Archive of articles - April 2004, page 3

Bratislava's peaceful Corrida serves Slovaks

THE DIET of the communist regime and the early nineties, when Slovakia's access to the cuisines of other nations was limited mainly to three regional types: Czech with its vepřo knedlo zelo (roast pork with sauerkraut and dumplings), Hungarian dominated by gulyás (beef stew), and of course Slovak with its main representative bryndzové halušky (potato dumplings with special sheep's cheese and fried bacon), has ended.

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BRATISLAVAWESTERN SLOVAKIACENTRAL SLOVAKIAEASTERN SLOVAKIA

Elections might strengthen crown

Reader feedback: Telling it like it is

Tax breaks approved

Trnava builds new flats

Košice's pianissimo loudens

THE ORCHESTRA sits down, the musicians begin to tune their instruments. A short silence follows, giving way to welcome the conductor. His small stature and young age somewhat startle the audience before the applause rolls out. He shakes hands with one of the orchestra's violinists - who, like a good half of the group, seems twice his age - and takes his position.The conductor's resolute gesture fills the hall with music.

Tongues are wagging

JOINING the traditionally high interest in the German, English, and French languages, over the last 15 years, Spanish has become one of the most popular foreign languages among Slovaks, with the number of interested students steadily increasing.Grammar schools and high schools with extended instruction in German, French, and English or bilingual schools at this level of education have been commonplace in this country for decades.

Reader feedback: Re: Local Bahá'ís welcome the year 161 B.E. Bahá'í thanks

Flats for Kia workers

The night of Celts arrives

THE LAST night of April at the Červený Kameň Castle in Slovakia and the Cheb Castle in the Czech Republic is the night of the Celts. Until noon the next day, people will dance to the live rhythms of international bands and attend various attractions reviving the cultural heritage shared throughout Europe.Taking place in two countries - for the fourth year in Slovakia and the tenth in the Czech Republic - the biggest of four Celtic holidays, Beltine or the Day of Fire, starts at 20:00 on April 30.

Figeľ interviewed

SLOVAKIA's future European commissioner, Jan Figeľ, addressed the European Parliament in Brussels last week in a hearing designed to prepare the European Parliament's final vote of approval on the enlarged commission.Together with other prospective European commissioners from new EU member countries, Figeľ faced an hour of questions put by a special Parliamentary commission. Questions focused on technology, research and development, small businesses, and the commission's chemicals policy.

Reader feedback: Still lost after 10 years

Powell thanks Slovakia for support in Iraq

European office for Slovakia opens

THE EUROPEAN Office for Slovakia opened its doors in Brussels on April 24, one week before the country's official entry to the EU.The office, set up by the human capital consultancy the Amrop Jenewein Group, will provide analysis on the impact of current and prepared EU legislation and the unified market on particular sectors and institutions in Slovakia.

Jobless rate falls

Brevity and magnificence

MacbethComposed by: Giuseppe VerdiConducted by: Oliver DohnányiWhere: Slovak National Theatre (SND), Hviezdoslavovo námestie, BratislavaNext performances: May 27, at 19:00Performed: in four acts, in Italian with Slovak supertitlesRating: 7 out of 10BREVITY and magnificence - two words that signalled a revolution in Italian opera - were at the heart of Giuseppe Verdi's interpretation of Macbeth. His insistence upon short, dramatically dense verses, often based on the great dramas of William Shakespeare, Friedrich Schiller, and Francois Voltaire, shifted opera's traditional focus from the music to the text, which Verdi felt was the source of its complexity, drama, and emotion.

That's the way in Yiddish

Ot Azoy!Preßburger Klezmer BandReleased by: Millenium RecordsPrice: Sk299Available at: most music storesWHO would have thought that Jewish music would become hip again? Sure, it has heavily impacted Western popular music - most notably 20th century musical theatre. But, after the emergence of blues, jazz, rock, techno, rap, etc, it seemed unlikely that it would return to the forefront.

On the hunt for flavour

SilvánusWhere: Námestie MR Štefánika 33/40 Kremnica When: daily 10:00 -22:00Reservations: YesEnglish menu: YesTel: 045/6744-881Rating: 8 out of 10STANDING at the bottom of Kremnica's grassy main square, on the left just a few doors past the old town's main gate, is a late 14th century building that once served as a burgher's house.