AUSTRIA
International Media Art Festival Ars Electronica, until September 11. Festival "Wine and Art", September 6-8, Linz. In the first half of September, two festivals will take place almost simultaneously in Linz. The first, Ars Electronica, presents fresh developments in IT and the electronics industry. At the end, prizes will be awarded for the best projects in the categories "Computer Animation", "Interactive Art", "Digital Music", "Hybrid Art". Contemporary music and art, rich in interactive and spectacular possibilities, attract the attention of a "progressive" audience.
The same idea of a synthesis of the arts dominates the traditional September festival "Wine and Art". There, not only the best Austrian wines from 60 producers will be presented, but also works of art created over the past year: painting, jewelry, glass and ceramic items. //www.linz.at/ //www.aec.at/en/festival2007/
St. Rupert's Festival, September 20-24; Harvest Festival, until October 26, Salzburg. St. Rupert's Festival is the most popular September festival in Salzburg, as it is believed that St. Rupert is the founder of the city and its heavenly patron. In the 8th century, the city, known only for its salt mines, was literally transformed by St. Rupert and until 1815 was considered the center of a large autonomous archbishopric. Rupert became the first Archbishop of Salzburg; under him, construction of St. Peter's Monastery began and the cathedral was founded, around which the main action of the festival unfolds. On the small squares of the city, brass bands will play, traveling theaters will perform, a fair will be open all these days, and a huge carousel will be installed for children on the central square.
In September-October, the city will also host a harvest festival, the center of which will be agricultural and craft fairs. On weekends, the event will include musical and theatrical performances, a beer festival, and a folk festival. //www.salzburg-altstadt.at //www2.salzburg.info
Festival "Styrian Autumn" (Steirischer Herbst), September 20 - October 14, Graz. Contemporary "synthetic" art is the main theme of the event, which will take place in the capital of the federal state of Styria, Graz. Long known for being shocking and provocative, this festival focuses on the interpenetration of all types of art, attempting to create new genres. Therefore, the division of the festival program into traditional sections: "theater", "music", "cinema", "literature", "performances" can be considered very conditional. This, by the way, is confirmed by the amusing "breakdown" of each performance on the festival's official website: there, percentages indicate how much music, video, performance, installation, literature, etc. is in the act. //www.steirischerherbst.at
GREAT BRITAIN
"Thames Festival", September 15-16, London. Londoners love this festival very much, and tourists also try to get to London exactly on these days, especially since the festival is celebrating its 10th anniversary this year. Art exhibitions prepared for the festival opened back in late August, and on September 15-16, in the city center and on Southwark Bridge during the day, and on the embankment in the evening and at night, the "Thames Festival" will unfold, featuring mini-carnivals and parades, live music, fairs, dances, children's entertainment concerts, and shows on a floating stage. The event will end with a giant illuminated procession along the riverbank, a carnival, and a fireworks display whose lights reflect in the Thames. //www.thamesfestival.org
Rock Festival Bestival, September 7-9, Newport. Bestival is one of the last open-air rock festivals this year. It takes place in the picturesque Robin Hill Country Park, which is considered the sunniest place in England. This year, more than 100 musical acts will participate, including Beastie Boys, The Chemical Brothers, Primal Scream, The Go! Team, Roisin Murphy, The Orb, Levellers, Kevin Rowland, Daisy & Lewis, Dub Pistols, Zion Train, and others. Taking a break from the musical marathon, audiences can have great fun participating, for example, in sports competitions or a contest for the best beard and mustache. //www.bestival.net
Open House Festival, September 26-30, Belfast. Gypsy punk, traditional Irish music, classic blues, punk rock, Cajun - such a combination of styles will dominate the ninth Open House Festival in Belfast. Mozaik, The Earl Brothers, Old Crow Medicine Show, The Destroyers, Tim O'Brien & Friends, Ragged 'n' Rough String Band are just some of the participants, whose total number is about 70. Simultaneously, folk dance evenings will take place, and daily master classes will be held. Festival visitors can also look forward to ChilliFest with a tasting of spicy Peruvian dishes. //www.openhousefestival.com
GERMANY
"Oktoberfest", September 22 - October 7, Munich. From September 22 to October 7, the famous beer festival Oktoberfest will take place in Munich, the history of which began with the wedding of Louis of Bavaria and Princess Therese of Saxony on October 12, 1810. Later it was decided to celebrate the event annually, combining it with the local harvest festival. Since then, every year on the Theresienwiese ("Therese's meadow"), the main action of the beer festival takes place. The signal for the start of the festival is the parade of brewers and the ceremonial tapping of the first beer barrel. Guests have a wide choice of entertainment, including: carousels, rides, shooting ranges, a folk festival, a marksmen's parade. This year, 14 beer tents will operate on the Theresienwiese, where you will inevitably have to drink beer from liter mugs (price €7-8), eat proper snacks, and have fun in the Bavarian style. //www.oktoberfest.de
Festivals in Berlin, throughout September. As always, a huge number of Berlin festivals start in September. So finish all your household chores and head to Germany. Here everyone can choose something interesting for themselves.
The Musikfest classical music festival will run until September 16. Its program includes daily concerts at the Berlin Philharmonic featuring chamber music ensembles and major orchestras, among them this year the symphony orchestras of Boston, San Francisco, Amsterdam and London. //www.berlinerfestspiele.de
On the second weekend of September (7-8), the Berlin district of Köpenick will turn into the "whisky capital." This is precisely the goal of the organizers of the Whisky-Herbst festival, which first took place in 2000. The entrance fee for tasting is €8. The first day of the festival will be dedicated to a collection of Scottish whisky, followed by a presentation of various types of whisky from around the world. In the evening, there will be musical concerts featuring Norma Munro and Pipes & Drums. //www.whisky-herbst.de
On September 29-30, 35,000 athletes and enthusiasts will take part in a 42-kilometer run through the streets of Berlin – this marks the start of another autumn city marathon. In the evening, the sports celebration will continue with folk festivities, theatrical and musical street performances. //www.real-berlin-marathon.com
The Samba Syndrom festival will take place in Berlin from September 27 to 30. It is sometimes also called "days of living Brazil." The first two days of the celebration are dedicated to drumming competitions and dance master classes, which this year will be led by Brazilian Dudu Tucci (the cost is €110). On Saturday, dance competitions will be held, and on Sunday a real Brazilian mini-carnival will take place. //www.sambasyndrom.de
DENMARK
The Arhusfestuge arts festival, through September 9, Aarhus. The largest Scandinavian festival in Aarhus has been held since 1965 and focuses exclusively on new, contemporary trends in art. Its program is usually rich and varied: opera performances, ballet, a theater festival, classical and contemporary music concerts, sports competitions, a film festival. This year's theme of Arhusfestuge is "In Motion," so the main genres of the festival this year will be unusual sports competitions, dance shows, electronic music, and interactive installations. The film festival this year perfectly matches the theme and will be dedicated to contemporary dance. //www.aarhusfestuge.dk
SPAIN
Bull runs, through September 9, Segorbe; September 7-11, Cardona. The traditional bull runs in Segorbe, near Valencia, open with a thrilling spectacle: horsemen drive the bulls out of the pens, and they race through the narrow city streets to the main square. During the fiesta, there are many musical concerts and the traditional ham festival Feria del Jamon on Cathedral Square, where you can sample national cuisine and local wines. Events unfold in roughly the same way in Cardona at the traditional Festa Major de Cardona. //www.comunitatvalenciana.com //www.cardona.cat
The autumn sherry festival, September 8-23, Jerez de la Frontera. The most important event in the life of this Andalusian city is this autumn festival, whose traditions are linked to the ancient harvest festival. "Jerez, horses and flamenco!" – that is how the meaning and content of the festival are formulated. And it's understandable, because Jerez is considered the birthplace of flamenco. The Royal Academy of Equestrian Arts is located there. And there's no need to talk about the best sherry in the world – it's all clear. In addition, festival guests are promised puppet theater shows, Andalusian songs, and a grand procession bidding farewell to the sherry festival. //www.turismojerez.com
The La Merce festival, September 22-24, Barcelona. With true Catalan flair, this festival in honor of the city's patron saint, Our Lady of La Merce, takes place in Barcelona. In 1637, according to legend, she delivered the city from a plague of locusts. The festival's highlights include a giant costume parade, circus and theatrical shows, a carnival where everyone dances the national Catalan dance "sardana," and human towers (the tallest built from 8 people). The celebration concludes with a pyrotechnic festival at the "singing" fountains. //www.bcn.cat
ITALY
The 64th Venice Film Festival, through September 8. This year, one of the oldest European film festivals, traditionally held on the Lido island, celebrates its 75th anniversary. The event will open with the film "Atonement" by English director Joe Wright. "For the first time in history, the opening film will be a movie by a young director whom the selection committee unanimously considered outstanding. We felt that it surpasses many recognized masterpieces," said festival director Marco Müller. The competition program includes 22 films. Among them are works by Kenneth Branagh, Brian De Palma, Peter Greenaway, Todd Haynes, Ken Loach, Eric Rohmer, Nikita Mikhalkov. The out-of-competition program will be no less interesting. It is already known that the festival's "Honorary Prize" will be awarded to Tim Burton, and the "Golden Lion" in honor of the festival's 75th anniversary will go to Bernardo Bertolucci. //www.labiennale.org
The Pizzafest festival, through September 16, Naples. Pizza is the favorite dish and pride of Neapolitans, so a whole festival is dedicated to it - Pizzafest. The festival program will be based on everything related to this dish, from a historical excursion "All About Pizza: The 60s-70s-80s" (September 8), during which you can taste retro pizza, to competitions for the funniest pizza. Of course, there will also be daily musical concerts, dance competitions, and sports contests. And on September 15, a real carnival is expected. //www.pizzafest.info
Festival "Music of September", until September 27, Turin, Milan. The festival was a huge success in Turin, so this year the organizers decided to expand its scope: it will take place simultaneously in two cities: Turin and Milan. On weekdays, three concerts will be held at various venues as part of the event (one of them classical music), and on weekends – 5-6 concerts at various venues. This year, the festival offers "Korean Music Evening," "Medieval Music Evening," and a concert by improvisational saxophonist Louis Sclavis. Musical theater performances will also be interesting. By the way, the most expensive ticket for this festival costs €30, and many concerts are free. //www.mitosettembremusica.it
CYPRUS
International Festival Kypria 2007, until October 20, Nicosia, Larnaca, Limassol. Kypria is perhaps the most important cultural event in Cyprus, and this year it will be held for the 16th time. The festival will feature 16 music groups from different countries, including a contemporary dance ensemble from New York, the Moscow State Theater "Helikon-Opera", the Bejart Ballet Lausanne, the Polyfonia chamber choir, Michalis Christodoulidis, and other artists. The festival will open with a performance by the Cyprus Youth Symphony Orchestra conducted by Akis Ioannidis. They will perform works by composers Sibelius and Grieg. //www.cyprusadvertiser.com
23rd Music Festival, September 28-30, Ayia Napa. Autumn fair, exhibitions of sculptures, paintings and photographs, an exhibition of interior design projects and music – such is the rich program of the annual arts festival in Ayia Napa. This year, audiences will see performances by the "queen of Greek music" singer Dimitra Galani (September 28), solo concerts by Greek singer Pantelis Thalassinos and Portuguese singer Cristina Branco (September 29), and a music show by the Chinese group The East Sun (September 30). The festival program also includes performances by folk dance groups and jazz concerts. Fireworks on the first and last day of the festival. //www.agianapa.org.cy
NETHERLANDS
Military Bands Festival, September 22, 26-30, Rotterdam. Military Tattoo festivals are held across Europe with great success and are musical-theatrical performances featuring military bands, drum and pipe bands. The Dutch concerts will take place at the Rotterdam Sports Palace. On September 22, the festival will open with a street parade featuring military bands from the Netherlands, Great Britain and France. The program, in addition to band competitions, includes circus shows, evenings of Scottish dancing, and performances by pipers and drummers. //www.nationaletaptoe.nl
POLAND
Archaeological Festival, September 15-23, Biskupin. This town is sometimes called the "Polish Pompeii." A settlement of Lusatian culture tribes with defensive structures from 750-400 BC was discovered here in 1933. Biskupin has an open-air museum, and visitors can not only see the reconstructed settlement but also peek into open doors of dwellings with preserved household utensils. In September, thousands of guests come to Biskupin for a large archaeological festival with a very rich and educational program. This year, the festival will feature 30 thematic exhibitions, and a traditional crafts fair will operate for 9 days (with many items made in front of the public). Pagan rituals, demonstrations of ancient martial arts, and musical concerts are also expected to be spectacular. //www.biskupin.pl
FINLAND
Music Video Festival and Air Guitar World Championship Final, until September 9, Oulu. In early September, the 14th Music Video Festival will be held in the Finnish city of Oulu, this year with the theme "Politics and Punk Music." The festival will host the final of the Air Guitar World Championships – a near-circus spectacle gaining more and more fans. Performers need no knowledge of notes or even a guitar: it's enough to creatively and virtuously imitate guitarists' movements to a backing track. Last year's champion was Ochi "Dainoji" Yosuke from Japan. //www.airguitarworldchampionships.com
FRANCE
Jazz à la Villette Music Festival, until September 9, Paris. The annual Jazz à la Villette festival will take place in early September in the famous Parisian park La Villette. You can listen to autumn jazz concerts both on open-air stages during the day (completely free) and in the evening at one of Paris's best concert halls, Cité de la Musique. The festival will mainly feature experimental jazz. Participants include: Bojan Z Tetraband, Eric Legnini Trio, Vincent Courtois, Julien Lourau, Wayne Shorter Quartet & Imani Winds, and other musicians. //www.cite-musique.fr
Salsa and Bullfighting Festival, until September 9, Dax. Intense passions will boil for three days in the resort town of Dax during the Toros y Salsa festival. Visitors will have a busy schedule: first a bullfight at the arena, then a music and dance program. Each day, evening and night concerts by the best salsa musicians await. This year, you can hear the Cuban group Conjunto Chappottin, Grupo Esencia from Puerto Rico, Portuguese musicians Iba A Se playing Latin jazz, and Bailatino from Venezuela. For those wanting to learn salsa, master classes will be held during the day. //www.dax.fr
CROATIA
International festival 'New Cinema', September 15-22, Split. As the organizers state, the festival 'is open to everything innovative, radical, auteur, experimental, breaking established norms and rules in film, video, media art.' Alongside film screenings, the event will feature exhibitions of interactive installations and performances. The jury will evaluate experimental works by newcomers and experienced masters in visual arts in different categories: best feature film and short film, as well as a prize for best new media film. This year's competition program includes 'The Lighthouse' by Maria Saakyan, 'Cavalleria Rusticana' by Albert Serra, 'Ludwig van Beethoven' by Klaus Wyborny. //www.splitfilmfestival.hr
CZECH REPUBLIC
International music festival 'Prague Autumn', September 12 - October 1, Prague. 'Prague Autumn' is one of the most significant events in the cultural life of Europe. This year the festival has invited the BBC Scottish Symphony Orchestra (concerts on September 30 and October 1), the Bamberg Symphony Orchestra (September 27), Orchestre National d'Île de France (September 25), the Rotterdam Philharmonic Orchestra (September 19-20), the State Academic Symphony Capella of Russia (September 17, 18), and the Vienna Radio Symphony Orchestra (September 12-13). A concert of Mexican music in symphonic arrangement will take place on September 26. //www.pragueautumn.cz
Feast of Saint Wenceslaus, September 28-30, Český Krumlov. The traditional festival in honor of Saint Wenceslaus, patron saint of the Czech lands, will open with a large autumn fair. The fair will offer local pottery, sheep's wool clothing, baskets, tablecloths, originally painted stones, and wooden clocks. Every day on the town square, performances by folk music groups and puppet theaters will be held. Especially popular is the Saturday brewers' parade, which will lead anyone interested to an old castle cellar to taste the best Czech beer and wine. At the festival you must try the ancient Czech pie, homemade sausage and ham, goat cheese, sugar-coated nuts, Moravian wine and honey, and then participate in the plum dumpling eating contest for the 'Knedlík' cup. Almost all galleries and museums will open special exhibitions, and guided tours are available. An unforgettable experience is a trip in miner's attire through a graphite mine at a depth of 70 meters. The festival will conclude with a solemn mass in the church and a concert on the central square. //www.ckrumlov.info
SWITZERLAND
Festival Basel Tanzt, September 13-28, Basel. The dance festival in Basel is renowned for its genre and stylistic diversity. Here spectators can see classical ballet, contemporary dance, and appreciate the uniqueness of various world choreographic schools. This year the festival celebrates its 20th anniversary, and participants include the Royal Swedish Ballet ('Romeo and Juliet', September 15-17), the Mariinsky Theatre Ballet ('Swan Lake', September 22-23), and the Maurice Béjart Ballet ('Ballet for Life' set to music by Mozart and Queen, September 27-28). //www.baseltanzt.ch