photo: Courtesy of the festival
The colourful folk costumes of 1,000 children will enliven the historical centre of Bratislava during the International Festival of Children's Folk Ensembles between June 1 and 4. A show opens the festival on June 1 at 19:00 in Park Kultúry a Oddychu (Culture and Leisure Park - PKO) on Nábrežie L Svobodu 3, Bratislava. The next day the children will march in their folk costumes through the historical centre at 14:00 to perform on Hviezdoslavovo square at 16:00, which will repeat the day after, followed by a show and dance lesson in PKO at 20:00. A gala programme will conclude the festival there on June 4 at 17:00. Tickets for the final show cost Sk30, Sk50. Tel: 02/6231-1679 or 0903/115-065.
Western SLOVAKIA
Bratislava
CLASSICAL MUSIC: Chamber Music - The Bohdan Warchal Slovak Chamber Orchestra performs works by Felix Mendelssohn Bartholdy, Béla Bartók and Jean Sibelius.
Starts: Jun 1 at 19:00. Admission: Sk140-Sk170. Slovak Philharmonic Concert Hall, Palackého 2. Tel: 02/5920-8233.
Bratislava
FESTIVAL: Ružinov Fishing Festivities - The third year of the festival of fishermen and all those interested in fish and fish specialities takes place.
Starts: Jun 4 at 9:30. Admission: free. Recreation area of the Štrkovec lake, Drieňová 9. Tel: 02/4333-7449.
Bratislava
EXHIBITION: Image Voices - Oeuvre of Manuel Álvarez Bravo, one of the leading representatives of the world photography of the 20th century, joins influences from Mexican traditions and regional oddities up to the art of European Modernism.
Open: Tue-Sun 13:00-18:00 until June 25. Admission: Sk20. The Central European House of Photography, Prepoštská 4. Tel: 02/5441-8214.
Bratislava
EXHBITION: Klaus Staudt - The prominent German constructivist displays his geometric artworks inducing the impression of movement.
Open: Tue-Sun 10:00-18:00 until June 15. Admission: free. The Komart Gallery, Zamočnícka 8. Tel: 02/5441-3429.
Bratislava
EXHIBITION: Farbulieren II - Vienna-born artist Raphael Walenta displays his oil paintings, which use colour as a means of release from duress, experiences and unsaid things.
Open: Mon, Tue, Thu 10:00-18:00, Wed 9:00-18:00, Fri 9:00-16:00 until June 21. Admission: free. Austrian Culture Forum, Zelená 7. Tel: 02/5464-1337.
ČASTÁ
FESTIVAL: Children's Day - Červený Kameň (Red Stone) castle has prepared a rich programme for children on the occasion of the International Day of Children.
Runs: Jun 3-5. Červený Kameň castle, Častá. Tel: 033/6905-803.
PIEŠŤANY
FESTIVAL: Opening of the Summer Spa Season - The event includes a performance of Piešťany Dixieland band, a ceremonial march, a parade of vintage cars and dance and music performances topped with a night laser show.
Runs: Jun 1-4 starting at 9:00. Admission: free. Kolonádový bridge, Music Pavilion and Námestie slobody square. Tel: 033/7757-733.
Central SLOVAKIA
Žilina
FESTIVAL: Old Town Festivities - The festival promises a mix of folk, pop and jazz music including a demonstration of police work.
Runs: Jun 1-3. Admission: free. City centre, Hlinkovo and Mariánske squares. Tel: 041/7233-102.
Žarnovica
FESTIVAL: Slovak Alternative Summer - The headliners of the first open-air summer music festival in Slovakia include Irish Jape and Slovak formation The Hermit & The Ferryman, i.e. Oskar Rózsa and Lubor "Umelec" Priehradník.
Runs: Jun 2-3, starting at 16:00. Admission: Sk300. The island Revište, close to Žarnovica. Tel: 0905/347-415. www.reviste.sk.
Ružomberok
FOLKLORE: Devil's Violin - Diabolské Husle (Devil's Violin), a gifted ensemble of Berky-Mrenica, masters of genres from classical to jazz and pop music.
Starts: May 31, at 19:00. Admission: Sk149. House of Culture of A Hlinka, A. Bernoláka 1. Tel: 044/4313-111.
Eastern SLOVAKIA
Prešov
FESTIVAL: Air Show - The 38th annual air show embraces an international competition of parachutes, acrobatic helicopter and airplane stunts and presentation of giant plane models.
Starts: Jun 3 at 9:00. Military airport. Tel: 051/7764-168.
Tatranská Lomnica
EXHIBITION: Tatras Nature - On almost three hectares of the botanic garden without greenhouses you can find mountain flowers and plants growing in the Tatras National Park (TANAP).
Open: Mon-Fri 8:00-16:30, Sat-Sun 8:00-13:00 until mid September. Tatranská Lomnica in the High Tatras.
photo: Matching Ties/Dobrofest
During the first week of June, Trnava will become a centre of music, dance and festivity when hosting the 15th year of the Dobrofest, a tribute to the inventors of the "dobro" guitar, the Slovak-American Dopyera brothers. This year the festival moves from the main stage at Trojičné square into the gardens of the Západoslovenské múzeum (Western-Slovak Museum). Headliners of the festival include American guests Randy Kohrs, Ferrell Stowe, Brad Harper's Resophonic Trio, John Jess Gardner, Slovak percussionist Jozef "Dodo" Šošoka and Slovak trumpeter Juraj Bartoš. The Slovak-Dutch formation Waterflow, Slovak band Vidiek and Czech Poutníci and Robert Křesťan with his Druhá Tráva will perform as well. Tickets for the whole festival running from June 1 to 4 cost Sk300. For more information call 033/5511-022 or visit www.dobrofest.sk (also in English).
