Archive of articles - January 2005, page 6

One composer's everlasting appeal

The Slovak Spectator (TSS): How and when did the idea of Johann Sebastian Bach: Slovakia 2005 originate?Ján Juráš (JJ): This year's festival is the logical outcome of all the Bach activities we've organized up till now.During Communism I used to prepare concerts of Bach's music in Prievoz's Evangelical Church with the cautious agreement of the local priest. You could forget about trying to hold (traditional) concerts! They had to take place within holy mass, without naming those taking part.

Jobless rate 14.63 percent in December

Tatra disaster on display in Brussels

A COLLECTION of photographs by SME photographer Ján Krošlák, which dramatically captures the windstorm disaster in the High Tatras, is being displayed next to the offices of the Slovak European Members of Parliament in Brussels.

Reader feedback: Automakers see Slovak talent

Overview of selected Slovak media

Slovak news-only station thrives

WHEN TA3 established itself in 2000, pundits considered the idea of a national news-only television station "an inadequate prediction of the media market".It was believed that Slovakia, with its population of 5 million, simply would not "feed" a Slovak television station dedicated to news.Today, advertisers are finding their way to TA3, and the station's advertising income is growing.Olívia Trnkalová is the public relations manager at TA3. She explained to The Slovak Spectator that TA3 is based on the assumption that Slovak viewers are interested in an on-going news station from a Slovak point of view.

Johnson Controls to create 350 jobs

Parliament mulls over SND fate

THE parliament hotly debated cabinet plans to sell the unfinished Slovak National Theatre (SND) building to American company Truthheim Invest. The discussion took place January 18 in a special session.So far, the planned sale is postponed until March, when a committee charged with developing an acceptable plan for the SND's future reveals its proposal.The committee met for the first time on January 19.

E-files for Supreme Court

Fight for the big slice

THE INTRODUCTION of the people meter in August 2004 revolutionized Slovak television. It gave stations a way to measure the amount of time people watched specific programmes.Six months later this modern electronic device is one of the most important factors influencing the marketing of TV stations in Slovakia today.People meters have sharpened competition, encouraging TV stations to introduce popular programmes, particularly reality shows, to capture a greater share of the audience.However, private television stations in Slovakia object to the financial support that STV, the public broadcasting station, receives from the state.

Ski Window

WEATHER in the Carpathian arc turned snowy last week and occasional snow showers will continue through January 27. Thereafter, it may turn considerably cooler with some meteorologists predicting -20C temperatures during the weekend of January 29 and 30. School vacations do not begin until February so crowds continue to be low and the snowpack remains very good with much more snow on the way. From January 29 and 30, Donovaly will feature a two-day toboggan race with international participants. Do not miss it.

Transport Ministry sets priorities

NOW PLAYING IN CINEMAS

Honoured for life's work

CULTURE Minister Rudolf Chmel has honoured literary historian Stanislav Šmatlák and artist Rudolf Fila for life-long contributions to their fields, the SITA news agency reported.Šmatlák worked with the Slovak Academy of Sciences from the 1950s to the 1990s. During that period he published several significant surveys of Slovak poetry and literature.

Fico most-trusted politician

All the world's a stage

"THEATRE is a phenomenon without which it is not worth living," says Peter Maráky, the director of the Slovak National Museum.Given such commentary, it is not surprising that Maráky helped put together one of the largest theatre-inspired exhibitions in the history of Slovakia - and certainly the biggest one of 2005.The Theatre: Passion, Body and Voice, currently showing at the Slovak National Museum, reveals Slovak theatre in all of its historic, social and artistic splendour.

Reader feedback: Good old common sense

Celts celebrate spring

TO CELEBRATE spring Celtic style, come and join Bratislava university students at Mlynská dolina dormitory area January 29. From 19:00 to 3:00 the next morning, the local Elam Club will turn out live music, dance and entertainment.The night of Imbolc, one of the four major Celtic holidays celebrated throughout the year, will kick off with a Celtic welcoming drink and refreshment.

The real smile of Slovakia

ONE of the foreign media's favourite questions to ask Slovaks in 2004 was: "How does it feel to be in the European Union?"This is an enigmatic question, to say the least, and one to which I long believed no satisfactory response existed. But this changed a few weeks ago when a Slovak told me over steaming mulled wine: "Well, it doesn't really change anything, except that now I feel strange when I hear the Ode to Joy [the EU anthem]. Actually, when I hear it I want to jump up and impale myself on the orchestra."