Ilona Keserű
photo: Courtesy of Danubiana
THE DANUBIANA Meuleensteen Art Museum located at the Čunovo waterworks in Bratislava is presenting the work of leading contemporary Hungarian artists at the Hungarian Art exhibition. This is the second exhibition in a series dedicated to "expressive tendencies" in contemporary Central European art. The focus of this project includes the changes in the quality of relationships and their transformation in modern culture. Visitors can see the work of Károly Klimó, influenced by Art Informel, the Hungarian neo-avant-garde, which responded immediately to new stimuli and criticised traditional artistic forms during the 1960s. The artists on display include István Nádler, Tamás Hencze, Birkás Ákos, Károly Kelemen, Imre Bukta, András Koncz and many others. The exhibition, whose offering includes works by almost thirty artists, is open every day except for Mondays from 10:00 to 20:00 until June 10. Tickets cost Sk80. For more information, call 02/6252-8501 or visit www.danubiana.sk.
 
István Nádler
photo: Courtesy of Danubiana
Western SLOVAKIA
Bratislava
LIVE MUSIC: Phurikane Giľa - Four Roma bands in concert.
Starts: May 29, 19:00. Admission: Sk100. Klub Za Zrkadlom music club, Rovniankova 3. Tel: 02/6381-1328.
Bratislava
LIVE MUSIC: Mnemic & Nightrage & Showmotion & Apocalypse - Metal bands perform.
Starts: May 29, 20:00. Admission: Sk300. Randal Club, Karpatská 2. Tel: 0907/749-413.
Bratislava
FESTIVAL: Frankovka's Festival - Wine makers open barrels of locally-produced young red wine, Račianska Frankovka, a wine that was enjoyed by Queen Maria Theresia, and other wines.
Runs: May 31-June 2. Courtyard of the Old City Hall, Main Square. Tel: 02/161-86.
Bratislava
FOLKLORE: The International Festival of Children's Folklore Ensembles - Children in folk costumes parade through the Old Town (14:00) and perform (16:00) on June 1 for the event's 10th year on Hviezdoslavovo Square.
Runs: May 31, 19:00-June 3. PKO (Culture and Leisure Park), Nábrežie Ľ. Svobodu, Old Town.
Tel: 02/5935-6650.
Bratislava
FOLKLORE: Slovak Triptych - Famous Slovak dance and music folk ensemble Lúčnica performs a new show inspired by three aspects of traditional Slovak culture: shepherding, handicrafts and the peasantry.
Dates: June 2, 3, 4, 19:00. Admission: Sk200, Sk300. Istropolis, Odbojárske Square. Tel: 02/5292-0068, www.lucnica.sk.
Bratislava
EXHIBITION: Tristo Hrmených - Svätopluk Mikyta from Slovakia and Matthias Beckmann and Klaus-Martin Treder from Germany display their drawings.
Open: Tue, Wed, Fri to Sun 10:00-17:00, Thu 11:00-19:00 until June 10. Admission: free. Medium Gallery, Hviezdoslavovo Square 18. Tel: 02/5443-5334.
Kuchyňa
AIRSHOW: Open House - The military airport opens its gates to the public to show off fighters and other planes from its fleet both in the air and on the ground.
Starts: June 2, 10:00. Admission: free. Kuchyňa airport. Tel: 0903/563-296.
Central SLOVAKIA
Žilina
FESTIVAL: Old-town Festivities - Traditional craftsmen offer their products in about one hundred booths in the town centre at the 13th annual festival, which starts with a historical march through the city. Live performances include concerts by Slovak singer Zuzana Smatanová, Sergent Pepere from France, the Pressburger Klezmer Band from Bratislava and the ritual Korean drumming group Dulsori.
Runs: May 31-June 2. Town centre. Tel: 041/5620-789.
Oravský Podzámok
FESTIVAL: The Castle of Fairy Tales and Ghosts - The 13th year of the festival, organized on the occasion of the International Day of Children, offers scenes from fairy tales, performances by historical re-enactment groups, a market, an exhibition of ancient toys and much more.
Starts: June 3, 9:30. Admission: Sk140 (adults), Sk60 (children older than six years and students). Orava Castle. Tel: 043/5816-119.
Eastern SLOVAKIA
Košice
CLASSICAL MUSIC: The Final Concert of the Košice Spring Music Festival - The Slovak State Philharmonic of Košice, Czech soprano Eva Dřízgová, Slovak alto Terézia Babjaková, Hungarian tenor Dénes Gulyás, Slovak bass Peter Mikuláš and the Czech Philharmonic Choir of Brno perform Elijah Oratorio by Mendelssohn-Bartholdy under the baton of Polish conductor Jerzy Swoboda.
Starts: May 31, 19:00. Admission: Sk240, Sk320, Sk400. The House of Arts, Moyzesova 66. Tel: 055/16-186.
Starý Smokovec
EXHIBITION: Tatra's Frag-ments - Michal Legutky and Milan Legutky display their photos of High Tatras.
Open: Tue-Sun 11:00-17:00 until September 20. Admission: Sk20. The Tatra Gallery in the Vila Flóra. Tel: 052/7721-968.
photo: Sme - Ján Krošlák
ONE OF THE MOST Slovakia's most-visited competitions, the annual world championships of cooking and eating bryndzové halušky, a traditional Slovak dish similar to gnocci, will take place in Turecká, a village near Banská Bystrica, on June 2. Around 20 teams have already enrolled, but organizers expect more than 40 groups to turn up as many competitors register on the day of the championships. This year they have reported that interest has also been shown from abroad from countries such as Great Britain, Australia, Hungary and the Czech Republic. Each team of four has to cook 3.5 kilos of halušky from 2 kilos of peeled potatoes and then eat the result, all as quickly as possible. The jury will also take into consideration hygiene, injuries incurred while grating the potatoes, aesthetics, quality, and flavour. The winning team from the previous 12 championships cooked the meal in eight minutes and 13 seconds and ate it in less than 44 seconds. The event will also include the traditional contests for the heaviest man and the lightest woman and live music performances. The halušky competition will start at 10:00 and the winner should be announced by 18:00. For more information, see www.haluskyturecka.sk.
