Theatre, Opera, Ballet

The theatre network consists of 4 state funded professional theatres in Bratislava, Košice and Banská Bystrica, 20 theatres under the competence/patronage of self-governing regions and municipalities in Bratislava, Banská Bystrica, Trnava, Nitra, Komárno, Zvolen, Martin, Žilina, Košice, Prešov, Spišská Nová Ves and Rožňava. Moreover there are about 19 independent theatres establisehd by private owners/ legal entities throughout the territory of the SR. The list of theatres with addresses can be found at www.thaetre.sk (or directly http://www.theatre.sk/sk/download/Divadlo-na-Slovensku/Divadla.pdf, only in Slovak).

 

The most important is The Slovak National Theatre (“Slovenské národné divadlo” - SND) in Bratislava (www.snd.sk). It comprises drama, opera and ballet sections, each with a permanent professional company, with a central theatrical stockist providing sets for all productions. The SND is a repertory company with a season running from the beginning of September to the end of June. Performances are staged every day except Sunday (opera and ballet) or Monday (drama).

 

Other important state institutions are The State Theatre (“Štátne divadlo”) in Košice (www.sdke.box.sk, only in Slovak) The State Opera and Ballet (“Štátna opera a balet”) in Banská Bystrica (www.stateopera.sk) and Nová scéna (New stage) in Bratislava specialising in musical repertory (www.nova-scena.sk). The theatre also offering different types of performances during the summer break is the Aréna theatre in Bratislava (www.divarena.sk).

 

Theatre performances usually begin at 19.00 and whilst tickets can be bought an hour before the start, it is advisable to reserve them several days before at the ticket office of the respective theatre. There is also the possibility to buy a season ticket. Tickets may be also reserved on-line at www.ticketportal.sk.

 

Music

Classical Music

In the first half of the 19^th century, a national musical tradition began to develop around Slovakia’s impressive folk heritage. Romantic as well as modern Slovak music has drawn from both classical and traditional folk styles. Among romantic composers, the most important are the compositions of Ján Levoslav Bella, Viliam Figuš – Bystrý who layed the foundations of the first Slovak opera, and those of Mikuláš Schneider-Trnavský and Mikuláš Moyzes who had merit in lyric songs and ballads creation. Well-known works from the 20^th century include the symphonic compositions of Alexander Moyzes, and the operas of Eugen Suchoň (1. Slovak national opera - Krútňava) and Ján Cikker.

 

Today, music is one of the most significant aspects of Slovak culture. Some of the most renowned orchestras are The Slovak Philharmonic Orchestra of Bratislava (“Slovenský filharmonický orchester mesta Bratislavy”, www.filharm.sk) and Košice (www.sfk.sk), The Symphonic Orchestra of Bratislava Broadcast (“Symfonický orchester Slovenského rozhlasu”) (www.slovakradio.sk/sosr) and The Bohdan Warchal Slovak Chamber Orchestra (“Slovenský komorný orchester Bohdana Warchala”) (www.filharm.sk).

 

Musical performances usually begin at 19:00 and whilst tickets can be bought an hour before the beginning, it is advisable to reserve tickets several days before at the ticket office of the respective orchestra. Tickets may be also reserved on-line at www.ticketportal.sk (only in Slovak).

 

Traditional Folk Music

The most impressive ensembles performing traditional dance and music are The Slovak Folk Ensemble (“Slovenský ľudový umelecký kolektív” – SĽUK, www.sluk.sk, only in Slovak) and Lúčnica (www.lucnica.sk). Most towns have their own folk festivals with dancing, local costumes and food. These tend to be held throughout summer until the end of September. The biggest one takes place in Východná (www.nocka.sk/utk/, only in Slovak) in July each year.

 

Modern Music

The Music Center (“Hudobné centrum”, www.hc.sk) provides information on classical and modern music. A search for various music events can be run on: www.kultura.sk (only in Slovak) At www.ticketportal.sk (only in Slovak) you can find information on concerts and buy tickets. If you prefer the club scene with live performances there are many options within different genres.

 

Fine Arts

Contemporary art is represented by numerous artists who exhibit their works in many galleries throughout the Slovak Republic. Up-to-date information on exhibitions can be found on the websites of cities and towns, in newspapers etc.

 

Museums and Galleries

The Slovak Republic has more than 50 museums. The Slovak National Museum (“Slovenské národné múzeum”, www.snm.sk) in Bratislava holds permanent and temporary exhibitions on Slovak history, archaeology, crafts, nature and musicology etc. The best collection of the Slovak art can be found at The Slovak National Gallery (“Slovenská národná galleria”, www.sng.sk) in Bratislava. The Gallery holds permanent and temporary exhibitions. More information is available at the relevant website.

 

Other interesting museums:

·          The Museum of the Slovak National Uprising in Banská Bystrica (“Múzeum Slovenského národného povstania”, www.muzeumsnp.sk)

·          The Museum in Antol dedicated to hunting (“Múzeum v Sv. Antone”) near Banská Štiavnica (www.muzeumsv-anton.sk)

·          The Slovak Technical Museum in Košice  (“Slovenské technické múzeum”, www.stm-ke.sk)

·          The Slovak Museum of Mining in Banská Štiavnica (“Slovenské banské múzeum”, www.muzeumbs.sk) (only in Slovak)

·          Danubiana, Meulensteen Art Museum Bratislava (www.danubiana.info)

·          The Warhol Family Museum of Modern Art in Medzilaborce (www.region.sk/warhol)

·          The Koloman Sokol Centre in Liptovský Mikuláš

 

Important note: Monday, unless stated otherwise, is a closing day.

 

More information:

www.museum.sk

www.slovakheritage.org

www.tourist-channel.sk. 

 

Traditional Folk Art

Folk art and crafts, which include woodcarving, fabric weaving, and glass painting, have a long tradition. Examples of folk architecture, such as wooden churches and brightly painted houses, are to be found throughout the country. Interesting open-air museums presenting folk architecture can be found in Martin (The Museum of the Slovak Village – “Múzeum slovenskej dediny”), Bardejov Spa, Zuberec, Výchylovka in Nová Bystrica, and Pribylina. If you are interested in “living museums” (folk architecture reservations), you should visit villages like Čičmany, Vlkolínec, Špania dolina, Ždiar, Podbiel, or Sebechleby.

Wooden church architecture is unique. In northeast of the country you may find churches of Greek Catholic or Orthodox denomination, wooden churches in the centre of the country and evangelic towers. Wooden towers have become a rare feature in Central Europe on account of their construction and interior design.

More information:

www.museum.sk  

www.geocities.com/woodchurch99

 

Cinema

Cinemas (“kino” in Slovak) can be found in every town. Film clubs are popular and can be found in all university towns. In Bratislava, there are also multiplex cinemas in the Aupark and Polus shopping centres (Palace cinemas - www.palacecinemas.sk, Istropolis Cinema Center - www.istropoliscinemacenter.sk). There used to be a 3D IMAX Cinema in Bratislava, but it is closed at present (check the status at: www.kinoimax.sk). Most films bear the original soundtrack with subtitles; some films have Slovak dubbing. Cinema programmes are published on towns’ web sites and in newspapers.

More information:

www.kultura.sk (only in Slovak)

 

Some Cultural Events in the Slovak Republic

Bratislava

·          Bratislava Music Festival „Bratislavské hudobné slávnosti“ – International festival of classical music (www.hc.sk/bhs)

·          Bratislava Musical Spring „Bratislavská hudobná jar“ – International festival of classical music

·          Summer festival of culture „Kultúrne leto“ (Cultual Summer) – International Festival of classical music including the Chamber Music Series, Series of Fanfare Concerts, J.K.Mertz International Guitar Music Festival, Days of Organ Music, Convergence and fringe events (www.bkis.sk)

·          New Slovak Music  „Nová slovenská hudba“ - Festival presenting new pieces by Slovak composers

·          Melos-ethos – International festival of contemporary music, takes place every two years (www.melosethos.sk)

·          Bratislava Jazz Days – International jazz festival (www.bjd.sk)

·          Klikkfest- International festival of rock, pop, jazz and other genres

·          Febiofest – International festival of film, television and video 

·          Áčko – International festival of student films (www.ackofestival.sk)

·          Biennial of Illustrations Bratislava – An exhibition of illustrations from children’s books, taking place every two years. (www.bib-slovakia.sk)

Košice

·          Košice Musical Spring Festival „Košická hudobná jar“– International Music Festival (www.sfk.sk)

Východná

·          „Východná“ traditional folk festival – Festival of Slovak traditional and folk culture

Nitra

·          „Divadelná Nitra“    International theatre festival (www.nitrafest.sk)

Trenčín

·          Pohoda (“Relax”) – an international festival of alternative, rock, pop, punk and world music with fringe events (cinema, plastic arts) (www.pohodafestival.sk)

 

Media

There is one national TV/radio network with several channels and also several independent commercial and public TV and radio stations. The national TV channel is Slovak Television (“Slovenská televízia” abbr. STV: channels STV1, STV2, www.stv.sk, only in Slovak) and Slovak Radio (“Slovenský rozhlas” abbr. SRo: channels: Rádio Slovensko, Rádio Devín, Rádio FM, Rádio Regina, Rádio Patria, Radio Slovakia International, www.slovakradio.sk, only in Slovak). Apart from the national TV/radio network  there are three commercial channels: TV Markíza (www.markiza.sk, only in Slovak), TV JOJ (www.joj.sk, only in Slovak) and TV TA3, a news channel, (www.ta3.com, only in Slovak) and several commercial radios. Unlike cinemas, television channels provide mostly broadcast with Slovak dubbing. There are also two Slovak press agencies – TASR www.tasr.sk and SITA www.sita.sk.

 

In nearly all parts of Slovakia it is possible to subscribe to cable TV (often supplied in apartment buildings), offering a variety of European TV stations in German, English, and other languages.

(e. g. BBC World Service. For its programmes see www.bbc.co.uk/worldservice)

 

The Slovak Spectator (www.slovakspectator.sk), an independent English language newspaper, is published every week. It includes information on politics, the economy, business, daily life, and cultural events, as well as advertisements. There are many varieties of local newspapers and journals. You can also buy or subscribe to foreign newspapers and journals or buy them at newsstands