A couple of days ago we had the pleasure to listen to an incredible duo of lutists: Joachim Held (Germany) and Jan Čižmář (Czech Republic). The baroque music, deciphered manuscripts found in Austrian and Moravian castles – the above mentioned already implied a beautiful and pleasant evening. So I thought on our way to Pállfy Palace, but I didn’t expect I’d watch literal magic unfold before my eyes. Two hours of enchanting music of Telemann, Weichenberger, Falkenhagen, Losy and Weiss –  the composers who are little known to a wide audience, whose music is maybe very chamber and too slow for our insane times. But now of all times we need this music, which cleanses and heals the mind. I would even say that the concert felt like I visited a yoga class, but much better. Overall, it was a relaxation and an inspiration for me as an artist; such a new genre of music to fuel my creativity!

Angels, demons, souls; the orchestra, the soloists and the choir — all of those things in one concert, although twice — on the 5th and the 6th of December in the Slovak Philharmonic in Bratislava. An incredibly beautiful oratorio by Sir Edward Elgar; The Dream of Gerontius. Speaking of which, in the the composer’s homeland, in England, his music is considered a part of the national heritage. A hundred years later the interest in that music has understandably rekindled — it really is beautiful! I really recommend to hear this concert out; the tickets are still available.

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A concert of two young musiciants, a pianist Filip Štrauch (Slovakia) and a cellist Jonathan Swensen (Denmark) come off yesterday in Bratislava. The program included musical compositions of Glass, Schubert, Liszt and Rachmaninoff for cello and piano. I am very grateful them especially for Cello sonate of Rachmaninoff. It was so exciting, passionately and so emotionally after the Russian manner that my soul cried with a cello.
I sincerely wish them continued success and I am confident that there is a glorious career in front of them.

Tomorrow, there will be a premiere of Verdi’s opera “Rigoletto” in the Statе Opera Theatre in Banska Bystrica. Today I had a chance to see a final rehearsal. Looking ahead, I want to congratulate performers and audience with an another great show. Beautiful, interesting, touching… A performance director is Anna Osipenko from St.- Petersburg. This is her second theatrical production in Slovakia. For the first time we met with Anya three years ago on a production of “Eugene Onegin” here in Banska Bystrica. She imposed upon all performance ensemble – strict and unwaiverig, full of great ideas. “Onegin” has surpassed all the expectations and the same I can say about “Rigoletto”. Very nice performance, must see.

Foto: Stefan Pišta Plevo