Mushing is popular also among public. (source: Sme - Vladimír Šimíček)
Western Slovakia
Nitra
CONCERT: Songs of Donetsk Cossacks – The fifth European tour of soloists from the Donetsk Cossacks’ Choir, with their bayan, balalaika, percussion and special voices, makes a stop in Nitra. Starts: Feb 16, 18:30; big auditory of the Old Theatre of Karol Spišák, Ulica 7. pešieho pluku. Admission: €9. More info: http://sdn.sk.
Nitra
CONCERT: David Koller & Friends 2017 – Czech musician David Koller has embarked on a tour, in which his songs are performed by other Czech and Slovak musicians and bands who are guests at his concerts: Katarzia, Korben Dallas, Vladimír 518 & Mike Trafik, Kato of Prago Union, Hentai Corporation, Android Asteroid and Ben Cristovao, among others. In February, they will tour Slovakia, making a stop in Žilina, Jasná, Trenčín, Košice and Banská Bystrica, with a Valentine concert in Bratislava, and finishing at Nitra. Starts: Feb 17, 20:00; Nájomná jednotka 210, Chrenovská 30. Admission: €20. Tickets: www.ticketportal.sk; more info: www.davidkoller.cz.
Central Slovakia
Banská Bystrica
CONCERT: Jozef Van Wissem /Ján Fiala and Štefan Szabó – Dutch lutenist and composer van Wissem – who has collaborated with among others, Gary Lucas, Keiji Hain, James Blackshaw, and, probably most famously, Jim Jarmusch – will play his latest works from the current album When Shall This Bright Day Begin (2016). He will join forces with Slovaks, Ján Fiala (drums / vibraphone) and Štefan Szabó (guitar) who play together a fusion of jazz and classical music. Starts: Feb 10, 19:00; Záhrada – Centre of Independent Culture, SNP Square 16 (Beniczkého Passage). Admission: €4-€6. More info: www.zahradacnk.sk.
Banská Bystrica
OPERETTA/DERNIERE: Franz Lehár: Gipsy Love – The vivid operetta telling the story of a well-off girl and a Gipsy musician in the times of the Austro-Hungarian monarchy has come to its last performance, despite sold-out performances, to be replaced by another operetta by composer Franz Lehár, Land of Smiles. Starts: Feb 11, 18:30; State Opera, Národná 11. Admission: €7. More info: www.stateopera.sk.
Franz Lehár: Gipsy Love, derniere of operetta (source: Courtesy of State Opera Banská Bystrica)
Banská Bystrica
OPERA/DERNIERE: Eugen Suchoň - The Whirlpool ( sometimes staged as Katrena, after the main character) – The latest version of this operatic work by Slovak composer Eugen Suchoň. The story of love and hate, culminating in violent drama, was written by Suchoň himself and tenor Štefan Hoza, based on a novel by Milo Urban. The vocal melodies of the opera have been inspired by Slovak folklore and Suchoň’s unique stylisation. Starts: Feb 16, 18:30, State Opera, Národná 11. Admission: €8. More info: www.stateopera.sk.
The Whirlpool (or - Katrena), opera by Eugen Suchoň, derniere (source: Courtesy of State Opera Banská Bystrica)
Žilina
CLASSICAL MUSIC: Famous Pianist Again in Žilina – the State Sinfonietta Žilina, conducted by chief conductor Simon Chalk, will play with France’s Eugene Indjic, William Mathias’ Divertimento for Strings op. 7, Beethoven’s Concert No 2 B Major, 19 for Piano and Orchestra, and Mozart’s Symphony No 40 G Minor. Starts: Feb 16, 19:00; Fatra House of Arts, Dolný Val 47. Admission: 8-€12. More info: www.skozilina.sk.
Eastern Slovakia
Košice
CONCERT: Högni Egilsson (Gus Gus) & Mr. Silla – Högni has played with the Icelandic bands (Hjaltalin, Gus Gus and Gluteus Maximus) but this time, he will play solo on piano, with Mr. Silla (Sigurlaug Gísladóttir). Starts: Feb 11, 20:00; Tabačka KulturFabrik, Gorkého 2. More info: www.tabacka.sk.
High Tatras
SNOW FESTIVAL: Snow Dogs / Snežné Psy – The 8th year of the multi-genre festival brings an Eskimo town under the Lomnický štít peak, with a dog-sleigh demonstration, imitation of polar bear hunting, examples of the life of Innuits, penguin watching, etc. Starts: Feb 11, 12; Štart ski-lift station in Tatranská Lomnica; Čučoriedky ski slope. Admission: free. More info: http://regiontatry.sk/sk/snezne-psy-2017.
Košice
CONCERT: Astronautalis + Aby Wolf – The US musician Andy Bothweel (fusion of hip-hop, indie rock and punk) plays his debut album, Astronautalis, at a concert in Slovakia which he came to like and to which he dedicated – together with New Orleans – the song Running Away from God. Starts: Feb 13, 20:00; Tabačka KulturFabrik, Gorkého 2, Košice. Admission: €5-€9. More info: www.tabacka.sk.
Astronautalis, cover photo (source: Courtesy of Tabačka)
Košice
CLASSICAL/FILM MUSIC: Concerts for Lovers – The Valentine’s concert brings love tunes from the movies, and the State Slovak Philharmonic Košice will play, conducted by Igor Dohovič. Starts: Feb 14, 19:00; House of Arts, Moyzesova 66. Admission: €5-€10. Tickets: 055-2453 123; vstupenky@sfk.sk, www.navstevnik.sk. More info: www.sfk.sk.
Festival
GASTRONOMY: Winter Food Festival 2017 Košice – The winter gastronomy festival that offers selected themes and leitmotifs in several restaurants across Slovakia comes to Košice: Our Iconic Food; Tastes of the Regions; and Recipes of Our Mums will be offered in the form of a Basic Tasting (€10), a two-dish Tasting €16), and a three-dish Tasting (€19) at the Camelot Steak Restaurant, the Carpano caffe - restaurant – terrace, the Hostinec brewery and the Baránok.restaurant & boarding house. Lasts: until Feb 15. More info: www.zimnyfestivaljedla.sk.
Gastronomy festivals are mushrooming around Slovakia. (source: TASR)
Košice
MALE STRIPTEASE CHAMPIONSHIP: The Male Striptease Championship 2017 have, as a special guest, Slovak/Dutch musician, actor, host Thomas Puskailer, and striptease artists from Spain, Italy, Switzerland, Austria, Brazil, Portugal, France, Hungary, Poland and Germany. The host is Binďo. Starts: Feb 16, 20:00; Noise arena, Štúrova 44. Admission: €29-€55. Tickets: www.ticketportal.sk.
Košice
CONCERT: Jethro Tull with Ian Anderson – Famous Scottish singer, composer, Grammy laureate and leader of the legendary Jethro Tull band, Ian Anderson, arrives in Košice for the first time. Ian Anderson – vocals, flute, guitar; John O´Hara – keyboard, accordion; David Goodier – bass; Florian Opahle – guitars; Scott Hammond – drums, percussions. Starts: Feb 17, 20:00; Spoločenský pavilón, Trieda SNP 61. Admission: €39-€69. € Tickets: www.ticketportal.sk.
Ian Anderson (source: TASR)
Poprad/Svit
SPORT: Spartan Race – The extreme race, popular in the US, comes to Slovakia, to enchant locals in a combination of power, speed, courage and stamina in a competition attractive both to both participants and onlookers. Starts: Feb 18, 9:00 - 20: Štefanikova 32, Svit. More info/registration: http://www.spartanrace.sk/sk/race/detail/2380/overview.
Vysoké Tatry / High Tatras
ICE SCULPTING/TOURISM: Tatra Ice Cathedral – Again in 2017, tourists and hikers are invited to enjoy a unique ice temple that includes elements of Tatra history and nature, this time with Spiš Gotrhic elements. Open: daily 9:00-16:30; Hrebienok – Starý Smokovec, High Tatras (cable car to Hrebienok, or by foot from Starý Smokovec - about 2.4 km, i.e. 40 minutes. More info: www.regiontatry.sk, www.vt.sk.
Tatra Ice Cathedral 2017 at Hrebienok (source: TASR)
