Čhavorenge will perform on December 9 in Klarisky (source: Courtesy of O.Z. Miret)
Western Slovakia
Bratislava
CLASSICAL MUSIC: Komorný orchester Technik / The Chamber Orchestra Technik – The musical body celebrates its 50th anniversary with a concert – conducted by Mirko Krajči, with soloists František Török and Orsolya Kovács, as guests – offering the works of Vivaldi, Gustav Mahler, Mirko Krajči and P.I. Tchaikovsky. Starts: Dec 4, 19:00; Dvorana VŠMU concert hall, Zochova 1. Admission: voluntary. More info: www.citylife.sk.
Bratislava
BENEFIT CONCERT: The Christmas events in the Main Square include also a St Nicholas Day event with proceeds going to the children’s oncology at the University Hospital in Bratislava-Kramáre. Starts: Dec 4, 16:00; Main Square. Admission: voluntary. More info: http://juras.sk/pozvanky/na-svateho-mikulasa-3.
Bratislava
LIVE MUSIC: Zaz – The successful French singer returns to Bratislava, to play older hits (Je veux, Le long de la route, La fée a Éblouie par la nuit, On ira and Si) as well as tunes from her latest album, Paris – made with songster Charles Aznavour and US producer Quincy Jones. Starts: Dec 4, 19:00; Incheba Expo Aréna, Viedenská cesta 3-7. Admission: €30-€55. Tel: 02/5293-3321;www.ticketportal.sk.
Bratislava
LIVE MUSIC: Kinga Glyk Trio – The Polish band playing jazzrock/fusion brings young bass player – only 18 years old – Kinga Glyk with her father Irek Glyk and keyboardist Kuba Gwardecki within the “Rock v múzeu” /Rock in the Museum project which recently presents Polish blues and jazzrock music in the Slovak capital. Starts: Dec 4, 19:00; Museum of Trade, Linzbothova 16. Tel: 02/4524-3167;www.rockvmuzeu.sk.
Bratislava
CLASSICAL MUSIC: An die Musik – German song in Slovakia is the themed evening revolving around the works of Franz Schubert, Ján Levoslav Bella, Alexander Albrecht and Peter Martinček composed to German lyrics, as performed by Jaroslav Pehal, Slovak singer at the Vienna State Opera, accompanied by pianist Daniel Simandl. Starts: Dec 4, 18:00; Pálffy Palace, Zámocká 4. Admission: voluntary. More info: www.citylife.sk.
Bratislava
FILM FESTIVAL: The first year of Australian films in Bratislava brings movies reciprocally – to the Czech and Slovak Film Festival in Australian cities. The “Aussie Film Festival” presents the Australian Film Production and Short Films, while also screening movies Last Cab to Darwin; Paper Planes; The Daughter; The Badabook and The Little Death. Starts: Dec 3-6; Mladosť cinema, Hviezdoslavovo Square, FTF VŠMU film hall, Svoradova 2. Admission: €4.50. More info:http://aussiefilmfest.cz.
Bratislava
CHOIR MUSIC: International Festival of Advent and Christmas Music – The festival that brings festive seasonal music to the streets and venues of the Slovak capital will span over four days. It offers choirs Highveld Ridge Regional Choir (South Africa), Olbia Folk Ensemble (Italy), The Boulevard Harmonists (South Africa), Children’s Choir of Primary Music School in Szczecin (Poland), Szczecin Choir of Nurses and Midwives (Poland), Schola Mariana - zbor “veľkých” (Slovakia), Mixed Grammar school Škofja Loka Choir (Slovenia), Chamber Choir “Val”, Rijeka (Croatia), Plzeňský dětský sbor (Pilsen, Czech Republic), Academic Choir of the Faculty of Humanities and Social Sciences in Zagreb “Concordia Discors” (Croatia), Mixed choir Joakim Rakovac (Croatia), Chorus Ostrava (Czech Republic). With performances for the public part of the festival which also includes a competition. Starts: Dec 3, 17:15 – opening concert, Hviezdoslavovo Square; 19:00 opening concert, Jesuit Church of the Holy Saviour, Františkánske Square. Dec 4, 18:00 – Christmas markets, Main Square; 19:00 Advent concert Jesuit Church of the Holy Saviour, Františkánske Square. Dec 5, 16:30 – announcing results, Main Square; 17:00 Christmas markets, Main Square. Dec 9:00 – performance of children’s choir at holy mass, Franciscan Church of the Lord‘s Enunciation, Františkánske Square. Admission: voluntary. More info:www.citylife.sk.
Bratislava
ST NICHOLAS: Mikulášsky Včelovina Express do Smoleníc / St Nicholas’ Meady Express to Smolenice – The traditional train ride from Bratislava, via Trnava, Smolenice and Kúty back to Bratislava includes a ride on steam-pulled train, with St Nicholas, a devil and an angel who will distribute sweets among children, a six-hour break in Smolenice, with Christmas markets, museum visit, a visit to Včelco company producing bee and honey products, and a visit to Smolenice Castle. Starts: Dec 5, 9:00-18:45; Bratislava Main Station. Admission: €15 (children)- albatrosklub@albatrosklub.sk; more info: www.citylife.sk.
Bratislava
CHRISTMAS MUSIC: Spirit of Joy – Advent concert of singer Rachelle Jeanty accompanied by Falko Bonitz on piano presents songs and hits typical for this season. Starts: Dec 5, 19:00 House of Culture Kramáre, Stromová 8. Admission: voluntary. More info: www.skvajnorska.sk.
Bratislava
ST NICHOLAS: Mikulášsky koncert / St Nicholas’ Concert – The cycle of chamber concert of less-known early music continues with this concert, meant for children and St Nicholas Day, played by Musica Aeterna (Peter Zajíček, Peter Zelenka, Gabriel Szathmáry, Ján Gréner, Michaela Čibova, Ján Prievozní, Jana Zelenková, Igor Herzog) with soloists Eva Husseinová, Tomas Duchoslav, and Dana Duchoslavová, works of C. Farina, A. Falconieri, Tarolilla de Carallenos, J. Pachelbel, and Handel. Starts: Dec 6,18:00, Pálffy Palace, Zámocká 4. Admission: €5-€7. More info: www.citylife.sk.
Bratislava
LIVE MUSIC: Christmas Beatles Show – The Backwards – The Slovak band that brings back to music of Beatles – and has already performed at the Liverpool festival hailing their music and live in BBC – plays a 1960s style Christmas concert. Starts: Dec 6, 17:00; Dec 7, 19:00 (and Dec 16, 20:00 in Rock Café); Teatro Wüstenrot, Dom Odborov, Trnavské Mýto 1. Admission: €15. Tel: 02/5293-3321; www.ticketportal.sk.
Bratislava
LIVE MUSIC/CHARITY: Doma dobre / Good to Be Home – This charity programme brings to the homeless’ reception centre the bands Longital Suita, My Baby and Midi Lidi, and music of Alexander Albrecht played by Filas, Milan Adamec, Slavo Solovic, and Jozef Lupták; as well as a photo exhibition of Lukáš Macek, traditional sauerkraut soup by celebrity chef Jaro Žídek, discussions about the situation of the homeless, and a painting for one of the visitors by artist Marek Ormandík, made during the event. Starts: Dec 6 13:00-18:00; homeless’ reception centre of St Vincent de Paul, Ivanská cesta 32. Admission: voluntary. More info:www.citylife.sk.
Bratislava
MODERN DANCE/THEATRE: Elledanse - ID#entity – The dance-visual performance of Elledanse ensemble taps the paradoxes of identity: sameness, uniqueness, need to identify with a group, etc., all from the view of a boy becoming a man. Concept and dance: Zuzana Sehnalová, Ján Šutka / Michal Heriban, Pavol Kovalčík / Branislav Bašista. Director: Jakub Mudrák. Starts: Dec 7, 20:00; Slovak National Theatre, studio, new SND building, Pribinova 17. Admission: €10. Tel: 02/2049-4290; www.snd.sk.
Bratislava
LIVE MUSIC: Andrej Šeban Trio Tour – The Slovak trio: guitarist/composer Andrej Šeban (Martin Gašpar (bass) and Marcel Buntaj (drums) have embarked on a mini-tour around Slovakia – Košice, Nitra, Bratislava, Banská Bystrica – to play Šeban’s tunes as well as notable folk songs. Starts: Dec 8, 20:00; SK Vajnorská, Vajnorská 21. Tel: 02/44373771, www.skvajnorska.sk.
Bratislava
CLASSICAL MUSIC/OPERA: Jose Carreras - A Life in Music Tour – World-renowned tenor, one of the “Three Tenors”, makes a stop in Bratislava during his A Life in Music Tour, singing arias from operas, operettas and musicals, Belle époque music, accompanied by an orchestra conducted by David Giménez. Starts: Dec 8. 19:30; Ondrej Nepela Ice Stadium, (Slovnaft Arena), Odbojárov 9. Admission: €35-€139. Tel: 02/5293-3321; www.ticketportal.sk.
Bratislava
LIVE MUSIC/CHARITY: Ida Kellarová and her Čhavorenge children’s choir will perform – for the first time accompanied by the Symphonic Orchestra of Slovak Radio – led by Adrian Kokoš. Čhavorenge is composed of talented children from Czech towns and cities, as well as from Roma settlements and neighbourhoods in Slovakia (Lenartov, Raslavice, Šaca, Rakúsy, Lomnice, Hlboké, Liptovský Mikuláš and Poltár). In the big studio of the Slovak Radio, they will sing music inspired by folklore and Roma music, arranged by Kellarová who is famous for her jazz band as well as for work with marginalised children through the Miret civic association. Starts: Dec 9; 20:00 Slovak Radio, Mýtna 1. Admission: €10-€20. Tel: 02/5293-3321; www.ticketportal.sk.
Bratislava
CHRISTMAS MUSIC: Christmas Concert: Simona Šaturová – Famous Slovak soprano performing mostly abroad, Simona Houda-Šaturová, will have as guests Slovak baritone Pavol Remenár, the Lúčnica choir led by Elena Matušová, and Slovak Philharmonics conducted by Jaroslav Kyzlink. Starts: Dec 9, 19:30; Slovak Philharmonics, Reduta building, E. Suchoňa Square 1. Admission: €39-€59. Tel: 02/5293-3321; www.ticketportal.sk.
Bratislava
CLASSICAL MUSIC: Piano Quintets of Romantics: Schumann & Dohnányi – In the romantic piano quintets from the Bratislava Goes Classical project, top Slovak musicians (Milan Paľa, Marián Svetlík, Jozef Lupták, Jordana Palovičová and Romanian violist Vladimir Mendelssohn) will play the works of Robert Schumann and local native, Ernő Dohnányi. Starts: Dec 9, 19:00; Bratislava Castle. Admission: €15(in advance)-€20 €.
Bratislava
CLASSICAL MUSIC: Moyzes Quartet – The cycle of concerts celebrating the 40th anniversary of the classical music ensemble – with Eva Šušková-soprano as soloists offers this time the works of Slovak Ľudovít Rajter, Vladimír Godár, Martin Burlas, Ottorino Respighi, and Frenchman Maurice Ravel. Starts: Dec 9, 19:00; Pálffy Palace, Zámocká 4. Admission: €2-€4. More info: www.citylife.sk.
Bratislava
CLASSICAL MUSIC: Hudba dneška v SNG / The Music of These Days in the Slovak National Gallery – This cycle of contemporary classical music by Slovak and foreign composers has been initiated by the SNG and Veni Ensemble Art Director Daniel Matej. Called Before and After Silence 9 (Daniel Matej, Pedro Rebelo, Michael Vetter, and others) presents Veni Ensemble. Starts: Dec 9, 18:00; SNG, Esterházy palace, Ľ. Štúra Square 4. Admission: €2-€4. More info: www.sng.sk.
Bratislava
CHRISTMAS/BALLET: The Nutcracker – The Tchaikovsky ballet (this time in the highly-acclaimed choreography version by Vassili Vajnonen, choreographed by Rafael Georgijevič Avnikjan, and directed by Jozef Dolinský Sr) draws people of all ages. Starts: Dec 9 (17:00); 11 (18:00), 12 (11:00, 17:00), 19 (11:00, 19:00), 22 (11:00, 19:00), 27 (17:00), 28. (11:00); Jan 3 (17:00); Jan 4 (11:00, 18:00); Slovak National Theatre historical building, Hviezdoslavovo Square 1. Admission: €10-€20. Tel: 02/2047-2299 or www.snd.sk.
Bratislava
LIVE MUSIC: Sofa Surfers – Austrian band comes to present their recently released new album “Scrambles, Anthems and Odysseys”, supported by Slovak ensemble Fallgrapp. Starts: Dec 10, 20:00; Majestic Music Club, Karpatská 2. Admission: €18 (in advance)-€20. More info: www.citylife.sk.
Bratislava
LIVE MUSIC: Jana Kocianová & The Gospel Family – The soloist, Kocianová, joined forces with the Gospel Family from Nová Dubnica (led by Juraj Hort) to perform both Christmas carols and gospels. Starts: Dec 11, 19:00; Big Evangelical Church, Panenská Street. Admission: €13 (in advance)-€15. More info: juras.sk/pozvanky/jana-kocianova-and-the-gospel-family; tickets: www.citylife.sk.
Bratislava
DESIGN/MARKET: Urban Market 2015 winter edition – The winter Urban Market offers children’s fashion, quality cosmetics, gifts for Christmas, but also limited designer works of local designers and hand-made presents. The Urban Market party takes place in the Nu Spirit Club. Starts: Dec 11-13; Pisztory Palace, Štefánikova 25. Admission: free. More info: http://urbanmarket.sk; www.nuspirit.sk.
Bratislava
CHRISTMAS/ CLASSICAL MUSIC: Art Music Orchestra – The concert of a musical body composed of 24 young people – the Art Music Orchestra from Červeník – with Slovak National Theatre soloist Daniel Čapkovič completed with – for those who have mastered some Slovak – spiritual messages of priest Ján Sucháň aptly evokes the Christmas atmosphere. Starts: Dec 12, 15:00; The Church of Ascension of Virgin Mary (Blumental, Blumentálska Street). Admission: €7. More info: www.citylife.sk.
Bratislava
LIVE MUSIC: Pressburger Klezmer Band – The first band in Slovakia to play the music of central/eastern-European Jews, klezmer, plays also ethno/world music with elements of jazz, reggae, Laitno, Slovak, Gipsy and Balkan music. Starts: Dec 12, 20:00; Art Club Kafé Scherz, Palisády (Partizánska 2). Admission: €9. Tel: 0918/ 724-379; www.kafescherz.sk, (rezervacie@scherz.sk).
Bratislava
CHRISTMAS/ CLASSICAL MUSIC: The Christmas Concert of the Slovak Chamber Orchestra Bohdan Warchal– The Christmas music of days gone by was inspired by shepherds’ chants, pastorales, carols, like the famous Czech Christmas Mass by Jan Jakub Ryba and Christmas Mass by Czech/Slovak Jozef Zrunek. Slovak Chamber Orchestra will be joined by the Lúčnice folk ensemble. Starts: Dec 13, 16:00; Reduta building, E. Suchoňa Square 1. Admission: €8-€10. Tel: 02/2047-5233; www.filharmonia.sk.
Bratislava
CHRISTMAS MUSIC: Christmas in Bratislava – The concert of Bratislavský chlapčenský zbor / Bratislava Boys’ Choir, Slovak National Symphonic Orchestra and Choir conducted by Rastislav Štúr, with guests Martin Valihora and Róbert Puškár, Ľubica Vargicová, Jana Kurucová, Richard Šveda will present the Christmas carols – Slovak and foreign, classical, seasonal music, operatic arias and more. Starts: Dec 13 19:00; Slovak National Theatre-opera, new SND building, Pribinova 17. Tel: 02/2047-2289; rezervacie@snd.sk.
Bratislava
LIVE MUSIC: Čechomor – The Christmas concert in Bratislava is part of the Czech/Moravian folk-rock band’s (František Černý, Karel Holas, Taras Vološčuk, Michal Pavlík a Lukáš Pavlík) Christmas Tour 2015. Starts: Dec 13, 16:00, 19:00; Zrkadlový Háj House of Culture, Rovniankova 3. Admission: €18. Tel: 02/6381-1328 or www.kzp.sk.
Bratislava
THEATRE/DANCE: YouMake Remake – The Slovak Elledanse troupe performs a multi-genre show inspired by YouTube, choreographed and directed by Israeli Renana Raz. Starts: Dec 13, 19:00; Štúdio 12, Jakubovo Square 12. Admission: €3-€5. More info: www.citylife.sk.
Bratislava
LIVE MUSIC: Piaf! The Show – French songstress Anne Carrere – with a voice strikingly resembling that of late legendary singer Edith Piaf – will celebrate the 100th anniversary of Piaf with a show presenting her famous hits like Non, Je ne Regrette Rien or La Vie en Rose. Starts: Dec 13, 19:00; NTC Aegon Arena, Príkopova 6. More info: www.vagaboond.com, Facebook.
Bratislava/ Červený kameň
ST NICOLAS/ MUSEUM: Nicolas at the Castle – The trip into the past in the historical environment of a castle museum revives the tradition of St Nicolas, in the times of Mikuláš (Nicolas) Pálffy, the castle owner. Starts: Dec 5, 9:00 and each full hour until 16:00; Červený kameň / Red Stone castle, Častá, Modra. Admission: €1-€6. More info: www.snm.sk.
Bratislava
GRAPHIC ART EXHIBITION: Jozef Dóka Jr – Lautrec from Trnava – The exhibition of posters by Jozef Dóka Junior is the last accompanying event of this year’s Trnava Poster Triennial, organised by the Slovak Design centre and curated by Ľubomír Longauer as selection of classical-size posters and big-size digital prints. Open: Tue-Sun 13:00-18:00 until February 7, 2016; Satelit, Hurbanove kasárne (Hurban’s Barracks), Kollárovo Square 10. Admission: free. Tel: 0918/110-247; www.sdc.sk.
Bratislava
DESIGN EXHIBITION: XY – Pavol Capik / Martyn Žabka – The exhibition of two young Slovak designers presents their promising artworks which tell stories, point to some traditional crafts or experiment with materials in applied design. Open: Mon-Fri 12:00-18:00 until Jan 21, 2016; Dizajn štúdio ÚĽUV, Dobrovičova 13. Admission: free. Tel: 02/5273-1349; www.uluv.sk.
Central SLOVAKIA
Banská Bystrica
MODERN DANCE: Androgén / Jadro – The dual premiere of independent works presents the latest creation of the modern dance company. Androgén (choreography Tibor Trulik, music Matej Štestko) expresses the challenge of men to become truthful in life and strong in spirit and heart. Jadro (choreography Zuzana Ďuricová Hájková, music Matej Háasz) explores the mystery of the core (jadro), the fundamental part of human being, and its borders. Starts: Dec 4 and (9), 19:00; Divadlo Štúdio tanca theatre, Komenského 12 (na Kačici). Admission: €6-€9. More info: www.studiotanca.sk.
Banská Bystrica
MUTLI-GENRE FESTIVAL: Festival of Light / Festival svetla – The multi-genre festival with the subtitle Light and Shadow in Art and Science strives to include wider public, students and fans of this theme into outdoor workshops, playing with light and its role in several different art genres presented in public space. Starts: Dec 11-13, various sites in Banská Bystrica. More info: www.svetlo-tien.sk.
Brezno
JAZZ: Melanie Scholtz – The South-African singer Scholtz comes to the noted Slovak jazz club. Starts: Dec 12, 20:00; Bombura Club, M. R. Štefánika Square 16. Tel: 0905/347 -415; www.bombura.sk.
Žilina
EXHIBITION: Juraj Gábor Práve teraz / Just Now – The Plusmínusnula Gallery will become a”transit depository” of Gábor’s ideas and works connected with the Sight Pyramid monumental work to be installed in the landscape overseeing the village of Súľov. Open: Tue-Fri 15:00-18:00 until Jan 8, 2016; Plusmínus Gallery, galéria ± 0,0, Hurbanova 11. Admission: free. Tel: 0905/365-149; plusminusnula@gmail.com; www.pgu.sk
Eastern SLOVAKIA
Košice
CHRISTMAS/BALLET: The Nutcracker / Luskáčik – The beautiful fairy tale-turned-ballet to the music of Tchaikovsky marks the holiday season in the State Theatre Košice (SDKE), as choreographed and directed by Ondrej Šoth and conducted by Miloslav Janíček and Igor Dohovič. Starts: Dec 7 (10:00); SDKE, Hlavná 58. Admission: €2-€4. Tel: 055/2452-269 (daytime), 055/2452-260 (evenings); www.sdke.sk.
The Nutcracker in SDKE (source: Courtesy of SDKE)
Košice
CHRISTMAS/ CLASSICAL MUSIC: Advent Concert – State Slovak Philharmonics Košice (ŠfK) conducted by Leoš Svárovský, with László Kunkli on trumpet, will play the works of Haydn; Josef Suk, and Mozart to create a Christmas atmosphere. Starts: Dec 10, 19:00; House of Arts, Moyzesova 66. Admission: €6-€8. Tel: 055/6220-763; www.sfk.sk.
Košice
JAZZ: Karavána – Funny Fellows (Roman Féder, Marek Berky, Milan Ruček, Pali Ivičič, Daniel Valášek) will perform works from the album which received the jazz prize Esprit 2014 for European music from 1920s-1940s. Starts: Dec 11, 20:00; Jumbo Centre, Masarykova 2. More info: www.jazz.sk.
Košice
SPORT: Kayakers’ Pool – This course for mastering a kayak is meant for both beginners and advanced water sport fans, for children as well as adults, with experienced trainers and coaches. Starts: Dec 11 (booking at least two days in advance), 19:00; city indoor pool, Protifašistických bojovníkov 4. Admission: €5 (entry to the pool), €15 rental of kayak and equipment, €20/person (entry, rental and insturctor – one for people – incldued). a 1 instruktor na 2 ľudí). Booking: 0949/422-835; rieku@splavujeme.sk; more info www.splavujeme.sk/sk/kurzy/kajakarsky-bazen-kurz-eskimovania.
