Festival of New Slovak Music enters its 33rd edition
More than twenty premieres, outstanding Slovak soloists, and leading orchestras.
From 7 to 20 November 2025, six concerts in Bratislava, Košice, and Žilina will present large-scale vocal-instrumental works, concert pieces featuring renowned singers Hilda Gulyás, Matúš Šimko, and Mária Taytakova, as well as soloists such as Milan Paľa, Roman Patkoló, and Branislav Dugovič. Alongside these, the programme will include compositions for string quartet and various chamber ensembles. The festival will showcase the music of nearly thirty Slovak composers, in national or world premieres. In addition to the Slovak State Philharmonic Košice and the Slovak Sinfonietta Žilina, the festival's long-standing partners--the Slovak Philharmonic and the Slovak Radio Symphony Orchestra--will also appear. The concerts will be conducted by seasoned specialists in contemporary music interpretation: Marián Lejava, Pavel Šnajdr, and Ondrej Olos. Two chamber concerts will feature ensembles with long-standing experience in contemporary music: the Mucha Quartet and EnsembleSpectrum, led by its artistic director Matej Sloboda.
Two Symphonies at the Slovak Philharmonic
The opening concert of the festival, on 7 November in the Concert Hall of the Slovak Philharmonic in Bratislava, will be led by Ondrej Olos and feature two works bearing the subtitle Symphony. Both include an essential vocal component with choir and soloists, both inspired by spiritual themes. Ľuboš Bernáth's Via lucis draws on New Testament texts from the mystical Johannine tradition, setting passages from the Gospel of John and the Book of Revelation in Latin. By contrast, Lukáš Borzík's Mother sets twelve prayers to Mary in Slovak, each dedicated to a virtue of silence, offering a fresh perspective on the very meaning of the term "symphony."
Five New Perspectives on the String Quartet
String quartet writing has a long and rich tradition in Slovak music, and continues to flourish today thanks in no small part to the work of ensembles such as the Mucha Quartet. Alongside works by experienced composers in this field--such as Iris Szeghy and Jevgenij Iršai--the programme will present quartets by active string players Milan Paľa and Anton Jaro, as well as biology-inspired quartet studies by Barbora Mišíková. This concert will take place on 10 November in the Small Concert Studio of Slovak Radio in Bratislava.
The Chamber Ensemble as the Most Flexible Medium of Contemporary Music
For many years, EnsembleSpectrum has been among the most active Slovak ensembles dedicated to contemporary music, as evidenced by its rich concert activity and colourful discography. Its extraordinary flexibility of instrumentation and stylistic range, combined with the artistry of its members, guarantees an aesthetically stimulating experience. On 11 November in the Small Concert Studio of Slovak Radio in Bratislava, the ensemble will present works by six distinctive composers, ranging from modern approaches to chamber genres to explorations of sonority and microtonal pitch space.
Košice with a Rich Palette of Compositional Voices
Waves of string-orchestra melancholy, festive jubiloso, offertorium, beat-inspired spleen, and a concentrated orchestral essay--all of these will appear side by side in the programme of the Slovak State Philharmonic Košice. The concert, held on 13 November in the House of Arts, will feature not only another collaboration between the orchestra and conductor Marián Lejava, but also solo performances by soprano Mária Taytakova and clarinetist Branislav Dugovič.
A Duel of Cimbalom and Marimba, and a Tribute to Bratislava's Bridges
The Slovak Radio Symphony Orchestra concert on 14 November in the Large Concert Studio of Slovak Radio in Bratislava will present, with the exception of one work by Adrián Demoč, compositions by four female composers--offering a fascinating confrontation of artistic voices and approaches to medium. Haimoni Balgavá and Barbora Tomášková both explore string textures, the latter also incorporating electronics. Martina Kachlová pays tribute to Bratislava's five bridges in her orchestral suite, while Lenka Novosedlíková channels her compositional energy into dialogues between the unusual solo pair of marimba and cimbalom with orchestra. The concert will be conducted by Pavel Šnajdr, artistic director of the Brno Contemporary Orchestra.
Žilina with Masters of Violin and Double Bass
The Slovak Sinfonietta Žilina, under the baton of Marián Lejava, will present on 20 November in the Fatra House of Arts a programme of chamber-orchestral works by Barbora Mišíková, Terézia Jaďuďová, and Miroslava Haľamová, alongside two larger-scale pieces featuring solo string instruments: Marián Lejava's Skylight Suite for violin and strings, and Pavol Krška's Concerto for Double Bass and Chamber Orchestra. The evening will showcase the artistry of two internationally renowned Slovak musicians--violinist Milan Paľan and double bassist Roman Patkoló.
Organizer: Slovak Composers Society
Co-organizers: Slovak Philharmonic, Slovak State Philharmonic Košice, Slovak Radio, Slovak Sinfonietta Žilina
Main partner: Slovak Arts Council
Supported by: Music Fund, SOZA, Social and Cultural Fund of SOZA, Bratislava Self-Governing Region
Ticket Sales
Slovak Philharmonic Box Office, Bratislava
Online sales and reservations: www.filharmonia.sk ? tickets@filharmonia.sk
Ticket sales for selected concerts (Slovak Radio and Moyzes Hall) available at www.ticketportal.sk or one hour before the concert at the venue.
State Philharmonic Košice Box Office
Online sales: www.sfk.sk
Slovak Chamber Orchestra Žilina
www.skozilina.sk/tickets/ ? tickets@skozilina.sk
More than twenty premieres, outstanding Slovak soloists, and leading orchestras.
From 7 to 20 November 2025, six concerts in Bratislava, Košice, and Žilina will present large-scale vocal-instrumental works, concert pieces featuring renowned singers Hilda Gulyás, Matúš Šimko, and Mária Taytakova, as well as soloists such as Milan Paľa, Roman Patkoló, and Branislav Dugovič. Alongside these, the programme will include compositions for string quartet and various chamber ensembles. The festival will showcase the music of nearly thirty Slovak composers, in national or world premieres. In addition to the Slovak State Philharmonic Košice and the Slovak Sinfonietta Žilina, the festival's long-standing partners--the Slovak Philharmonic and the Slovak Radio Symphony Orchestra--will also appear. The concerts will be conducted by seasoned specialists in contemporary music interpretation: Marián Lejava, Pavel Šnajdr, and Ondrej Olos. Two chamber concerts will feature ensembles with long-standing experience in contemporary music: the Mucha Quartet and EnsembleSpectrum, led by its artistic director Matej Sloboda.
Two Symphonies at the Slovak Philharmonic
The opening concert of the festival, on 7 November in the Concert Hall of the Slovak Philharmonic in Bratislava, will be led by Ondrej Olos and feature two works bearing the subtitle Symphony. Both include an essential vocal component with choir and soloists, both inspired by spiritual themes. Ľuboš Bernáth's Via lucis draws on New Testament texts from the mystical Johannine tradition, setting passages from the Gospel of John and the Book of Revelation in Latin. By contrast, Lukáš Borzík's Mother sets twelve prayers to Mary in Slovak, each dedicated to a virtue of silence, offering a fresh perspective on the very meaning of the term "symphony."
Five New Perspectives on the String Quartet
String quartet writing has a long and rich tradition in Slovak music, and continues to flourish today thanks in no small part to the work of ensembles such as the Mucha Quartet. Alongside works by experienced composers in this field--such as Iris Szeghy and Jevgenij Iršai--the programme will present quartets by active string players Milan Paľa and Anton Jaro, as well as biology-inspired quartet studies by Barbora Mišíková. This concert will take place on 10 November in the Small Concert Studio of Slovak Radio in Bratislava.
The Chamber Ensemble as the Most Flexible Medium of Contemporary Music
For many years, EnsembleSpectrum has been among the most active Slovak ensembles dedicated to contemporary music, as evidenced by its rich concert activity and colourful discography. Its extraordinary flexibility of instrumentation and stylistic range, combined with the artistry of its members, guarantees an aesthetically stimulating experience. On 11 November in the Small Concert Studio of Slovak Radio in Bratislava, the ensemble will present works by six distinctive composers, ranging from modern approaches to chamber genres to explorations of sonority and microtonal pitch space.
Košice with a Rich Palette of Compositional Voices
Waves of string-orchestra melancholy, festive jubiloso, offertorium, beat-inspired spleen, and a concentrated orchestral essay--all of these will appear side by side in the programme of the Slovak State Philharmonic Košice. The concert, held on 13 November in the House of Arts, will feature not only another collaboration between the orchestra and conductor Marián Lejava, but also solo performances by soprano Mária Taytakova and clarinetist Branislav Dugovič.
A Duel of Cimbalom and Marimba, and a Tribute to Bratislava's Bridges
The Slovak Radio Symphony Orchestra concert on 14 November in the Large Concert Studio of Slovak Radio in Bratislava will present, with the exception of one work by Adrián Demoč, compositions by four female composers--offering a fascinating confrontation of artistic voices and approaches to medium. Haimoni Balgavá and Barbora Tomášková both explore string textures, the latter also incorporating electronics. Martina Kachlová pays tribute to Bratislava's five bridges in her orchestral suite, while Lenka Novosedlíková channels her compositional energy into dialogues between the unusual solo pair of marimba and cimbalom with orchestra. The concert will be conducted by Pavel Šnajdr, artistic director of the Brno Contemporary Orchestra.
Žilina with Masters of Violin and Double Bass
The Slovak Sinfonietta Žilina, under the baton of Marián Lejava, will present on 20 November in the Fatra House of Arts a programme of chamber-orchestral works by Barbora Mišíková, Terézia Jaďuďová, and Miroslava Haľamová, alongside two larger-scale pieces featuring solo string instruments: Marián Lejava's Skylight Suite for violin and strings, and Pavol Krška's Concerto for Double Bass and Chamber Orchestra. The evening will showcase the artistry of two internationally renowned Slovak musicians--violinist Milan Paľan and double bassist Roman Patkoló.
Organizer: Slovak Composers Society
Co-organizers: Slovak Philharmonic, Slovak State Philharmonic Košice, Slovak Radio, Slovak Sinfonietta Žilina
Main partner: Slovak Arts Council
Supported by: Music Fund, SOZA, Social and Cultural Fund of SOZA, Bratislava Self-Governing Region
Ticket Sales
Slovak Philharmonic Box Office, Bratislava
Online sales and reservations: www.filharmonia.sk ? tickets@filharmonia.sk
Ticket sales for selected concerts (Slovak Radio and Moyzes Hall) available at www.ticketportal.sk or one hour before the concert at the venue.
State Philharmonic Košice Box Office
Online sales: www.sfk.sk
Slovak Chamber Orchestra Žilina
www.skozilina.sk/tickets/ ? tickets@skozilina.sk
ORGANIZERS:
Spolok slovenských skladateľov
Programme
