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Dear friends,
50th Guitar Festival of J. K. Mertz
KOLKOVIČ - GODÁR
24.06.2026 - 17:00
Two early-evening festival concerts at 5:00 p.m. at the Klarisky Concert Hall will feature Slovak performers and original Slovak guitar compositions.
On Wednesday, June 24, compositions by Vladimír Godár and Jozef Kolkovič will be performed by Ondrej Veselý, members of the Bratislava Guitar Quartet, cellist Jozef Lupták, and singer Eva Šušková.
PROGRAMME:
MERTZ FOR 2
23.06.2026 - 17:00
This year marks the 220th anniversary of the birth and the 170th anniversary of the death of J. K. Mertz, a native of Bratislava and one of the most significant guitarists and composers of early Romantic guitar music. Two festival concerts, Mertz for 2 and J. K. Mertz Gala, will be dedicated to the work of our guitar genius on Tuesday, June 23.
BERNÁTH - KOMPAS - MACHAJDÍK
22.06.2026 - 17:00
Two early-evening festival concerts at 5:00 p.m. at Klarisky Concert Hall will feature Slovak performers and original Slovak guitar compositions.
On Monday, June 22, the program will feature compositions by Ľuboš Bernáth, Karol Kompas, and Peter Machajdík, performed by guitarists Vladimír Ondrejčák and Karol Kompas, violinist Samuel Mikláš, and violinist and violist Blanka Ondrejčáková.
PROGRAMME:
Education 2026
21.06.2026 - 08:00
MASTERCLASSES
June 22 - 25, 2026
Place: Albrecht House, Kapitulská Street 1, Július Kowalski Primary Art School, Židovská Street 1, Bratislava
Aniello DESIDERIO (IT) (June 22) - Jozef ZSAPKA (SK) (June 22) - Costas COTSIOLIS (GR) (June 23-25) - Petra POLÁČKOVÁ (CZ) (June 22, 24) - Marek NOSAL (PL) (June 22 - 23)
Tentative schedule (the exact schedule will be published after the close of entries)
RAFAEL AGUIRRE - SOLO
26.06.2026 - 19:00
The phenomenal Spanish guitarist RAFAEL AGUIRRE is enjoying great success on stages around the world as a sought-after performer of Spanish music. The format of the solo guitar recital is truly his forte, and in addition to works by classical composers, he will also perform music by the world-renowned Paco de Lucía.
CARLO DOMENICONI - PORTRAIT
25.06.2026 - 19:00
Jorgos PANETSOS, a longtime friend of the Bratislava Festival whose artistic beginnings were intertwined with our event, returns once again to perform before his beloved audience.
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“Domeniconi’s music seeks repeatedly the synthesis of East and West. He seems able to take the quintessence of different cultures and tell them anew. A hypnotic inevitability goes through his music.” (Michel Lydon, Soundboard magazine, New York)
ENSEMBLES
24.06.2026 - 19:00
CHAMBER GUITAR MUSIC from Central Europe has always had a place and a purpose at the festival. Its presentation by today’s leading ensembles proves that the world of classical guitar would struggle to exist without chamber music.
Performers: Marek Nosal & Jakub Moroziński Duo, Guitar Ensemble of the Ferenc Liszt Academy in Budapest led by Erika Czakó.
J. K. MERTZ GALA
23.06.2026 - 19:00
This year marks the 220th anniversary of the birth and the 170th anniversary of the death of J. K. Mertz, a native of Bratislava and one of the most significant guitarists and composers of early Romantic guitar music. On Tuesday, June 23, at 7:00 p.m., the Klarisky Concert Hall will be taken over by artists who have dedicated their artistic lives to Mertz’s music — RAPHAELLA SMITS, PAVEL STEIDL and PETRA POLÁČKOVÁ, together with Slovak performers MARTIN KRAJČO and MATÚŠ ŠIMKO. The J. K.
LEO BROUWER - PORTRAIT
22.06.2026 - 19:00
The renowned Cuban composer Leo Brouwer undoubtedly deserves our attention! It was a major event when he personally visited Bratislava in 2015 as a special guest of the festival’s 40th edition. He will be present at the 50th edition through his music. His compositional portrait will be directed by the most qualified person for the job - Greek virtuoso Costas Cotsolis, who has invited our Bratislava Guitar Quartet to join him. Monday evening, June 22 at 7:00 p.m.