracle – This exhibition presents two lithography cycles and one free cycle of artworks from the private collections of the Sia Art Expo company, by this world-renowned avant-garde artist. Unique exhibition format shows typical “naïve”, dream-like imagination of Chagall. Open: Tue-Sun 10:00-18:00 until June 14; East-Slovakian Gallery, Hlavná 2. Tel: 055/6817-511; www.vsg.sk

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