Top Pick: Bratislava classical music festival

September 22 - October 5
Musicians from 20 countries will gather in Bratislava to perform the works of a multitude of international composers at Bratislavské hudobné slávnosti (Bratislava Music Festival - BHS) starting Saturday, September 22. While most of the festival will be devoted to Italian composer Giuseppe Verdi, who died exactly a century ago this year, the 37th annual BHS will also pay homage to Slovak opera singer Peter Dvorský, who is celebrating his 50th birthday.
Opera soloist at the Slovak National Theatre, Dvorský, one of the world's most acclaimed tenors since the 1980's, will sing in Verdi's Requiem at the festival's closing on October 5. Dvorský will share the stage with one of the world's best-known singers of Verdi, American Michéle Crider, as well as Italian Elisabett Fiorill and Slovak Peter Mikuláš. The quartet will be accompanied by the Slovak Philharmonic and Slovak Philharmonic Choir, conducted by Italian Rico Saccani.


Slovak opera star Peter Dvorský will sing Verdi.
photo: Courtesy BHS

September 22 - October 5

Musicians from 20 countries will gather in Bratislava to perform the works of a multitude of international composers at Bratislavské hudobné slávnosti (Bratislava Music Festival - BHS) starting Saturday, September 22. While most of the festival will be devoted to Italian composer Giuseppe Verdi, who died exactly a century ago this year, the 37th annual BHS will also pay homage to Slovak opera singer Peter Dvorský, who is celebrating his 50th birthday.

Opera soloist at the Slovak National Theatre, Dvorský, one of the world's most acclaimed tenors since the 1980's, will sing in Verdi's Requiem at the festival's closing on October 5. Dvorský will share the stage with one of the world's best-known singers of Verdi, American Michéle Crider, as well as Italian Elisabett Fiorill and Slovak Peter Mikuláš. The quartet will be accompanied by the Slovak Philharmonic and Slovak Philharmonic Choir, conducted by Italian Rico Saccani.

BHS will also host performances of new works by Slovak composers Ján Cikker, Roman Berger and Ilja Zeljenka, and the world premiere of The Story, an oratorio for large orchestra, two choirs and soloists, composed by Slovak-Canadian Peter Breiner, October 1. Verdi's opera Luisy Miller will have its Slovak premiere October 4.

Figuring among the almost 30 classical concerts and operas slated for the festival will be performances by the American Brass Quintet, September 30, the French Miraphone Tuba Quartet, October 4, and the Swiss Animae Trio, October 3. Two Bratislava jazz orchestras will perform together October 3.

The International Forum of Young Performers, known by the French acronym TIJI and organised by the European Broadcasting Union every other year at the festival, will award three of eight finalists following performances on September 24 and 25.

Bulletins and tickets for BHS (ranging from 60 to 200 Sk) are on sale at Hudobné centrum (Music Centre) Michalská 10 (open Mon-Fri 13:00-17:00, Tel: 02/5443-4558) and the Slovenská filharmónia (Slovak Philharmonic) Palackého 2 (open Mon-Fri, except Wed, 13:00-19:00, Wed 8:00-14:00, Tel: 02/5443-3351). For more information call BHS at 02/5443-0378.

By Zuzana Habšudová

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