The Slovak Radio Symphonic Orchestra under the baton of Swiss conductor Lars Mlekusch will open the 16th biannual Melos-Etos International Contemporary Music Festival in Bratislava on Tuesday. “The soloists of the evening will be Belgian pianist Daan Vandewalle, who will play a piece called 'A Dog's Life' by Frederic Rzewski, and British soprano Juliet Fraser, who will interpret the second composition of the evening, 'Neither' by Morton Feldman," said the festival organisers, adding that both pieces will be premiered in Slovakia. Melos-Etos is returning with the subtitle 'Homage' and will present nine concerts. Over eight days, the festival will feature more than 150 performers from Slovakia, the Czech Republic, Switzerland, Belgium, Japan, Great Britain and the USA. "With its programme, the festival will pay tribute to its founders, as well as important figures of world music of the 20th and 21st centuries who visited Bratislava," said the organisers. The festival will touch on the war in Ukraine, with the final concert presenting a piece called 'Null' by Ukrainian composer Victoria Poleva. The opening concert will take place in the Large Concert Studio of Slovak Radio. Further concerts will be held in the Moyzes Hall, Mirbach Palace and A4 Space for Contemporary Culture. The Melos-Etos Festival is the largest Slovak showcase of domestic and foreign contemporary music, taking place every two years since 1991. Its origin is related to the events of November 1989, which eased restrictions. Its chief organiser is the Music Centre.
Source: TASR
