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34th volume of festival - THE SUMMER OF CULTURE FESTIVAL BRATISLAVA 2009

June 18, 2009 – September 6, 2009

34th volume of the Summer of Culture Festival Bratislava 2009

The Summer of Culture Festival Bratislava 2009 comes into its 34th volume. It will offer 180 main programs during 82 days to all citizens and visitors of Bratislava. Performers from 18 countries and 3 continents will play on 20 stages placed all over Bratislava. Festival begins on June 18 and ends on September 6, 2009.

Main dramaturgist and producer of the festival, the Bratislava Information and Culture Centre, wants to address by its dramaturgy the largest possible audience – families with children, young people, adults and seniors. Various events are prepared for fans of different musical genres from jazz, folklore, folk, country, world and ethno music to classical music as well as theatrical performances for children and adults. Also this year’s festival will be a marathon of music, dance, theatre, visual arts and other modern artistic forms.

Regular stages where the events will be organized are: castle Devín, Main Square, Hviezdoslav Square, Courtyard of Sv. Ján Nepomucký of Primatial palace, the Hall of Mirrors in Primatial palace, Western terrace of Bratislava castle, Jesuit church, Klarisky concert hall, Danube river – musical sailings, Reading Room at the Red Crayfish, Aupark relax zone, ZOO Bratislava.

Festival starts by opening weekend on the Main Square on June 20-21, 2009. Saturday evening will be dedicated to the world of operetta and musicals through the most widely known melodies interpreted by talented Anabela Patkoló, Anikó Patkolo, Ján Babjak and Ladies’ Chamber Orchestra lead by Arpád Patkoló. Sunday afternoon will change the square into big and busy promenade – project called Living Streets will bring a four hour lasting presentation of the festival’s program offer. You will be able to experience on one square several stages at the same time; to meet Shakespeare’s characters, historical warriors, and folklore dancers as well as jazz musicians, dancers, in-line skaters, clowns and fairy creatures.

In the evening the Square will be ruled by a native of Bratislava, Johann Nepomuk Hummel, with which the 34th volume of the Summer of Culture will be solely opened. Renowned soloists will be performing under the leadership of Didier Talpain - Adriana Kohútková – soprano, Ondrej Šaling – tenor, Ladislav Fanzowitz – piano and Juraj Bartoš – trumpet, accompanied by Viva Musica orchestra.

Sunday evening will come to a head by an open-air movie-musical specialty on Franciscan Square – projection of first Slovak full-length movie musically accompanied by unconventional ensemble Bashavel.

Also the beginning of the festival from June 18 to June 29 will be rich and various. Each day will offer great cultural experience directly in the city centre. 11th volume of exhibition and tasting of Slovak and foreign wines Vino Gallery is prepared on the courtyard of Primatial palace. This event is only for invited.

International Gypsy FEST will be organized in the streets of Bratislava for the first time and wild temperament of the performers will take control of the streets of Old Town as well as the stage on Hviezdoslav Square. The Hall of Mirrors in Primatial palace will belong from June 21 to fans of guitar tones and string vibrations because of the 34th volume of International guitar festival of J.K.Mertz. Outstanding concert selection will offer the best guitar interpreters and besides artists from Slovakia, Czech Republic, Russia, Spain and Italy it will welcome a guest from Australia.

Visitors will be able watch exquisitely and originally adapted forms of Slovak folklore on Main Square during three consecutive evenings from June 22 to June 24 performed by professional folk artistic group SĽUK. We will celebrate the end of the school year and 100th anniversary of Čierny Hron steam railway with nice program for families with children with historical train and streetcar rides, various workshops and competitions.

Concert of American musician Scott Hamilton with Nothing But Swing Trio will be a warm-up for festival cycle Jazz under the Tower. Legendary Czech folk band Spiritual Quintet, elementary school of arts of J.Kresánek with Chamber string orchestra with choir Margarétka will be also performing on the Main Square. After previous year’s first concert a fresh Italian wind will again blow some operatic arias in, this time performed by Soloists from Perugia within the event UmbriaMusicFest Bratislava 2009. Ceremonial opening of the 14th volume of international exhibition Sculpture and Object, which will bring works of 13 authors, will take place in Liszt’s garden.

July and August will belong to favourite and well-known cycles and festivals of the Summer of Culture. International Bratislava brings events in co-operation with embassies and cultural centres of particular countries from all over the world. Thanks to it we will meet in the streets of Bratislava many remarkable artists. Bratislava will be visited by Swedish nu-jazz trio Quiet Night, previous year’s performance will be repeated by musical ensemble of the US Air Force Touch 'n Go, Oriental Wind from Turkey will bring ethno-jazz also with young and gifted pianist Mertol Demirelli. Special performance of great percussion ensemble Percujove from Spain will be an invitation to the biggest festival in Slovakia – Pohoda. We will also welcome The Royal Choral Society which is under the patronage of the Queen Elizabeth II.

The most popular cycle Jazz under the Tower has an attractive offer. It promises performances of young jazz generation not only from Europe. Bratislava will be visited by young American saxophonist and vocalist Grace Kelly who despite her young age had performed with many jazz stars. Outstanding talent balancing on the edge of mainstream, pop, jazz, swing, blues and Latino will belong to unforgettable performances. Besides this you can look forward to famous Ida Kelarová, Moravian vocalist, folklorist and composer – Zuzana Lapčíková and her Kvintet, David Hodek & Juraj Griglák and many other big names.

Modern festival of classical music VIVA MUSICA will draw attention with superior program offer, unusual and original ideas and great artists. Bratislava will belong for 8 days to world composers, history and contemporary forms of classical music.

You won’t be disappointed also by other festival cycles. Thursdays will belong to country and folk in the cycle On the Wandering Road; Mondays to children and fairy tales in Fairy Palace; Saturdays to fairy-creative activities in ZOO – Family Afternoons in ZOO. Cycle Music on Danube prepares besides sailings for children also Cuban, Jazz, Operetta and Country sailing with live music. Theatre vacations will be compensated by Summer Shakespeare Festival on Bratislava castle or by Summer of Actor Personalities Bratislava – Praha with stars of Czech theatre scene.

Minorities living in Slovakia will be presented by 3rd volume of Minorities’ Summer Festival. History will be discovered by Festival of Historical Fencing on Devín castle with many various attractions, authentic period costumes, warriors, dancers, battles and fencing duels. Traditional manufactures and fortune of handicrafts will be shown on Bratislava castle during the 19th volume of festival Slovakia in Bratislava – Days of Masters 2009.

Bratislavers will meet each Friday in July and August in Aupark relax zone and set out for a night in-line ride through the city within event called <bratislava-inline> which has already many fans and belongs to typical holiday atmosphere of Bratislava.