Countrywide Events

Western SLOVAKIA

Bratislava EXHIBITION: YURI Dojc, the prominent Slovak-born Canadian photographer, returns to Slovakia with an extensive exhibition entitled Temptation. The exhibits presented in the Bratislava City Gallery consist of seven parts.

The first is Nudes, including studies which have earned Dojc worldwide acclaim. In other series Dojc presents City Scapes, Books, Rwanda, American Dreams and Surrealism. The exhibition of over 60 images is at the Mirbach Palace, Františkánske námestie 11, and will last until the end of January. On February 1, the gallery will hold, in cooperation with the SOGA auction house, a charity auction of 20 images by Dojc. The gallery is open daily except for Mondays from 11:00 until 18:00. However, it is closed on December 24 and 25 and January 1. Entry is €3.50. For more information, please visit www.gmb.sk. An article about Dojc will appear in the next issue of The Slovak Spectator.

Bratislava

EXHIBITION: FIRE and ICE, an exhibition of Finnish glass design made on the Italian island of Murano, the home of Venetian glass, is currently on show in the Hall of the Slovak Culture Ministry at SNP Square 33 in Bratislava. The pieces on view – more than 80 objects – were designed by Tapio Wirkkala and Timo Sarpaneva for the Venini glass factory on Murano; they come from the Suomen Lasimuseo (Finnish Glass Museum) in Riihimäki and private collections. The exhibition is open daily, except Mondays, from 10:00 to 18:00 until January 14. For more information, please visit www.finlandembassy.sk.

Bratislava

CLASSICAL MUSIC: Vianočný koncert – Slovenského komorného orchestra Bohdana Warchala / Christmas Concert – The Slovak Chamber Orchestra of Bohdan Warchal, joined by the Cathedral Choir of St Martin and conducted by Ewald Danel, performs the most traditional local piece of Christmas music – the Czech Christmas Mass by Jan Jakub Ryba – and extracts from the oratorio Messiah by G. F. Händel.

Starts: December 26, 15:00; St. Martin’s Cathedral. Admission: €4. Tel: 02/ 2047-5233; www.filharm.sk.

Bratislava

CHRISTMAS FOLKLORE: Slovenské Vianoce v Bratislave – Within the Slovak Christmas in Bratislava series are many folklore ensembles, as well as theatre groups and musicians, performing during the Advent period.

Starts: December 20-22, 16:00-20:00; Main Square. Admission: free. More info: www.bkis.sk.

Bratislava

CHRISTMAS MARKET: Vianočný trh tradičných remesiel / The Christmas Market of Traditional Crafts is organised by the Bratislava Museum and shows the mastery of glassmaker P. Fiala, metal craftsman M. Haroník, J. Tóth who works with leather, M. Kubacková and her wooden products, and S. Otruba, a sheep bell-producer from Zázrivá.

Open: Daily from 10:00 to 18:00 until December 23; courtyard of the Apponyi Palace in Main Square. Admission: free. More info: www.bratislava.sk.

Bratislava

ICE SKATING: Riverpark - Rozprávkové vianočné mestečko / The Riverpark Fairytale Christmas Village will enchant both children and adults. It includes an artificial ice rink open to all.

Open: daily 10:00-21:00. Admission: free. More info: www.riverpark.sk.

Bratislava

CHRISTMAS PARTY: Vianočné soirée and Vianočná párty – Two Christmas parties by artistic schools show the skills of the students. The first is the Elementary Artistic School of J. Kowalski at 18:00; the second is a performance by students of the Hip-Hop Fakulta at 20:00.

Starts: December 21, 18:00 and 20:00; DK Zrkadlový háj. Admission: €5 and €3, respectively. Tel: 02/6383-6764; www.kzp.sk.

Bratislava

SILVESTER CLUBBING: The Silvester (i.e. New Year‘s Eve) programme in the Nu Spirit Bar brings DJs Rafo & Pure (house, breakbeat, various); while the Nu Spirit Silvester in the Nu Spirit Club offers Funkiez (live), DJs Koki (funkadelic brothers) & C.O.D.E. (disco, funk) .

Starts: December 31, 21:00; NSB, Medená 16; NSC, Šafárikovo námestie 7. Admission: €10 (NS Bar), €17-€25 (NS Club). Tel: 0905/865-566; 0917/304-801; www.nuspirit.sk.

Bratislava

CLASSICAL MUSIC: Novoročný program – Svet operetných a muzikálových melódií / New Year’s Programme – The World of Operetta and Musical Melodies – Combines the Slovak Philharmonic with the Slovak Philharmonic Choir led by Jozef Chabroň and two soloists, tenor Otokar Klein and soprano Eva Hornyaková, performing popular melodies by Johann Strauss, Franz Lehar, Emmerich Kálmán and Leonard Bernstein.

Starts: January 1, 16:00 and 20:00; SND historical building, Hviezdoslavovo Square. Admission: €20-€40. Tel: 02/5293- 3323; www.ticketportal.sk.

Bratislava

EXHIBITION: Comunistar Designers – The Slovak Design Centre introduces three designers under the brand Comunistar Designers – Roman Ficek, Peter Jakubík and Marián Laššák. This is the first separate presentation by this grouping, formed in 2007, and outlines their work designing furniture, interior accessories and utility items.

Open: Tue-Sun 13:00-18:00 until January 16; Satelit, Dobrovičova 3. Admission: free. Tel: 02/5292-0184; www.sdc.sk.

Skalica

CHRISTMAS CONCERT: Vianočný koncert pre Skaličanov / Christmas Concert for Skalica Residents – Traditional music performed by Skalicaners for Skalicaners is organised by the local Roman Catholic parish of St Michael.

Starts: December 25, 19:00, St Martin’s Church. Admission: free. More info: www.skalica.fara.sk.

Nitra

l EXHIBITION: Helen Brown - There’s Something to This (But I Don’t Know What It Is) – A new, comprehensive collection of works by this young British artist is made up of items that are mutually related, which inform and confuse at the same time. It is also combined with a multi-layered sound installation composed of several English dialogues.

Open: Tue-Sun 10:00-18:00 until January 16; Nitrianska galéria, Župné námestie 3. Admission: €0.50-€0.70. Tel: 037/6579-641(-3); www.nitrianskagaleria.sk.

Trnava

EXHIBITION: DATA Body – This exhibition by Trnava native Andrej Haršány shows various installations and forms depicting the human body.

Open: Tue-Fri 10:00-17:00, Sat-Sun 13:00-18:00 from December 17 to January 9; klUb 3. Kopplova vila of the Ján Koniarek Gallery, Zelený kríček 3. Admission: €0.60-€1.30. Tel: 033/5511-659; www.gjk.sk.

Central SLOVAKIA

Banská Bystrica

OPERETA:THE BANSKÁ Bystrica Opera stages the recently premiered comic operetta Vojvodkyňa z Chicaga / The Countess from Chicago by Emmerich Kálmán, which mixes elements of the Viennese musical tradition with jazz. It is conducted by Igor Bulla and directed by Jozef Krasula. Tickets for the shows on December 28 and 29, both at 18:30, at the State Opera at Národná 11 cost €8 and €10 respectively. For more information, visit www.stateopera.sk.

Modrý Kameň

CHRISTMAS HAPPENING: Vianoce na hrade 2010 / Christmas at the Castle is an event meant especially for children. Actors from the castle theatre will perform the Bible story in a live nativity scene and the Medieval Mural Painting in the Gemer exhibition will be opened.

Starts: December 21, 17:00; Modrý Kameň castle near Veľký Krtíš. Admission: €0.50-€1. Tel: 047/4870-218; www.muzeum.sk.

Liptovský Mikuláš

EXHIBITION: Posun v čase / Shift in Time – This exhibition of the works of handicapped children, in the foyer of the P.M. Bohúň Liptov Gallery, is combined with a sales exhibition of contemporary Slovak art and artistic crafts in the Small Hall.

Open: Tue-Sat 10:00-17:00 until February 5; Tranovského 3. Admission: €0.50-€3.50. Tel: 044/5522-758; www. galerialm.sk.

Martin

EXHIBITION: Pocta Bjoernsonovi / Tribute to Bjoernson – This exhibition, celebrating the 100th anniversary of the death of Norwegian writer, and politician Bjoernstern Bjoernson, organised with the help of Norwegian Embassy in Bratislava, has moved to the Slovak National Literary Museum of the Slovak National Library.

Open: Mon-Sat 9:00-16:00 until January 26; J. C. Hron-ského Square 1. Admission: €0.50-€1. Tel: 043/4134-152; www.snk.sk.

Eastern SLOVAKIA

Kežmarok

EXHIBITION:THE GALÉRIA u sediaceho anjela / The Sitting Angel gallery in Kežmarok has prepared a Christmas gift for locals and visitors – the exhibition Illuminate by Japanese artist Masakazu Miyanaga: fascinating paintings on wooden boards combining Renaissance philosophy, iconography, classical painting and Zen-Buddhism. The most frequent subjects are animals portrayed as winged warriors. The name of each work in Latin refers to a quotation by a Greek philosopher.

Poprad

ICE-SKATING: Vianoce na ľade / Christmas on Ice – As a Christmas gift, skating at Poprad’s ice rink is free for one day.

Starts: December 25, 10:00, 14:00 and 17:00; Štefánikova 6. Admission: free. Tel: 052/ 7722-141; www.hkpoprad.sk.

Košice

STEPHEN’S JAZZ: Štefánska - Jazzabel koncert – The tradition of celebrating St Ste- phen’s day will be reflected in a non-traditional but entertaining jazz concert.

Starts: December 26, 20:00; Piano Café, Hlavná 92. Admission: €2. Tel: 055/3810-697; www.piano-cafe.sk.

Košice

THEATRE: Predaná nevesta / The Bartered Bride – The famous Czech opera by Bedřich Smetana is a popular fixture in the run-up to New Year, together with a Jánošík dance performance on December 28 and the classical Russian ballet Luskáčik / The Nutcracker by P. I. Tchaikovsky on December 30.

Starts: December 29, 19:00; State Theatre, Hlavná 58. Admission: €1.70-€2.40. Tel: 055/2452-269; www.sdke.sk.