photo: GMB
A DISPLAY of photos by professional photographer Ľubo Stacho, arranged in diptychs, portrays Slovakia as a mysterious and spiritual country. This way of presenting documentary photos strengthens their impact, highlighting or contrasting their features. There are pairs of photos of a table groaning with food at a reception and a Roma child sucking its mother's breast, or a pool in front of a new family house and a poor family living in a caravan. Each photo in a diptych has its own caption, but joining them into one unit creates a new metaphor. With this exhibition, Stacho also wants to recall that Slovakia lies on the border of Eastern (Byzantine) and Western (Judeo-Christian) Europe. In this territory, Western pragmatism mixes with Eastern spirituality and mysticism. The exhibition Slovakia - A Mysterious and Spiritual Country takes place at the Bratislava City Gallery (GMB) in the Pálffy Palace at Panská Street. It is open daily except Mondays from 11:00 to 18:00 until April 29. Tickets cost Sk80. For more information call 02/5443-1556 or visit www.gmb.sk.
Western SLOVAKIA
Bratislava
CLASSICAL MUSIC: The St. Matthew Passion - After two years this monumental work by J.S. Bach returns to Bratislava under the baton of world-renowned conductor Ján Valach. The concert features German tenor Jörg Mammel, Polish soprano Anna Mikolajczyk, Belgian alto Lien Haegeman, Belgian bass Dirk Snellings, Slovak bass Jaroslav Pehal, the Cappella Istropolitana, the Branislav Kostka Chorus, the Alea Chamber Ensemble, and the Bratislava Children's Choir, directed by Robert Tišťan.
Starts: March 28, 18:00. Admission: Sk150-Sk400. Veľký evanjelický kostol (Great
Evangelic Church), Panenská.
Tel: 02/5935-6650.
Bratislava
LIVE MUSIC: Carhartt Session - DJ Tom Wieland introduces the second album of his underground group 7 Samurai.
Starts: March 30. Nu Spririt Bar and Lounge, Medená 16.
Tel: 0905/865-566. www.nuspirit.sk.
Bratislava
BASKETBALL: Harlem Globetrotters - The best basketball showmen in the world return to Bratislava to once again astonish the crowd with their skillful antics.
Starts: March 31, 19:30. Admission: Sk499-Sk1,999. Sports Hall Pasienky, Trnavská 29. Tel: 02/5935-6650.
Bratislava
EXHIBITION: Loops - Peter Barenyi, a student of Ilona Németh at the Academy of Fine Arts and Design (VŠVU) in Bratislava, presents his video loops about everyday life.
Open: Fri, Sat 16:00-20:00 until April 7. Admission: free. Tranzit studios, Studená 12. Tel: 0918/648-099, www.13m3.sk.
Bratislava
EXHIBITION: Design Forum '07 - Reinstallation of the display of works by Slovak designers and design students originally presented at the Furniture and Housing 2007 fair in Nitra.
Runs: Tue-Sun 13:00-18:00 until April 8. Admission: free. Satelit, exhibition and information premises of the Slovak Centre of Design, Dobrovičova 3. Tel: 0907/744 852. www.sdc.sk.
Trnava
EXHIBITION: Double Spaces - Young Slovak fine artist Michal Czinege deals with the coexistence of painting and space.
Open: Tue-Fri 9:00-17:00, Sat-Sun 14:00-18:00 until May 3. Tickets cost Sk20. The Synagogue - Centre of Contemporary Art at the Ján Koniarek Gallery (GJK), Halenárska 2. Tel: 033/5514-657.
Central SLOVAKIA
Zvolen
CONCERT: Let's Give Soul to Europe - Musicians from Italy, the Netherlands, Germany, France, Belgium and Slovak soloists Ivana Pristašová and Nora Skuta perform works from the late 1950s and early 1960s on the occasion of the 50th anniversary of the Signing of the Treaty of Rome.
Starts: March 26, 18:00. Zvolen Castle. Booking of tickets at 0908/559-573.
Krivá
WORKSHOP: Making Baskets - Master basketweavers teach those interested to make baskets and other products from wicker.
Starts: March 31, 9:00. Elementary school, Krivá. To book a place, call 043/5864-978 by March 27.
Liptovský Mikuláš
EXHIBITION: Shipwreckers - Polish photographer Tomasz Gudzowaty, holder of World Press Photo and Grand Press Photo awards, presents about 20 large black-and-white photos of his documentary project depicting the work of cheap labourers in the ship-breaking yards in Chittagong, Bangladesh.
Open: Tue-Sun 10:00-17:00 until April 22. Admission: Sk20. Galéria PM Bohúňa (PM Bohúň Gallery), Tranovského 3.
Tel: 0 44/5514-032.
Eastern SLOVAKIA
Levoča
LIVE MUSIC: Erich "Boboš" Prochádzka Trio - Top Slovak harmonica player Erich "Boboš" Prochádzka performs, accompanied by guitarist Štefan Lengyel and percussionist Igor "Ajdží" Szabo.
Starts: March 29, 18:00. Admission: Sk60. Mestské divadlo (Town Theatre), Nám. Majstra Pavla 54, Tel: 053/4510-416.
photo: SITA
BECKOV commemorates the 190th anniversary of the birth of Jozef Miloslav Hurban, a friend of Ľudovít Štúr, the leader of the Slovak National Revival in the 19th century. The exhibition, called The Life and Work of J.M. Hurban, presents the oldest preserved portrait of Hurban from 1848, furniture from his workroom in Hlboké as well as his personal items, letters, first editions of his works. A writer, journalist, politician, Protestant minister, and organizer of the cultural life of the Slovak national movement, Hurban was a leading personality of the Slovak uprising 1848-1849 and the first chairman of the Slovak National Council. He was a passionate advocate of Slovak independence and it was in his parsonage in Hlboké that a new literary language, Štúr's Slovak language, was codified. The exhibition in Hurban's native town will continue to the end of the year. It is open Tuesday-Sunday between 9:00 and 17:00. For more information, call 032/7777-217.
