AUSTRIA
Ars Electronica International Media Art Festival, August 31 – September 5, Linz. The program of the world's largest international festival of arts and modern technologies, Ars Electronica, is usually very diverse. It includes presentations of designer computer films, commercials with advanced special effects, and computer animation works. In addition, Ars Electronica is also a festival of electronic music – receiving awards there is highly prestigious. The main attraction at Ars Electronica is interactive installations that draw the public with rich gaming and visual possibilities. //www.aec.at
International Haydn Days, September 7-17, Eisenstadt. The annual Haydn music festival takes place at the Esterházy Palace. It was there, during his forty years of service to the Esterházy family, renowned throughout Europe for their patronage of the arts, that Haydn wrote most of his works. The festival opens with a performance of the oratorio "The Creation" (September 7 and 8), followed by the masses Heiligmesse and Paukenmesse (September 10 and 17), and a concert version of the opera "Acis and Galatea" (September 15). //www.haydnfestival.at
St. Rupert's Festival, September 21-25, Salzburg. St. Rupert is the founder and patron saint of modern Salzburg. In the 8th century, the city, known only for its salt mines, was literally transformed by St. Rupert and until 1815 was considered a large autonomous diocese. Rupert became the first Archbishop of Salzburg. Under him, the construction of St. Peter's Monastery began and the cathedral was founded, around which the main action of the festival unfolds. In the small squares of the city, brass bands will play and traveling theaters will perform. Throughout these days, a fair will operate in Salzburg, and a huge carousel will be set up for children in the central square. //www.salzburg-altstadt.at
BELGIUM
Sand Sculpture Festival, until September 17, Bruges. In Bruges, known for its ice sculpture festivals, a sand sculpture festival is taking place for the first time. The theme of the festival is "A Thousand Years of Bruges History." The sand city has been created by teams of sculptors from the USA, Russia, China, Great Britain, Spain, Italy, and France. A "guidebook" has been specially released for the festival, containing historical and cultural information about Bruges, as well as descriptions of the concepts of the sand sculptures. The festival program also includes water and light music shows. //www.zandsculptuur.com
Heritage Days, September 9-10, Liège, Namur, Charleroi, and other cities of Wallonia; September 16-17, Brussels. As part of the "Cultural Heritage" program in Wallonia (Wallonia is the five southern provinces of Belgium where French is the most widely spoken language), medieval festivals will take place, bringing to life the medieval architecture of the cities and reviving their medieval atmosphere. This is, of course, facilitated by period costumes, music, authentic musical instruments, street theater performances, and craft markets. If someone is not attracted to noisy costumed festivities, they can simply look at the architectural monuments, of which there are plenty. Special excursion and exhibition programs will be organized in Wallonia on these days. In Brussels, "Heritage Days" will take place the following weekend and will be remembered primarily for educational, cultural, and sports events, as the theme of the festival this year is "Mind and Body." //www.journeesdupatrimoine.be
BULGARIA
Puppet Theater Festival, September 16-20, Plovdiv. At the annual Puppet Theater Festival in Plovdiv, about 20 troupes from different countries around the world present their best performances. On open and closed stages of the city, you can watch up to four performances a day, and also vote for the audience award for the most deserving. Alongside the puppet shows, special exhibitions and master classes on making puppets and marionettes using classical and latest technologies will be held during the festival days. //www.plovdivcityguide.com
UNITED KINGDOM
Curry Festival, September 10-16; Thames Festival, September 16-17, London. The International Curry Festival is a major gastronomic celebration held in London's Brick Lane area. There, over the course of a week, you can get acquainted with the traditional cuisine of Bangladesh, India, and Pakistan – both in restaurants and on the street. Live music and exotic dances will create the right atmosphere for the curry festival. The opening day of the festival is the most entertainment-packed.
The Thames Festival, beloved by Londoners, is usually localized in the city center during the day, and in the evening and at night – on the embankment. Live music, fireworks, costumed parades, a huge fair in Riverside – a traditional set of entertainments at this celebration, which will end with a big carnival on Sunday evening. //www.bricklanefestival.com //www.visitlondon.com //www.thamesfestival.org
Open House Festival, September 27 - October 1, Belfast. Fiery Irish music, classic blues, punk rock, Cajun – this combination of musical styles will dominate the eighth Open House Festival in Belfast. Hayseed Dixie, Tribute to Johnny Cash, Dirk Powell, Beoga, Agnostic Mountain Gospel Choir – these are just some of the names of the participants in this festival, the total number of which is about 70. As part of the festival, an exhibition of posters by Jim Johnston will open, thematic film screenings will take place, and master classes will be held. //www.openhousefestival.com
GERMANY
Beer festivals: Oktoberfest, September 16 – October 3, Munich; Cannstatter Volksfest, September 23 – October 8, Stuttgart. Six million in “beer paradise” – that is Munich's Oktoberfest, which has worldwide fame. The occasion for the two-week beer revelry was once the wedding of Ludwig of Bavaria and Theresa of Saxony. Since then, every year on the Theresienwiese (“Theresa's meadow”), the main action of the beer festival takes place, and on opening day a solemn procession arrives there, consisting of columns of marksmen, brass bands, beer wagons, and crowds of people in national costumes. Leading the procession is a girl with a bell (symbol of Munich). Competitions, games, dances, Bavarian songs are inevitable after consuming beer from liter mugs. The beer should be accompanied by Bavarian sausages, fish sticks, roasted pork knuckles with sauerkraut, and pretzels.
In Stuttgart, besides the traditional consumption of beer with accompanying parades and dances, during the Cannstatter Volksfest they also raft and hold hot air balloon competitions. //www.oktoberfest.de //www.cannstatter-volksfest.de
Festivals in Berlin, September. In September, a huge number of Berlin festivals start – everyone can choose entertainment to their taste. We will list the most interesting ones. From August 26 to September 10, the Kreuzberg Festival will take place – an international district of Berlin where many ethnic and social cultures meet. Carnival processions, dances, sports competitions, exotic dishes and drinks, fireworks, and lots of music – that is the traditional program of the festival. By the way, it will all end with a big concert of Irish music. //www.kreuzberger-festliche-tage.de
The classical music festival Musikfest will take place from September 1 to 17. The festival program includes daily concerts at the Berlin Philharmonic with participation of chamber music groups and large orchestras, among them this year the symphony orchestras of Philadelphia, Cleveland, and Birmingham. //www.berlinerfestspiele.de
On the second weekend of September (8-9), the Berlin district of Köpenick will turn into the “whisky capital.” That is exactly the goal of the organizers of the festival Whisky-Herbst, which first took place in 2000. Seminars and tastings await whisky fans, though the number of places is limited, and tickets should be considered in advance. On September 9, a presentation of various whisky varieties from around the world is expected. //www.whisky-herbst.de
The Popkomm Festival is famous for being an international business platform in the music field. It consists of three parts – an exhibition, a congress, and the actual music festival, which will take place in the 20 most prestigious clubs in Berlin. Both renowned artists and young talents participate in the festival. Dates: September 20-22. //www1.messe-berlin.de
The Samba Festival will take place at the end of September (21-24). It is sometimes called “Days of Living Brazil,” which is generally true. The first two days of the festival are devoted to drumming competitions and dance master classes, which this year will be conducted by Brazilian Ivo Meirelles. On September 23, dance competitions will be held, and on September 24, a real Brazilian mini-carnival will take place. //www.sambasyndrom.de
International Fireworks Competition, September 1-2, Berlin; September 9 and 23, Hanover. The international fireworks show Pyronale 2006 will take place in Berlin on the “May Field” of the Olympic Stadium. Teams from Poland, China, and Portugal will perform on the first day of the festival, and from Great Britain, Italy, and Russia on the second. A circus program has been prepared especially for this festival.
In Hanover, the fireworks competition takes place in the city's Great Garden. The fireworks display is accompanied by classical music; special boats offer visitors various food and drinks, and in the garden, concerts, theatrical performances, and cabaret shows take place day and evening. This year, pyrotechnicians from the Czech Republic (September 9) and Canada (September 23) participate in the competition. Entrance ticket price: €18. //www.pyronale.com //www.hannover.de
GREECE
Arts Festival, September, Athens. The Arts Festival, taking place in the ancient open-air theater “Petra,” can easily compete in program richness with the famous Athens Festival held at the Odeon of Herodes Atticus. In September, theater and musical performances will be held almost daily at the festival. Among the theatrical performances, one can highlight Aeschylus' tragedy “The Persians” (September 3), Aristophanes' comedy “Plutus” (September 18), as well as performances based on the plays “Naples – City of Millionaires” by Eduardo de Filippo (September 23) and “The House of Bernarda Alba” by Federico García Lorca (September 5). Among the musical performances, it is worth paying attention to the ballet “Queen Margot” performed by the Belgrade Theater troupe and a concert of Greek song and dance. //www.cultureguide.gr
DENMARK
Copenhagen Blues Festival, September 20-23; International Film Festival, September 21 – October 1, Copenhagen. The end of September in the Danish capital will be saturated with festival events. First, about 60 live concerts will take place at the annual Copenhagen Blues Festival, where performances by musicians such as The Fabulous Thunderbirds (September 20), Corey Harris (22), Sherman Robertson (21), and Gary Primich (21) are expected. Among this year's innovations is a special daytime project of blues concerts on open-air stages in the city.
The world premiere of the latest film (“The Boss of It All”) by famous Danish director Lars von Trier will open the International Film Festival in Copenhagen. A detailed program and description of competing films will be published on the festival's official website on September 3. //www.copenhagenbluesfestival.dk //www.copenhagenfilmfestival.dk
Arts Festival, September 1-10, Aarhus. The largest Scandinavian arts festival in Aarhus has a solid forty-year history. Its program is usually rich and varied: opera performances, ballet, theater festival, concerts of classical and contemporary music, sports competitions, film festival. This year's festival theme is “Women,” so expect both cultural twists (“the image of the ideal woman through the ages”) and numerous women's performances. //www.aarhusfestuge.dk
SPAIN
Running of the Bulls (Semana de Toros), September 4-10, Segorbe; September 9-11, Cardona. The traditional bull runs and subsequent bullfight in Segorbe, near Valencia, open with a thrilling spectacle: horsemen drive the bulls from their pens, and they race through the narrow city streets to the main square. During the fiesta, there are many music concerts and the traditional ham festival Feria del Jamon on Cathedral Square, where you can taste national cuisine and local wines. Events in Cardona at the traditional Corre del Bou follow roughly the same script. //www.comunitatvalenciana.com //www.ajcardona.org
Fiesta in Honor of the Virgin of Health, September 7-19, Algemesí. Fiesta de La Virgen de la Salud is the name of this Valencian celebration that made the small town of Algemesí famous. The first days of the fiesta are quite serious – solemn masses and processions in honor of the Virgin. Then the celebration moves into the stage of traditional Spanish entertainment: fairs, songs, dances, local food and drink on every corner. But the most interesting is the muixeranga, which begins at the very end of the fiesta. The muixeranga is a festival of street dances with displays of gymnastic pyramids, whose height can be mind-boggling. //www.algemesi.com
Festival “Rome and Carthage,” September 22 – October 1, Cartagena. “Will Rome or Carthage dictate laws to the world”? Sacred fire is lit, and for ten days Cartagena plunges into the era of the Punic Wars. The festival events unfold as follows: declaration of enmity with Rome, Hannibal’s wedding, Roman circus, chess tournament, declaration of war on Rome, landing of Carthaginians in the port and bribery of mercenaries, march of troops to Puente del Estadio. Then the Roman army gathers under the leadership of “the interlocutor of the gods” Scipio, and the Romans rush into battle. After their victory, they march triumphantly through the city streets. The festival ends with the extinguishing of the sacred fire and fireworks. //www.carthaginesesyromanos.org //www.ayto-cartagena.es
ITALY
63rd Venice Film Festival, August 30 – September 9. This is one of the oldest European film festivals, held on the Lido island. The main feature of this year's festival is that all films in the main competition have world premiere status, and half of the 20 announced films are debut works. The festival opens with the premiere of the new film “The Black Dahlia” (in Russian release it is called “The Black Orchid”) directed by Brian De Palma. This work, along with debutant Allen Coulter’s film “Hollywoodland,” are considered the main contenders for the top award – the Golden Lion. It is worth adding that the festival will feature premieres of Oliver Stone’s “World Trade Center” and Kenneth Branagh’s “The Magic Flute.” Russian cinema will be represented by Ivan Vyrypaev’s film “Euphoria.” //www.labiennale.org
Feast of Madonna di Piedigrotta, September 5-12; Pizzafest, September 7-17, Naples. The most mysterious holiday in Naples – Madonna di Piedigrotta – is associated with the expectation of the miracle of the appearance of the Mother of God. Each year a special mass is held, sacred hymns are sung, but only once every fifty years the Madonna silently comes out of her church, and her return must be truly spectacular: it is accompanied by a sea procession along the coastline to the Mergellina hill (where Virgil is buried). The last time the Madonna appeared was in 1967, but every year people hope to see her again.
And for those who do not believe in miracles much, the smell of pizza will attract them to Naples, hovering over the city center from September 7 to 17. Pizza is the favorite dish and pride of Neapolitans, so a whole holiday is dedicated to it – Pizzafest. This year’s main festival formula looks like this: pizza + bibita + caffe + limoncello = €8. //www.ept.napoli.it //www.pizzafest.info
Festival “Music in September,” September 2-24, Turin. In Turin, throughout September, music of all styles and directions will be heard. Every day – three or four concerts at various venues: in museums, theaters, parks, cultural centers, and cathedrals. On September 3, Vivaldi’s music will be heard in the Royal Gardens in the afternoon, and in the evening at the conservatory. On September 4, a solo concert by guitarist Ralph Towner will take place, and on September 8, by Victoria Abril. On September 12, the London Gay Men's Chorus will perform, and on the 19th, the Vietnamese ensemble Cong Chieng Tay Nguyen. The festival will conclude with a large concert where three symphony orchestras will perform Mozart. The full program of concerts can be found on the official website. By the way, the most expensive ticket at this festival costs €33, and many concerts are free entry. //www.comune.torino.it
CYPRUS
International Kypria Festival 2006, September 4 – October 11, Larnaca. This festival is one of the most notable events in the cultural life of the Greek part of Cyprus. The main stage for the festival this year will be the Municipal Theatre of Larnaca, where opera and ballet artists will perform, and theater performances and music concerts will take place. Artists from many countries around the world will participate in the festival. //www.cyprustourism.org
Arts Festival, September 22-24, Ayia Napa. The annual September festival in Ayia Napa is primarily a musical event. This year, spectators will see performances by folk dance groups (September 23 and 24), a jazz concert (23), a night concert by the famous Greek singer Alkistis Protopsalti (September 22), as well as a musical show performed by the ballet troupe and choir "Diastasis". On the first and last day of the festival – fireworks. //www.cyprustourism.org
Wine Festival, August 28 – September 10, Limassol. For over 6,000 years, Cyprus has been making wine and, of course, knows how to hold a real wine festival. The festival begins with a demonstration of the traditional method of crushing grapes, followed by Cypriot music, dancing, tasting of national dishes and free local wine on tap in the city park. The Cypriot wines "Aphrodite" and "Othello", white and red muscats, are good. Village and monastery wines, prepared according to their own local recipes, are no less impressive. And best of all is the ancient "Commandaria" ("wine of kings and queen of wines"). //www.visitcyprus.org.cy
NETHERLANDS
Port Festival, September 1-3; Military Drummers Festival, September 27 – October 1, Rotterdam. You can get to know the vibrant life of the largest port – from land, water, and air – at the traditional festival in Rotterdam. From September 27 to October 1, land excursions, boat cruises, and helicopter tours will be organized. The festival will feature a huge market, and a lot of musical entertainment is expected.
Military Tattoo festivals take place across Europe with great success and represent a musical and theatrical performance involving military bands, drum and pipe bands. The Dutch concerts will take place at the Rotterdam Sports Palace. //www.wereldhavenfestival.nl //www.nationaletaptoe.nl
POLAND
Festival "Biography of Gdansk" and Dumpling Festival, September 22-24, Gdansk. The city festival "Biography of Gdansk" is primarily dedicated to the cultural traditions of the city's numerous ethnic groups. The festival will begin with a parade, and then over two days you can get acquainted with the music, dance, art of Gdansk, as well as the national cuisine. By the way, the organizers promise that on September 24, at literally every corner, everyone will be treated to dumplings with meat, liver, fish, cottage cheese, and apples. //www.gdansk.pl
FRANCE
Music Festival Jazz a la Villette, August 30 - September 10, Paris. From August 30 to September 10, you can listen to autumn jazz concerts both on open-air stages in the Parc de la Villette during the day (completely free), and in the evening – in one of the best concert halls in Paris, the Cite de la Musique ("City of Music"). The festival will mainly feature experimental jazz, which makes it doubly interesting. Among the festival participants are Mingus Dynasty, Omar, Saul Williams, Archie Shepp, and Guru's Jazzmatazz. //www.cite-musique.fr
Grand Night Party, September 2, 8, 9, 15, 16, Versailles. In the Neptune Basin at Versailles, a series of September costume concerts will take place, which this year are thematically dedicated to the betrothal of young Louis XV (he was 11 years old) to the Spanish Infanta (she was 3.5 years old) and have the following ironic subtitle – "Favorite Royal Entertainments, in 10 acts". One can expect both costume ballet scenes performed by artists and water-optic-musical shows. Live music concerts and fireworks are mandatory. //www.chateauversailles.fr //www.chateauversailles-spectacles.fr
Folk and Wine Festivals, August 30 – September 3; Wine Press Festival, September 16-17, Burgundy. The wonderful idea of combining folk and wine festivals is realized in Dijon. 200 folk groups from around the world will compete at the Sports Palace, and an international jury will evaluate their skill. Food and Burgundy wine lovers can taste it all day on September 4 in unlimited quantities.
And on September 16 and 17, in the ancient town of Chenôve, a festival of wine presses will take place, built back in 1238 by the Dukes of Burgundy. These wine presses produced wine for six whole centuries, and now they are declared historical monuments of national importance. At one of the wineries, which has been completely restored, visitors will follow step by step the ancient process of making wine.
While tasting wine and Burgundy snails, you can listen to live jazz, or you can choose "village" entertainments: dance folk dances, place bets on "cart races", and try village smoked sausage and roast pork. //www.burgundy-tourism.com
CROATIA
International Theatre Festival, September 15-22, Zagreb. This theatre festival certainly does not have the fame of the Avignon Festival, but theatres and directors with world renown agree to participate: this September, the festival will feature the play "Moscow Choir" directed by Lev Dodin (September 15, 16), also making it there is Peter Brook's play "Sizwe Banzi is Dead" (16 and 17), which has been toured at numerous theatre festivals, and Jan Fabre's choreographic composition "Angel of Death" (19-21). The festival program also includes performances by Lithuanian director Oskaras Koršunovas's "Romeo and Juliet" (18, 19) and "The Heavenly Cinematograph" by Italian Danio Manfredini (21, 22). //www.zagrebtheatrefestival.hr
International Festival "New Cinema", September 25 – October 1, Split. According to the festival organizers, it is "open to everything innovative, radical, auteur, experimental, breaking established norms and rules in film, video, and media art". Alongside film screenings, the festival will feature exhibitions of interactive installations and performances. The jury will evaluate experimental works by newcomers and experienced masters in the field of visual art in different categories. //www.splitfilmfestival.hr
CZECH REPUBLIC
Prague Autumn Festival, September 12 – October 1, Prague. The Prague Autumn has recently become one of the major events in European cultural life. This year the festival has invited the BBC Philharmonic Orchestra (concerts on September 12 and 13), the Tchaikovsky Symphony Orchestra (19 and 20), the Danish National Orchestra (21 and 22), the Armenian Philharmonic Orchestra (September 29), and the Osipov State Russian Folk Orchestra (September 16). A special concert program has been prepared for the 100th anniversary of Dmitri Shostakovich's birth. //www.pragueautumn.cz
SWITZERLAND
Unspunnen Festival, September 2-4, Interlaken. The ancient Unspunnen Festival, which has been held for 200 years, is dedicated to Alpine shepherds, so all the entertainment at this celebration is simple and ancient. At Unspunnen, you can see genuine folk dances, stone throwing competitions, listen to unusual yodeling (a special song genre of Alpine mountaineers) and the alphorn. On the last day of the festival, there will be a costume procession. //www.unspunnenfest.ch
Wine Festival, September 16-17, Geneva. Near Geneva is a typical Swiss village of Russin. It is here that every year a wine festival dedicated to the grape harvest takes place. Many Swiss winemakers will gather at the festival to present more than 150 varieties of wine. Two days of fun with music, parades and even a ball on the last festive day will be a worthy setting for tasting the local young wine. //www.russin.ch
Swiss World Music Festival, September 6-10, Geneva. The international music festival in Geneva will gather performers from around the world and present music of all directions and styles, which is actually reflected in its name. On September 6, Latin American and Brazilian music will be heard, on September 7 - African, on September 8 - Flamenco Day, on the 9th - Gypsy Music Day. On the last day of the festival, there will be a carnival procession in the city. //www.world-festival.ch