Countrywide Events

Western SLOVAKIA

Bratislava MUSICAL: AS MANY as six shows in five days will be performed in Bratislava within the Mamma Mia! international tour from April 15 to 19. This “smash hit musical”, as the promoters call it, features 22 hits of the legendary group ABBA, such as Chiquitita, Dancing Queen and I Have a Dream. The touching story authored by Catherine Johnson and unforgettable lyrics and melodies by Benny Andersson and Björn Ulvaeus have attracted around 32 million viewers since the premiere in 1999. Today, 11 versions of Mamma Mia! are being performed throughout the world. The venue is Incheba Expo Arena at Viedenská cesta 3-7 and tickets cost between €39 and €55. Performances start at 15:00 (April 18-19) or at 19:30 (April 15-18). More information can be found at www.xl.sk.

Bratislava
FOLKLORE: They Will Be Playing – The popular SĽUK ensemble premieres a mosaic of songs and dances from ten different Slovak regions.
Starts: April 15, 18:00; April 16, 18-19, 19:00. Admission: €3 for the April 15 performance, €7 for the other performances. SĽUK Theatre, Balkánska 31. Tel: 02/2047-8111, www.sluk.sk.

Bratislava
CLASSICAL MUSIC: Jávorkai Quintet – This renowned Hungarian ensemble, led by violinist Sándor Jávorkai, will play compositions by Haydn, Shostakovich, Paganini and others.
Starts: April 19, 19:00. Admission: €5. Mirror Hall of the Primate’s Palace, Primaciálne Square 1. www.bkis.sk.

Bratislava
LIVE MUSIC: Buena Vista Passion – A group of Cuban musicians bring a piece of the Caribbean to the Slovak capital, and also to Košice on the following day.
Starts: April 17, 19:00. Admission: €18 - €25. Pasienky Sports Hall, Trnavská 29. www.kosice.sk.

Bratislava
CRUISE: Children’s Karaoke Show – This sight-seeing tour on the Danube for children who like to sing is a good way to spend a Sunday afternoon.
Starts: April 19, 15:00. Admission: €6. Ship Žilina, Passenger Port, Fajnorovo nábrežie 2. Tel: 02/5293-2226, www.lod.sk.

Bratislava
OPERA: Beijing Opera – The famous Chinese opera founded more than 200 years ago presents a fascinating show with acrobatic and pantomime elements.
Starts: April 17-18, 19:00. Admission: €19-€29. Istropolis Cultural Centre, Trnavské mýto 1. Tel: 02/4446-0570, www.212.sk.

Bratislava
EXHIBITION: Naomak 2 – Young artist Michal Hanula tries to find a harmony among art, crafts and design at this display of original kitchen accessories and furnishings.
Open: Mon-Fri 12:00-18:00, Sat 10:00-14:00, until May 29. Admission: free. The ÚĽUV Gallery, Obchodná 64. Tel: 02/5273-1344, www.uluv.sk.

Trenčín
LIVE MUSIC: Živé Kvety Tour – This popular five-member underground band has prepared a two-hour marathon of singles from their latest album which will be followed by an afterparty with DJ Prof. Zet.
Starts: April 18, 21:00. Admission: €5. The Lúč Club at the Hviezda Cinema, K. Pribinu 2. Tel: 0903/027-910. www.klubluc.sk.

Nitra
EXHIBITION: Ljubo Twice and Differently Each Time – Ceramics and paintings by two Bulgarian artists, Ljubomir Ivanov–Bashtata and Ljuben Petrov, are on show.
Open: Mon-Sun 10:00-19:30, until April 21. Admission: free. The Small Akcent Gallery, Kúpeľná 4. Tel: 0908/133-770.

Central SLOVAKIA

Banská Bystrica
FOLKLORE: Play to Me – Czech singer Jožka Černý together with the Grácia cymbalo orchestra and the Bukovinka ensemble meet in the heart of the country to perform the best-known Slovak folklore songs.
Starts: April 17, 19:00. Admission: €8. PKO (Culture and Leisure Park), Lazovná 19. Tel: 048/4125-887, www.pkobb.sk.

Žilina
EXHIBITION: My World – Katarína Macurová and Andrea Ráchelová show how dissimilar works of art by two different artists can be even if their techniques and themes are the same.
Open: Tue-Fri 9:00-17:00, Sat-Sun 10:00-17:00, until May 3. Admission: €1. Považie Art Gallery, M. R. Štefánika 2. Tel:041/5622-522, www.pgu.sk.

Eastern SLOVAKIA

Košice
FIGURE SKATING:Fans will have another chance to see the five-time European Champion, Russian star Evgeni Plushenko, as he will arrive in ŽIlina on April 14, Bratislava on April 15, and Košice on April 16 to give one of his last shows before starting to train for the 2010 Vancouver Olympic Games. As usual, he will be accompanied by several other outstanding skaters, such as Aljona Savchenko, Robin Szolkowy, Stéphane Lambiel and Jozef Sabovčík. In addition, Plushenko’s friend Edvin Marton, the Hungarian violin virtuoso, will again bring his Stradivarius and offer the spectators a unique musical experience. The performance will be held at the Steel Arena (Nerudova 12), starting at 20:00. Admission is between €15 and l€50. For more information, call 055/6258-888 or visit www.212.sk

Košice
DANCE: Lion King – The Danzaria dance academy from Italy invites all children to see this touching fairy tale presented in English.
Starts: April 19, 16:00. Admission: €7. Cassia Dance Theatre (the Jumbo Centre), Masarykova 2. Tel: 0910/407-432, www.cassiadance.sk.

Prešov
LIVE MUSIC: Polemic Tour – One of the most popular Slovak ska bands tours the country.
Starts: April 16, 20:00. Admission: €7. City Club, Prostějovská 39. Tel: 0905/106-009, www.cityclub.sk.