La Farándula (source: Courteesy of Farándula)
Western Slovakia
Modra/Červený Kameň
MUSEUM/EVENT: The Salt Prince / Soľ nad Zlato – The Červený Kameň branch of the Slovak National Museum offers stageings of the classical Slovak fairy tale, The Salt Prince (in Slovak) during Easter weekend, in the historical environnent of the mediaeval castle. Starts: Apr 14–17, 10:00 – 17:00, beginning every hour; Červený Kameň Castle. Admission: €4-€8. More info: http://hradcervenykamen.sk.
The Salt /rince at Červený Kameň castle (source: Courtesy of SNM)
Partizánske
CONCERT: La Farándula Tour – Cuban singer Eusebio - Nicolás Mena has joined forces with Slovak producer Peter Pann, and the result is an eponymous album released in March and a tour around Slovakia, making stops in Partizánske, Snina, Hlohovec, and later also Bratislava and 10 other sites. Starts: Apr 15, 22:00; Infinity club, SNP Square 143. Admission: €2.50-€4. Tel: 0904/126-111; info@infinityclub.sk, more info www.dezertmusic.sk.
Pezinok
CONCERT: Funny Fellows - Swing band (Pavol Ivičič-accordion and vocals, Marek Berky-clarinet, tenor-saxophone, vocals; Daniel Valášek-saxaphone, without vocals; Milan Ruček-drums, grumbling, and Roman Féder- trumpet, violin, altophone, ukulele, vocals, and more) plays the music of the 1920s – 1940s with the original sound, period instruments and costumes. Starts: Apr 21, 16:00; Vínne Trhy / Wine Markets, House of Culture. Tel: 0948/744-771; www.funnyfellows.eu, rfeder@funnyfellows.eu.
Trnava
SPORT: Perún Fight Night II – The second martial arts tournament brings sport – K-1, thaiboxing, boxing and MMA – as well as culture and entertaintment (Torul and other performers). Starts: Apr 21, 18:30; City Sports Hall, Rybníkova 15. Admission: €10,00 (free seating, in advance); €12,00 (on site); VIP table for €5 – €300. More info: www.kamdomesta.sk.
Thai box, illustrative stock photo (source: TASR)
Trenčín
EXHIBITION: Monika and Bohuš Kubinskýs – Cache – The exhibition of visual artists/married couple Monika and Bohuš Kubinskys offers a commemoration of the Jewish community of Topoľčany and their tragic history, while the content is made from the traditional Jewish bread, Matzo. The opening of the exhibition Apr 13, 19:00) offers singer Eva Šušková and musician Fero Király performing Maurice Ravel: Kaddish; Maurice Ravel & Fero Király: Kaddish postludium, and Daniel Matej: MORSeARIA (miserere). Starts: April 14, 19:00; open non-stop, until May 20; Platform 1-12 – Multimedia Space for Contemporary Culture, bus station. More info: www.nastupiste.sk/nastupiste-1-12/.
Kubinskys: Cache, the installation in the Platform 1-12 in Topoľčany (source: Courtesy of Kubinskýs)
Central Slovakia
Banská Bystrica
OPERA: Gaetano Donizetti – Don Pasquale – The lesser-known work of Donizetti, a comic opera, has recently been premiered by the State Opera as rehearsed and conducted by Igor Bulla, directed by Dana Dinková, with costumes by Adriena Adamíková, stage design by Marek Šafárik, and choir-master Iveta Popovičová. The cast includes Ivan Zvarík, Katarína Procházková, Dušan Šimo, Martin Popovič, and Slavomír Macák. Starts: Apr 18, 18:30; State Opera, Národná 11. Admission: €4-€8, season tickets A, D. More info: www.stateopera.sk.
Ivan Zvarík (Don Pasquale), Martin Popovič (Malatesta), Dušan Šimo (Ernesto), Michaela Popik Kušteková (Norina) in Don Pasquale in State Opera Banská Bystrica (source: Jozef Lomnický)
Banská Bystrica
OPERA: Maria Stuarda – This opera was created from the translation of the drama of Friedrich Schiller by Andrea Maffei. The libretto for the opera is written by Giuseppe Bardari and the world premiere of the opera took place on December 30, 1835 in La Scala, Milano. In Banská Bystrica, it is conducted by Igor Bulla, directed by Gianfranco de Bosio and the choirmaster is Iveta Popovičová. Maria Stuarda is performed by Adriana Kohútková, Jolana Fogašová, Luciano Mastro Ondrej Mráz and Eva Šušková as guests, and Zoltán Vongrey; with the choir, orchestra and ballet of the State Opera. The concert-master is Oldřich Husák. The story of Maria Stuarda is that of a dispute between the authoritative Queen of England, Elizabeth I of the House of Tudor and the lively Queen of Scots, Mary Stuart whose life ends tragically. Starts: Apr 20, 18:30; State opera, Národná 11. Admission: €4-€8. More info: www.stateopera.sk.
Žilina
SPORT: Big Spring Cycle Ride – The spring mood can be expressed in many ways, including cycling around the city of Žilina, with music being the main motif: cyclists are asked to accompany the sound-systems and sing, hum and whistle along. The ride will end at the local conservatory with a local music scene. Starts: Apr 22, 17:00; Hlinkovo Square. Admission: free. More info: www.mulica.sk; www.stanica.sk.
Banská Štiavnica
EXHIBITION: Study of Illustration /Kabinet Ilustrácie – Four summary exhibitions present the works of Slovak book illustrations from the 20th and 21st centuries. The first part offers works by Viera Bombová, Ľubomír Kellenberger, Jozef Cesnak and Štefan Cpin – as well as the chance to compare them, to see how they mastered special techniques and to recall famous illustrations from children‘s books. Open: Tue-Sun 8:00-16:00 until May 17. Admission: €1-€2. Galéria Jozefa Kollára (Jozef Kollár Gallery), Námestie sv. Trojice 8. Tel: 045/6913-431; www.muzeumbs.sk, www.banskastanica.sk.
Eastern Slovakia
Košice
CONCERT: Merchandise (USA) + Talent Transport (SK) – Concert of the US band Merchandise – established in Tampa, Florida in 2008, with lead singer Carson Cox, developing from indie-rock to a harsher sound – will be supported by Slovak trio Transport (Vladislav Slnko Šarišský-piano, singing; Marián Slávka-drums, Filip Hittrich-bass). Starts: Apr 15, 20:00; Tabačka Kulturfabrik, Gorkého 2. Admission: €6. More info: www.tabacka.sk.
Talent Transport (source: Courtesy of Tabačka)
Košice
OPERA/ART: The Mystery of the Pole – The loosely connected opera trilogy of Slovak composer Miroslav Tóth ends with an exploration of what – or who – is represented by the mysterious pole. The first site-specfic opera took place in offices in the Dutch city of Arnhem, the second sequel was filmed in the Devín Hotel and the undergorund lobbies of the TV studios in Mlynská dolina, Bratislava, and the atrium of the Eastern-Slovak Gallery; while the last part will play on stage, as directed by Ján Komárek. It is the result of the residential cooperation of a Slovak-Norwegian creative team within the Crossing borders – Culture, Way of Mutual Understanding project. Starts: Apr 19, 19:00; Tabačka KulturFabrik, Gorkého 2. Admission: €3-€5. More info: www.tabacka.sk.
Košice
LANGUAGE: Language Café – The language meeting with foreigners. Visitors can enjoy their favourite coffee (or beer) and speak in a foreign language (English, German, French, Spanish, Polish, Slovak). Starts: April 20, 18:00; Tabačka KulturFabrik. Gorkého 2. More info: info@tabacka.sk or www.kamdomesta.sk.
Prešov
CLASSICAL MUSIC: Prešov Music Spring: Virtuosic Strings – Part of the festival of classical music, Slovak virtuosi renowned abroad, violinist Dalibor Karvay and guitarist Miriam Rodriguez Brüll will perform Jules Massenet: Meditation; Fritz Kreisler: Liebesleid, Schön Rosmarin; Niccolo Paganini: Cantabile, Capriccio c. 24; Astor Piazzolla: History of Tango; Aldo Rodriguez: Cancion y Danza; Camille Saint Saens: Introduction and Rondo Capriccioso; Pablo de Sarasate: Zigeunerweisen. Starts: Apr 20, 18:30; Evangelical College, Hlavná 137. Admission. €5-€8. Tickets, more info: 051/7723-741/2; PKO Čierny orol, pkovstupenkypo@gmail.com.
Dalibor Karvay (source: Courtesy of VŠMU)
Košice
DANCE/THEATRE: William Shakespeare – Romeo and Juliet – The dance theatre of Zuzana Mistríková and Ondrej Šoth is based rather on the dramatic story of William Shakespeare than on the romantic music of Sergei Prokofiev. Thus, only parts of his music were used, while that of G.B. Pergolesi and W.A. Mozart were added. Instead of offering a melancholic love story, the dance performance shows the Italian temperament, renaissance spirit and the determination to follow one's feelings. The performance received the Slovak theatre award, Dosky 2006, for direction, choreography and costumes. Cast includes Katarína Frigová, Eva Sklyarová, Elena Chetvernya, Lyudmyla Vasylyeva Kolimečkov, Maksym Sklyar, Andrii Sukhanov, Sergii Iegorov, Vasyl Sevastyanov, Sergii Iegorov, Jozef Marčinský, Oleksandr Skopintsev, and others. Starts: Apr 22, 19:00; historical building of State Theatre Košice (SDKE), Hlavná 58. Admission: €4- €8. More info: www.sdke.sk.
Prešov
EXHIBITION: The Golden Keg / Zlatý Súdok – The 23rd year of international competition in cartoon humour revolving around the theme of beer is organised – as in previous years- by its founder, cartoonist and caricaturist Fedor Vico, representative of the Beer Gallery in Prešov. Open: Tue-Fri 9:00-17:00; Sun 13:00-17:00 until April 30; Šariš Gallery, Hlavná 51. Admission: €0.50-€1.50. Tel: 051/7725-423; www.sgpresov.sk.
Košice
EXIBITION: Body Danced Body Seen is an exhibition of photos by three professionals who focus on modern dance and body theatre, including experiments – Noro Knap, Natália Zajačiková and David Trčka – that explores the phenomenon of body and corporeality in theatre, personalities of Slovak dance and various approaches towards movement and body. Open: daily, 8:00-22:00, until April 30; Bistro Tabačka, Tabačka Kulturfabrik, Gorkého 2. Admission: free. More info: www.tabacka.sk.
