photo: Doublehead Productions
A YEAR after its first concert in Slovakia, Japanese percussion group Yamato is returning for a spectacular drum show in Bratislava and Košice. In the Slovak capital, Yamato's ten musicians playing on traditional south-east Asian rhythmic instruments will give two performances of a brand new show, in which they display their breathtaking expertise on over 20 drums, varying from huge barrel-like Odaikos to hand-held instruments. Combined with exquisite bronze cymbals, vocals and bamboo flutes, Yamato creates a kaleidoscope of sound that thrills spectators around the world. The Bratislava show takes place in the National Tennis Centre at Príkopova 6 on February 2 and 3, starting at 20:00. Ticket prices range from Sk899 to SK1,999. For more information, visit www.yamato.jp. In Košice, the performance is on February 22.
Western SLOVAKIA
Bratislava
LIVE MUSIC: Bratislava Hot Serenaders - The ensemble led by renowned trumpeter Juraj Bartoš plays music from the 1920s and 1930s.
Starts: Jan 31, 19:00. Admission: Sk90. The Slovak Philharmonic, Palackého 2. Tel: 02/5920-8233.
Bratislava
LIVE MUSIC: The Hogs - These stars from the Irish Pub mix Irish folk traditions with punk.
Starts: Feb 1, 20:00. Admission: Sk180 in advance, Sk220 at the door. Klub za Zrkadlom music club, Rovniankova 3. Tel: 02/6381-1328.
Bratislava
CLASSICAL MUSIC: World Cancer Day - The Princeton University Orchestra plays Beethoven, Dvořák, Prokofiev and Copland to mark World Cancer Day.
Starts: Feb 2 at 19:00. Admission: charity. Concert studio of the Slovak Radio, Mýtna 1. Tel: 02/5932-7716.
Bratislava
FESTIVAL: Apocalypse Fest - The seventh year of this metal music festival features Norwegian bands Kampfar and Elite, Czech group Heiden, and Slovak bands Ethereal Pandemonium and Ancestral Volkhves.
Starts: Feb 3 at 19:00. Admission: Sk300 in advance, Sk350 at the door. Randal Club, Karpatská 2. www.openrock.sk.
Bratislava
EXHIBITION: Every Day a Different Mona - Czech and Slovak artists display new interpretations of the Mona Lisa.
Open: Tue-Sun 13:00-18:00 until February 4. Admission: free. Michalský Dvor Gallery, Michalská 3. Tel: 02/5441-1079.
Trnava
EXHIBITION: Painted on Violins - Well-known Slovak painters use violins as their canvases.
Open: Tue-Fri 8:00-17:00, Sat-Sun 11:00-17:00 until February 12. Admission: Sk20, Sk40. Západoslovenské múzeum (Western Slovak Museum), Múzejné námestie 3. Tel: 033/5512-913.
Topoľčany
EXHIBITION: Morocco through the Eyes of a Geologist - Miroslav Horňáček, a geologist at the Western Slovak Museum in Trnava, presents minerals, corals, fossils and about 200 photos of historical monuments, nature, flora and fauna he took during his excursions to this country between 1996 and 2004.
Open: Mon-Fri 8:00-16:30 until March 30. Admission: Sk15, Sk20. Tribečské Museum (Tribeč Museum), Krušovská 291. Tel: 038/5323-253.
Central SLOVAKIA
Donovaly
FESTIVAL: Winter Festival - Slovak bands Peha, Desmond, Polemic, Les na Zmes and Nedráždiť pour on an avalanche of music during an open-air festival.
Starts: Feb 3, 15:00. Admission: benefit concert for the Children's Oncology Institute in Banská Bystrica. The stage stays below the Nová Hoľa ski slope. Tel: 033/7729-715. www.donovalyfest.sk
Banská Bystrica
EXHIBITION: Icons - This display presenting icons created by contemporary Slovak iconographists Vincent Luca, Emília Dankovčíková, Rastislav Timko, Robert Demko, and Rastislav Róka creates the atmosphere of eastern spirituality and expresses a view on the philosophy of Byzantine artistic expression.
Open: Mon-Fri 8:00-12:00, 13:00-16:00, Sun 10:00-17:00 until February 11. Admission: Sk20, Sk10. Stredoslovenské Múzeum (Central Slovak Museum), Námestie SNP 4. Tel: 048/4125-897.
Dolný Kubín
EXHIBITION: To the Sources... - This collective exhibition marking the 85th anniversary of Umelecká Beseda Slovenská (Slovak Artistic Forum) displays works by artists following the tradition of the oldest association of professional artists in Slovakia.
Open: Tue-Sun 10:00-17.00 until February 25. Admission: Sk20. Oravská galéria (Orava Gallery), Hviezdoslavovo námestie 11.
Tel: 043/5863-212.
Eastern SLOVAKIA
Prešov
BALL SEASON: Solivar Country Ball - Music bands Strangers and Country Casino and dance ensembles Black Eagles and Semiramis, Trio Bahara and Milan Potočňák entertain at the fifth annual country ball.
Starts: Feb 3, 19:30. Admission: Sk350. Culture House Solivar, Prostějovská 35D. Tel: 051/7704-252.
Poprad
EXHIBITION: Václav Kautman, Sr. and Jr. - Two generations of designers present their works.
Open: Mon-Fri 9:00-17:00, Sat 9:00-13:00 until March 3. Admission: Sk20. Tatranská galéria (Tatra Gallery), Alžbetina 30. Tel: 052/7721-968.
photo: SNM
THE ĽUDOVÍT Štúr Museum in Modra hosts Karol Plicka - Pictures of the Earth, an extensive exhibition of large-scale black-and-white photos by Karol Plicka (1894-1987), in which he depicted Slovakia between the 1920s and the 1940s. Visitors can admire a selection of photos in three thematic cycles: countryside, historical architecture and man as an inseparable element of the world. The photos by Plicka, who after being enchanted by Slovak folklore left his career as a musician and started to collect folk songs, are a celebration of the Earth, human soul and a confession of love to man. The exhibition is open from Monday to Friday between 8:00 and 16:00 until February 28. The Ľudovít Štúr Museum sits at Štúrova 84. Admission is free. For more information call 033/6472-765.
