Of course, the interesting and rare spectacles of July include the ship races in Newcastle, the Antique Festival in Trier, and opera performances in the ancient amphitheater of Verona. More details about these and other events of the upcoming month are in the next issue of the European poster from Gazeta.Ru.
AUSTRIA
Vienna Jazz Festival, June 27 - July 29, Vienna. For the whole month, until the end of July, Vienna will be captured by the jazz festival. Numerous concerts will take place at various venues: at the Vienna Opera, the concert hall in the Museumsquartier, the Arkadenhof town hall, outdoors in the Spittelau area, at the Chamber Opera, and at the Porgy and Bess club.
On July 10, Jamie Cullen will perform at the festival; on July 12 and 16 - Bob Barnard; on July 25 - Brazilian Girls; on July 28 - Michel Legrand; on July 29 - Bobby McFerrin & Chick Corea. //www.viennajazz.org
Street Festival Pflasterspektakel, July 21-23, Linz. The street art festival is one of the most cheerful and fairy-tale events, with roots in medieval public square art. 38 venues, large and small, will be prepared in Linz for performances by 500 artists: sorcerers and magicians, mimes and acrobats. Every day during the day, magicians, jugglers and acrobats will perform at the festival, and after ten in the evening, music shows, fireworks and mini-parades begin. Special entertainment for children is prepared in Landhaus Park. //www.linz.at
BELGIUM
"Cactus Festival", July 8-10, Bruges. As always, Bruges awaits these three days of alternative music to once again come to the beloved park "Lakes of Love" (Minnewaterpark). It is there that futurist musicians and budetlyane spectators will gather for the festival of informal music. On July 8, Funlovin' Criminals will perform at "Cactus", on July 9 - Babylon Circus, The Presidents of the USA, and on July 10 - Konono N1 and Lauryn Hill & Band. //www.cactusmusic.be
Ghent Festival, July 16-25, Ghent. Over 10 days at the Ghent Festival you can catch knight tournaments (the medieval city center will be a wonderful backdrop for creating the right historical atmosphere), horse racing, giant parades, hot air balloon competitions, and fireworks. Over the past 160 years of this festival, the traditional program has changed little. Four 'cross-cutting' festivals deserve special attention, the winners of which will be determined on the last day: a blues festival, a dance festival, a street theater festival, and a puppet theater festival. //www.gent.be
UNITED KINGDOM
Folk Festival, July 23-25, Warwick. Warwick is famous for its ancient castle. At the end of July, a flood of guests is expected here - this time for the folk festival, which will be held for the 25th time. Fairs, live music, booths, and amusements will fully match the folk spirit of the festival. //www.warwickfolkfest.demon.co.uk
Tall Ships' Races, July 23-28, Newcastle. This is considered the best maritime festival in England, the most spectacular and musical. Over four days, about a million people will watch competitions of large old ships (the kind that carried tea from China to Europe), which are beautifully illuminated at night. At the festival finale, on July 27, a grand music concert will take place, and on July 28 - a parade of sailing vessels, which also serves as a farewell to the ships and their crews. In 2005, such competitions will be held in Ireland, France and Norway. //www.visitnewcastlegateshead.com
Lady Godiva Festival, July 8-10, Coventry. Lady Godiva is the main symbol of Coventry. Grateful townspeople even erected a monument to this legendary woman and consider her their patroness. All she had to do was decide to fulfill the jocular condition of her husband: he would remove the excessively heavy taxes from the townspeople if Lady Godiva rode naked through the whole city. Which she did, to the admiration of the citizens, who, according to legend, did not dare raise their eyes to their intercessor, except for Peeping Tom, whose name has become a byword (meaning unhealthy curiosity). And so on Saturday, a procession will again pass through the streets of Coventry, led by the naked Lady Godiva on horseback, and then the festivities will differ little from ordinary carnival events. //www.godivafestival.co.uk
International Street Festival, July 18 - August 7, Liverpool. In the middle of summer, hospitable Liverpool will become the center of street culture: the best street theater and circus troupes, dancers and musicians from Europe, Palestine, Kenya, Brazil and Cape Verde will come here. The main festival events will take place on the city's main squares and at the Albert Dock (former port buildings, now a famous entertainment center). You can find out the full festival program on the official website; the main events will be: July 18-20 - Latin American Days; July 23 - Grand Carnival; July 26 - International Street Theater Day; August 3-4 - children's festival. //www.brouhaha.uk.com
GERMANY
Antique Festival, until July 16, Trier. Until mid-July, music and theater performances will continue at the Antique Festival in Trier. This year's program includes Verdi's 'Attila', a live concert by Konstantin Wecker, and many other wonderful works and performers. //www.antikenfestspiele.de
Summer Festival Fleetinsel, July 16-25, Hamburg. The main events of this ten-day festival are located between the Elbe and Lake Alster. This year, the following themes will be relevant at Fleetinsel: culture, art, and cuisine. The festival organizers assure that the lineup of participants is expected to be very interesting - primarily theater companies from many countries. The musical theme this year is Cuban and Brazilian. At numerous parties and tastings, the best Hamburg chefs will demonstrate their art. //www.bwp-events.de
GREECE
Festival of Ancient Drama, June 24 - August 27, Epidaurus. Which monument of ancient architecture has been preserved best in Epidaurus? The theater. The backdrop of the stage (or "skene") is the mountains of Argolis, the plane trees and pines of the sanctuary of Asclepius. And the whisper of actors is heard as well in the last row as in the first. On Fridays and Saturdays, ancient drama will come to life in this theater: audiences will see new productions of classical Greek tragedy and comedy as part of the summer festival. On July 8 and 9, audiences will see Euripides' "The Bacchae", on July 15, 16, 22 and 23 - Aristophanes' comedies "The Acharnians" and "Peace", and on July 29 and 30 - Sophocles' tragedy "Oedipus at Colonus". //www.greekfestival.gr
SPAIN
Bull runs and the fiesta of Saint Fermin, July 6-14, Pamplona. These contests were first held about 400 years ago, and now bull runs are an integral part of the grand fiesta in Pamplona. It is dedicated to the patron saint of the city, Saint Fermin. The most exciting moments of the holiday come when enraged bulls are released onto the narrow streets of the city, and brave volunteers try to outrun them. Note that casualties are usually unavoidable. Perhaps that is why on the eve of the fiesta (July 5) there will be an alternative naked run in protest against the cruel bull runs.
ITALY
Festival of Arts, July 1-17, Spoleto. Every year the Festival of Arts in Spoleto brings together the best world performers and discovers new stars. The festival program includes classical music concerts, opera, ballet, theatrical performances, numerous art exhibitions and film screenings. The detailed program of the festival will soon be published on the official website. www.spoletofestival.it
Opera Festival, June 17 - August 31, Verona. This world-famous festival is held in the ancient amphitheater "Arena di Verona" (built in the 1st century AD under Emperor Augustus). The "archaeological theater" seats 16,000 spectators. The first opera performance took place in August 1913, when Verdi's "Aida" was given. Since then, staging the best operas and performing at the festival by the best artists has become an established tradition. The audience of "Arena di Verona" has heard the voices of Maria Callas, Placido Domingo, Luciano Pavarotti, José Carreras and other opera celebrities. In July, audiences will see Puccini's "La Bohème" (9, 13, 23 and 28), "Nabucco" (15, 19 and 29) and Verdi's "Aida" (10, 14, 17, 20, 24 and 27). On July 12, 16, 21 and 30, you can watch the opera "La Gioconda" by Amilcare Ponchielli, with the leading role performed by opera star Andrea Gruber. //www.arena.it
CYPRUS
Children's Festival Euroadventure, July 15-17; Amathus Festival, July 27-29, Limassol. The Cypriot Euroadventure festival combines two passions, two loves of the Cypriots - for children and for Europe. Children's song and dance groups will show their skills in the Municipal Recreation Park. National dances and songs can be contemplated, and national dishes can be tasted in the open air. At the very end of July, Limassol will host a festival of traditional folk and modern music. //www.visitcyprus.org.cy
NETHERLANDS
Summer Carnival, July 29-30, Rotterdam. The Summer Carnival in Rotterdam gains more and more scale every year, although at first it was just a parade with the participation of small ethnic groups - immigrants from Cape Verde, the Antilles and Suriname. The exotic spirit of the carnival persists to this day. The celebration will open with a parade of brass bands, followed by costumed parades, and music of various styles and trends will sound on the streets of the city - everyone can choose entertainment to their liking. //www.ducos.com
FINLAND
Sea Festival, July 28-31, Kotka. This largest sea festival in the country has existed since 1962, so the festival traditions are quite solid. The celebration takes place in the beautiful city port and consists of several parts. First, of course, there are all kinds of spectacular races on sailboats, yachts, motorboats and regular boats. Second, there is a children's sea festival with fun competitions and contests. Third, there is a jazz mini-festival and a sea songs contest. And also a sea market and tasting of seafood dishes. //www.visitfinland.com
FRANCE
Bastille Day, July 13-14, Paris and other cities. In July, as always, one of the grandest French holidays will be magnificently celebrated - Bastille Day. The celebration will open with a military parade, and then for two days the capital of France will be filled with fun: balls, illuminations, picnics. It seems that absolutely everyone takes part in the festivities here. The celebration will end with a magnificent fireworks display over the city.
Fireworks Festival, July 14, 21, 29, Cannes. In July, many French cities will host illumination holidays and fireworks festivals (for example, July 8-9 in Villandry, and July 10-14 in the famous resort town of Cap-d'Agde). But this festival takes place with particular scope in Cannes, where international teams of pyrotechnics experts from Spain, England, Canada, Italy and France gather. It is the combination of music and color effects that the jury will evaluate. This year's festival themes: "Carnival", "Summer Night", "Blue Color". //www.festival-pyrotechnique-cannes.com
CROATIA
International Folklore Festival, July 20-24, Zagreb. The ancient city of Zagreb hosts folk music groups from around the world every year at the end of July. This year, dancers and musicians from the Czech Republic, Hungary, Bulgaria, Serbia, Turkey, Spain, Sweden, Egypt and other countries will take part in the evening concerts. No less interesting will be specially prepared exhibitions and presentations at the Museum of Ethnography. On July 20 and 21, as part of the festival, there will be a concert of Irish music "Sounds and Reflections of Ireland". On July 23, the Russian folk ensemble "Drevo" will perform at the festival. //www.msf.hr
Folklore festival, July - August. The summer solstice is an ancient natural signal for the beginning of the summer folklore festival in the Czech Republic. Live folk singing and dancing, performances by folklore ensembles are very popular in the Czech Republic. This festival has been held annually for 24 years. On July 14-16, Folklova ruze will take place there. //www.folkcountry.cz
Festival of sacred music, June 20 - July 20, Prague. This festival takes place three times a year - in midsummer, at Christmas, and in October. All festival concerts fit organically into the architectural ensemble of the city, as they take place mainly in churches, sometimes in concert halls. The summer festival is expected to feature performances by choral groups from around the world. //www.choirs.cz