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. On Tuesday, June 23, at 5:00 p.m. at Klarisky Concert Hall, young guitarists Timotej Streďanský (SK) and László Szegedi (HU) will perform, presenting not only compositions by authors from their home countries but also Mertz’s music.

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 - 24, 2026

Place: Albrecht House, Kapitulská Street 1, Július Kowalski Primary Art School, Židovská Street 1, Bratislava

Aniello DESIDERIO (IT) (22.6.) - Jozef ZSAPKA (SK) (22. 6.) - Costas COTSIOLIS (GR) (23.6.-24.6.) - Petra POLÁČKOVÁ (CZ) (22.6., 24.6.) - Marek NOSAL (PL) (22.6. - 23.6.) - Carlo DOMENICONI (IT) (23.6.) - Raphaella SMITS (BE) (22.-23.6.)

 

RAFAEL AGUIRRE - SOLO

26.06.2026 - 19:00

Thanks to our long-standing excellent collaboration with the Embassy of the Kingdom of Spain in Slovakia, we are able to present top-tier Spanish soloists to our wonderful audience every year. The successful young guitarist Rafael Aguirre is currently one of the most sought-after performers on the international scene. His programs are a balanced combination of traditional classical guitar music and compositions with elements of flamenco and Latin American music.

CARLO DOMENICONI - PORTRAIT

25.06.2026 - 19:00

The double concert on the evening of Thursday, June 25, at the Klarisky Concert Hall will feature two long-time friends of our festival. Greek guitarist and educator Jorgos Panetsos, who is based in Austria and whose artistic beginnings were closely tied to our event, will once again perform for the Bratislava audience after many years. His solo program, featuring the famous Koyunbaba suite, will introduce listeners to the unique music of the world-renowned Italian composer Carlo Domeniconi.

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 top-tier ensembles proves that the world of classical guitar would struggle to exist without chamber music. At the concert on Wednesday, June 24, at 7:00 p.m.

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.