Foreigners: Events in Bratislava

Tips for events in the Slovak capital between April 22 and May 1, including a tourism festival, a festival "of new minorities" and their co-existence with Slovaks, a lot of classical music, ballet, folk and world music, recycled fashion, exhibitions and more.

Cellist Camille Thomas will play with the Slovak PhilharmonicsCellist Camille Thomas will play with the Slovak Philharmonics (Source: Courtesy of SF)

BOOKS:  Bratislava book exchange. The citizens of Bratislava may attend the 10th annual traditional book exchange. The event is coordinated by city libraries.Starts: from April 21 to April 27, 8:00-19:00(weekdays), 10:00-18:00 (weekends); Bratislava City Library, Klariská 16. Admission: free. More info:www.mestskakniznica.sk.

SkryťTurn off ads
Article continues after video advertisement
SkryťTurn off ads
Article continues after video advertisement

TOURISM FESTIVAL: Bratislava pre všetkých/ Bratislava for All – The most popular free action in the city. Four days of free entrance to public institutions and facilities including museums, cinemas, libraries, the zoo, public transport (during the weekend), swimming pools, ice rink and the water museum. Starts:April 21-24, venues around the capital. Admission: free. More info:www.bratislava.sk.

SkryťTurn off ads
Read also: Bratislava launches tourist season with Weekend for Everyone Read more 

MUSIC FESTIVAL: Slovakia Cantat 2016 – A huge portion of classical music will be heard during this international festival. This competition is for youth and adult choirs and ensembles. The message of the event is to rebuild the tradition of this kind of meeting based on music. Starts: April 21-24, various sites (Jesuit Church, Clarissen music hall and Moyzes’ Hall) in Bratislava. More info: www.choral-music.sk.

CLASSICAL MUSIC: Iršai, Elgar, Tchaikovsky – Three classical composers in one place, as conducted by Aziz Shokhakimov, with Camille Thomas on cello. Featuring works by Jevgenij Iršai (Ten Minutes to Katyń - premiere), Edward Elgar (Concert for Cello and Orchestra E-minor, Op. 85), P. I. Tchaikovsky (Symphony No. 6 B-minor, op. 74 Pathétique). Conductor Aziz Shokhakimov from Uzbekistan who began his career at age 13; Camille Thomas, a young French-Belgian cellist nominated for a French Grammy discovery of the year in 2014 „Les Victoires de la Musique“. Starts: April 21-22, 19:00, Slovak Philharmonics, Reduta building, E. Suchoňa Square 1. Admission: €10-€13. More info: www.filharmonia.sk

SkryťTurn off ads

FESTIVAL: [fjúžn] v pohybe / Fjúžn in Motion – The 11th  edition of this festival is arranged by Milan Šimečka Foundation. The main goal is to connect people from different cultures, spread the knowledge about the new minorities in Slovakia, present the life of foreigners in the country and discuss migration and multiculturalism. [fjúžn] is a 1-week festival, which brings a series of  events (concerts, dance and theatre performances, casual meetings). Starts: April 22, 18:00, A4-priestor súčasnej kultúry/A4 - Space for Contemporary Culture, Karpatská 2. Tel.: 0915 794 942. More info: www.a4.sk (www.fjuzn.sk).

Read also: Fjúžn focuses on movement Read more 

FASHION: Recycling Fashion – People can see beautiful and ecological models made from re-used materials when artists and designers will present recycling methods. Featuring Sara Li-Chou Han (UK, designer), Denisa Bizoňová (Slovakia, designer of purses, bags and jewellery). The event will be hosted by anchorman Michal Sabo and singer Anita Soul. Starts: April 22, 20:00; Rivers club, Tyršovo nábrežie. Tel.: 0911/2773677. More info: www.citylife.sk.

OPERA: The Jewels of the Madonna / I Gioielli di Madonna - A story about love and crime from German-Italian composer Ermanno Wolf-Ferrari. An opera experience full of the atmosphere of southern Italy and true stories is staged by music director of SND Opera Friedrich Haider and directed by Manfred Schweigkofler. Starts: Apr 23, 19:00; New SND building, Pribinova 17. Admission: €8-€30. Tel: 02/ 2047-2299; www.snd.sk.

Read also: SND revives the opera Jewels of Madonna Read more 

BALLET: Carmen à la Gypsy Devils - A dance drama about the passionate, true love of a beautiful and untamed gypsy girl – a famous love story which is not short on romantic intertwining and passionate emotion, a story of jealousy that inevitably leads to a tragic death. This timeless story comes to life in rousing dance with a mixture of Spanish and gypsy temperaments. Georges Bizet’s romantic melodies abound in an original musical adaptation by Ernest Šarközi, the leading personalities of Cigánski diabli (The Gypsy Devils), one of the best orchestras in the category of ethnic and world music in the world. This original work in which folklore with other musical genres are masterfully combined (jazz, ethno, flamenco) is complemented by the exceptional virtuosity, which is an essential part of Cigánski diabli’s artistic expression. The ballet is choreographed by Ladislav Cmorej, The Gypsy Devils Orchestra consists of Silvia Šarköziová, Ivan Martiš, Miroslav Martinovič and Natália Némethová. Performers are also dancers from the group Credance. Starts: Apr 23, 19:00; SND Historical building, Hviezdoslavovo Square 1. Admission: €14-€39. Tel: 02/2049-4290; www.snd.sk.

FOLK MUSIC: Večer autentického folklóru/ The evening of authentic folklore - Performers are from the Czech Republic: Folklore Ensemble Pentla from Boršice, Female Choir Rezeda from Uherské Hradišťe, Male Choir Buchlovice, Old Town Lads - Recruiters from Uherské Hradište. At the end of the program there will be homemade specialities prepared with folk music. Starts: Apr 24, 19:00; Dom kultúry Zrkadlový háj, Rovniankova 3. Admission: 10. More info: www.kzp.sk

CLASSICAL MUSIC: Organový recitál III – Marek Vrábel - Marek Vrábel is one of the most famous contemporary Slovak organists. The programme of the concert is comprised of the works of several composers. The beginning of the concert will feature his interpretation of Toccata and figure F dur BWV 540 by Johann Sebastian Bach. This work together with the final, Symphony no. 5 f mol op. 42 by Charles-Marie Widor, are recorded on his profile CD. The concert will be completed by two works - Offertoire pour le jour de Pȃques, op. 38 no. 10, Easter offertorium by French composer Alexandre Pierre François Boëly and composition by Slovak composer: Fantasy – Sonata d mol by Ján Levoslav Bella. Starts: Apr 24, 16:00; Reduta building of the Slovak Philharmonics, E. Suchoňa Square 1. Admission: €6-€8. Tel: 02/2047-5233; www.filharmonia.sk.

JAZZ: Andreas Varady Trio feat. Radovan Tariška – The two jazz musicians play together from time to time. Varady and his Trio (with father Bandi and brother Andreas) re-unite to play jazz classics as well as improvisations. Guitarist Varady is alreadyestablishedalsoabroad (he collaborated e.g. with Quincy Jones) while saxophonist Tariška has started playing with foreign soloists. Starts: April 25, 19:30; concert studio of the Slovak Radio, Mýtna 1. Admisison: €15 - €25. More info: www.citylife.sk.

BALLET: Swan Lake - Ballet in three acts and four scenes. An oeuvre from P.I. Tchaikovsky is certainly the most famous title of the ballet repertoire. The romantic story of prince Siegfried and beautiful princess Odetta utterly changed into a swan is the basis of the Classical Russian Ballet School. This time, the ballet is conducted by Dušan Štefánek, choreographed by Marius Petipa and Lev I. Ivanov, with ballet masters Romina Kolodzej, Sara Murawski, Andrej Szabo, Juraj Žilinčár, Vladimír Kotrbanec and others. Starts: Apr 26, 19:00; New SND building, Pribinova 17. Admission: €10-€25. Tel: 02/ 2047-2299; www.snd.sk.

WORKSHOP: Welcome to Slovakia workshop for newcomers - This workshop is for newcomers in Slovakia organised by Internationals Bratislava, a community established by expats for international people which started from the experience offoreigners, having lived and experienced the local culture. They will discuss topics such as where to find an English speaking doctor, hairdresser, any foreigner-friendly bars in Bratislava, kindergartens, student communities, where to socialise, public transport and many more. Starts: Apr 27, 18:00. Cafe Berlinka SNG, Ľudovíta Štúra Square 4. Admission: free. More info: www.internationals.sk.

OPERA: La Bohème - Opera in four acts in the Italian language by Giacomo Puccini. Konwitschny's interpretation gives the piece a new shape, comprehensible well beyond the circle of opera professionals. His narrative of the beautiful and sad story of four penniless young men is unsentimental, simple and convincing. The opera is led by Friedrich Haider, who also conducted the music, directed by Peter Konwitschny and choirmaster is Pavel Procházka. Performers are: Tomáš Juhás, Pavol Remenár, Daniel Čapkovič, Jozef Benci and others. Starts: Apr 27, 19:00; New SND building, Pribinova 17. Admission: €8-€30. Tel: 02/ 2047-2299; www.snd.sk.

Read also: La Bohéme at the SND Read more 

FLORICULTURAL FAIR: Flóra/ Flora - The 37th year of International trade show of flowers and gardening. Lovers of gardening can feast their eyes on flowers, ornamental plants and trees, dry and artificial flowers, seeds, additional materials and packaging, Easter and Christmas decoration material and lots of more. Open: Thu - Sat 9:00-19:00, Sun 9:00-18:00 Apr 28 - May 1. Incheba Expo Arena, Viedenská road 3-7. Admission: €5. More info: www.kulla.eu, www.incheba.sk

WORLD MUSIC: Experimental Ensemble - Contemporary sounds and visuals - A group of young people who enjoy playing contemporary music and experimenting. The sound of colours and colours of sounds are the main topic of the new project Experimental Ensemble. Performers are: Pavol Štiblárik (electric guitar), Ján Tkáč (voice, objects, electronics), Fero Király (synthesizer),Michal Kubáň (violin), Martin Vyrobík (violin), Jakub Kišš (viol), Hana Juríková (cello), Daniel Herich (drums) and Erika Krkošková (piano). Starts: Apr 29, 19:30; The House of Culture Lúky, Vigľašská 1. Admission: 3. More info: www.kzp.sk.

BALLET: From Fairytale to Fairytale - This is the most famed ballet by Czech composer Oskar Nedbal. From Fairytale to Fairytale, as choreographed by Achille Viscusi for the 1923/1924 season, was the first performance for children at the SND. This time it is directed and choreographed by Jozef Dolinský. Starts: Apr 30, 11:00, 17:00; historical SND building, Hviezdoslavovo Square 1. Tickets: €6-€16. Tel: 02/ 2047-2299; www.snd.sk

EXHIBITION: Sunday Rest: Netherlandish Painting - The curator of early art Barbora Mistríková will present The Exhibition of Netherlandish painting across themes in English language. Visitors will chronologically view the evolution of paintings from the late Middle Ages to the 18th century. The Sunday Rest is a new project of the Slovak National Gallery, which brings an eye-catching interpretation of the current exhibitions. Starts: May 1, 16:00; Esterházy Palace, Ľ. Štúra Square 4. Admission: free. Tel: 0911 334 560; www.sng.sk. 

Read also: Dutch paintings at the SNG Read more 

EXHIBITION:  “4 Millions in a Museum – What We Have Acquired” – The exhibition of Slovak National Museum presents, until mid-October, unique exhibits, including Just’s collection, a treasure from the Bratislava Castle hill, as well as findings of skeletal remains of Celts from the 1st century BC from the recent archaeological research at Bratislava Castle. Open: Tues-Sun 10:00-18:00, until Oct 16. Slovak National Museum, Vajanského nábrežie embankment 2. Admission: €2-€3.5. More info: www.snm.sk.

EXHIBITION: Táňa Hojčová - Fotografie, tanagramy a tanagrafie / Photos, “tTanagrams” and “Tanagraphs” – Slovak photographer Táňa Hojčová is famous for high precision and theoretical preparedness. Her creation consists of large-scale photographs of frequent and less frequent atmospheric phenomenon and attractions of the Universe. The exhibition is the selection of several interrelated photo collections and works called “Tanagrams and Tanagraphs”. Open: Tue, Thu 12:00 - 19:00, Wed, Fri - Sun 10:00 - 17:00 until: May 15; Galéria Médium, Hviezdoslavovo Square 18. Admission: free More info: www.citylife.sk.

Author: Adriána Peťková

Top stories

Píšem or pišám?

"Do ľava," (to the left) I yelled, "Nie, do prava" (no, to the right), I gasped. "Dolšie," I screamed. "Nie, nie, horšie..." My Slovak girlfriend collapsed in laughter. Was it something I said?


Matthew J. Reynolds
Czech biochemist Jan Konvalinka.

Jan Konvalinka was expecting a pandemic before Covid-19 came along.


The University of Economics in Bratislava.

Slovak universities in global university rankings.


Marta Ďurianová
SkryťClose ad