BANSKÁ Štiavnica, a town with a rich historical legacy, will welcome artists from Slovakia and abroad at a festival of poetry, drama, and music called Cap ÷a l'Est or the Way Eastwards between August 19 and 21. The festival, which will again enable cultul encounters between France and eastern Europe, will host artists from 10 countries.
"After last year's zero annual, several European languages will again resound, especially French. The main evening performances will offer staged poetry. Spectators do not need to approach the performances exclusively through language. The plays are based on work with light, the costumes of the actors, face-play, the colour of the voice, and music," said Michel de Maulne, the festival's director.
Slovak sisters Emília and Magda Vášáryová will open the festival and honour Slovak women's poetry in the performance Light in Darkness to be accompanied by violin-player Róbert Puškár.
Among other headliners is the Breton band Bagad Ronsed Mor, which will play old Celtic music. Well-known Czech actress Zuzana Bydžovská will perform Jean Cocteau's monodrama Human Voice. At the courtyard of the Old Castle artists will recite the verses of Francoise Villon while the Vestiva ensemble will perform music from Burgundy of the 15th century.
The festival will take place in downtown Banská Štiavnica. Tickets for the whole festival cost Sk400. Admission for some individual
performances is free while others cost as much as Sk150. For more information call 045/1618-6.
