International stars at Bratislava music festivities

The largest classical music event in the country starts on Friday in the Slovak capital. Bratislava music festivities, in its 55^th year, will bring the Royal Philharmonic Orchestra London, English Baroque Soloists & the Monteverdi Choir, and the Philharmonia Orchestra London to the Slovak capital in this year of hard Brexit talks. The festival will also present Finish Radio Symphonic Orchestra, Prague Radio Symphony Orchestra as well as Slovak Radio Symphony Orchestra. The world famous Munich Philharmonic will be followed by the world renowned Mariinsky Theatre Orchestra from St. Petersburg playing Rodion Shchedrin and Sergei Prokofiev, and later on by Vienna Philharmonic Orchestra playing Rachmaninov and Stravinski. As to the soloists, the Bratislava festival will pay tribute to the fire-damaged Notre Dame Cathedral by featuring organist Olivier Latry. The top star of this year is Latvian mezzo Elīna Garanča. The Slovak stars include young talents, renowned composers and also the Slovak Phil[harmonic], which will open and close the Bratislava music festival on Friday, September 27 and on Sunday, October 13.