Overall, as Gazeta.Ru notes, this month Europe is finally waking up from its winter hibernation. Jazz, opera, and dance festivals are held in many cities. In London, crowds of runners simply run through the streets; in Milan (this year, exactly in April), the Easter rowing regatta takes place. In Zurich and Lausanne, they cheerfully bid farewell to winter, and in the ancient Alkmaar (Netherlands), the medieval cheese market begins to operate on Fridays. Cheese lovers, of whom there are many in our country, we strongly recommend it.
GREAT BRITAIN
Jazz Week, April 13-17, Derby. Jazz Festival, April 28 - May 2, Cheltenham. Hot New Orleans jazz, in which African and European traditions, swing, fusion, funk, Latin jazz, jazz-rock, soft jazz, acid jazz are fused together – the variety of styles always delights at English festivals. The participation of jazz stars is also impressive: in Cheltenham, Georgie Fame and The Blue Flames and Enrico Rava will perform, and in Derby – Gwynet Herbert, Evan Parker, Seymour Wright and Alex Wilson's R&B Latino Project. //www.cheltenhamfestivals.co.uk, www.derby-jazz.co.uk
London Marathon, April 17. The London Marathon has long since become something more than just a sporting event. The course, 42 km 195 m long, starts in Greenwich, passes the sailing ship "Cutty Sark", the financial center, the Tower of London, and ends at Buckingham Palace. Public festivities on the occasion of the race of more than 30,000 athletes and running enthusiasts, flowing from the streets into pubs, live music, dancing, and singing accompany this celebration of health and sport. This year, the world record holder Paula Radcliffe will take part in the marathon. //www.london-marathon.co.uk
GERMANY
Dance Theatre Festival, April 7-16, Weimar. International Dance Week, April 21 - May 1, Dresden. In April, Germany will be captivated by the ancient symbolic language of dance and the expressiveness of the human body's plasticity. Weimar and Dresden will bring together theatre companies of classical and modern dance from around the world. While the Weimar festival is localized in the German National Theatre and tickets must be bought or ordered in advance, the Dresden festival is famous for its openness – Tanzwoche spills out onto the streets and squares of the city. //www.tanzwoche.de, www.nationaltheater-weimar.de
Wine and gastronomic festival, April 1 - May 1, Trier, Koblenz. A winding river, hills, vineyards, ancient castles, old cozy towns that have preserved monuments of the Roman era – these are all attractions of the famous Moselle Valley, where wonderful white wine has been made for centuries. During April, a wine and gastronomic festival will be held in the towns of the Moselle Valley, where you can taste many varieties of the best Moselle wine (including the famous Riesling) and enjoy local delicacies.
True Moselle Riesling meets all the requirements that winemakers impose on this variety. In the third year of aging, the wine becomes saturated with the aromas of its land, becoming refined and majestic. Moderate alcohol level is one of the components of this wine's success, as it is easy and pleasant to drink, and the exquisite aromas of Moselle wine are extremely diverse: peach, apricot, cinnamon, black currant, mirabelle, bitter orange. //www.wein-festival.de
GREECE
Holy Week on the island of Patmos, April 28 - May 1, Chora. It is known that the holy apostle and evangelist John the Theologian was exiled by Emperor Domitian to the island of Patmos in the Aegean Sea, where he had a vision of the final destinies of the world. The "Caves of the Apocalypse", as they are called, have survived to this day, as has the Monastery of Saint John the Theologian. It is believed that the sacred rites held in Chora on Maundy Thursday and the celebration of Easter have preserved their antiquity and purity on the island of Patmos. //www.gnto.gr
DENMARK
Celebration of the 200th anniversary of the birth of H. C. Andersen, April 3, Copenhagen. Throughout 2005, festive events, concerts, and exhibitions dedicated to the famous Danish storyteller will be held in Danish cities. And on April 3, the birthday of Hans Christian Andersen will be magnificently celebrated in Copenhagen's Parken. The organizers promise to create a magical, fairy-tale concert in his honor. The celebration is planned to feature performances by 300 artists, musicians, dancers, writers, and public figures. Participation in the anniversary celebrations has been confirmed by Renée Fleming, Nigel Kennedy, Sir Roger Moore, Susan Sarandon, Matt Dillon, Kenneth Branagh, Isabel Allende. The famous Slava Polunin will also take part in the concert with his troupe – they know how to create real magic fairy tales on stage. //www.hca2005.com
SPAIN
International Gastronomy Fair, April 4-7, Madrid. More than 700 professionals and amateurs, specialists in Spanish cuisine, take part in this noisy and colorful gastronomy fair, and there are countless visitors and buyers. The fair's competitive program is packed with events such as competitions for young cooks, who must prepare three original dishes and two mandatory ones – from sea bass and meat – within six hours.
On the first day of the fair, the famous "meat slicers competition" will take place, with skill judged by quite ominous criteria: speed and dexterity of slicing, inventiveness, appearance, and thickness of the piece. The winner of this competition will receive an honorary diploma and 1,800 euros. The fair is also famous for its abundance of olives (the manzanilla variety is especially prized) and smoked sausage with red pepper (chorizo), which has many variations of tastes and shapes. //www.gourmets.net
"Moors and Christians," April 22-24, Alcoy; April 23-26, Zújar. For 200 years now, the traditional festival "Moors and Christians" has been held in various cities in Spain from January to December. Despite the established script traditions in different provinces, the basis of the festival is the same everywhere: a spectacular battle of 1276 is reenacted on the city streets, in which the Moors were defeated by the Spaniards. According to legend, Saint George helped the Christians win, appearing to the soldiers and inspiring them to victory with the words: "God is with us, victory is with us!" In addition to the spectacular battle, the festival features costumed processions and performances by street musicians. A mini-festival and a drawing competition are held for children. The best way to watch the proceedings is from the balconies of houses, which must be rented in advance. //www.ajualcoi.org, www.altipla.com/zujar
Seville April Fair, April 12-17, Seville. A true spring holiday in Seville is the April Fair. It begins 10 days after Easter and lasts five days. On the banks of the Guadalquivir, a city of market stalls and huge decorated tents will spread out, becoming a temporary home for those who like to "go all out." Fair life does not subside for a minute, following approximately this schedule: during the day — magnificent processions of horsemen and horse-drawn carriages (Paseo de Caballos); in the evening — a bullfight at the Plaza de Toros de Maestranza de Caballería; at night — flamenco and other pleasant Andalusian amusements. Sherry and national dishes, music and fun — around the clock. //www.sol.com/feria
ITALY
Indian Festival, April 8-17, Milan. Easter Rowing Regatta, April 9-10, Milan. Two curious events will take place right after Easter in Milan. The first is the Easter rowing regatta (Pasqua del Canottaggio), which will be held at the university sports complex. The second is the annual Indian Festival, which usually draws more than 15,000 people to the Fila Forum. Festival visitors gladly immerse themselves in Indian culture, exotic for a European: they learn the language of Indian dance and costume, discover new Indian films, and master the intricacies of Indian cuisine. Numerous exhibitions introduce ancient and modern cultural and everyday traditions of India. //www.indianfestival.it, www.retecivica.milano.it
Celebration of Rome’s Birthday, April 21, Rome. Every year on April 21, proud Romans celebrate the birthday of the Eternal City, which according to legend was founded in 753 BC. The city streets are brightly decorated on this day. They fill with onlookers watching the lavish processions of gladiators, senators, and priests. The gladiators naturally stage demonstrative bloodless contests. Live music, processions, theatrical performances, museums of the city’s ancient history open to visitors, and a grand fireworks display at the end of the holiday, its lights reflecting in the waters of the Tiber — that is the kind of program awaiting anyone taking part in the celebration of Rome’s birthday. //www.comune.roma.it
Artichoke Festival, April 25, Cerda. Spring Rose Festival, April 25, Venice. On April 25, two amazing and touching festivals will take place in two Italian cities. In the small Sicilian town of Cerda (province of Palermo), a festival will be held in honor of the bizarre vegetable that is passionately loved, useful (as Italians assure), and, most importantly, profitable for Cerda’s residents. A colorful parade, dance and music performances, and an exhibition of works of art are dedicated on this day to one cult theme — the artichoke. Goethe was wrong after all when he said that "Italians eat some kind of thistle" — the artichoke is very tasty (if cooked properly).
And in Venice on that day (St. Mark’s Day, the city’s patron saint), all Venetian women, young and old, receive spring roses as gifts from men. Music, romantic walks, happy faces, spring flowers... //www.turismovenezia.it
THE NETHERLANDS
Queen’s Day, April 30, Amsterdam. At the very end of April, the Netherlands celebrates Queen’s Day in a big way, and the symbols of this national holiday adored by the Dutch are tulips and the color orange. True, the reigning Queen Beatrix II was born on January 31, but the Queen Mother Juliana was born on April 30 and also transferred the throne to her daughter on April 30, so the current queen decided not to change anything. On this day, a huge market is held in the city where anyone can sell anything (they say you can buy expensive things for next to nothing); musicians play freely on every corner; people happily dance, eat, and drink to the queen’s health, shouting: "Orange forever!" //www.visitamsterdam.nl
Cheese Market, Fridays from April 15 to September 9, Alkmaar. On April 15, in medieval Alkmaar, the wonderful cheese market, which has existed in the city since 1622 and, as connoisseurs say, has not changed its rules to this day, begins to operate. After all, Alkmaar is the only city in the world where the guilds of cheese sellers and porters have been preserved. For this reason, at the market, which will be open until September on Fridays, from 10 a.m. to midnight, you can see sellers and porters dressed in their guild costumes, loading huge boat-shaped stretchers and briskly carrying 120 kg of cheese each. By the way, not far from the market, on the second and third floors of the former "weigh house" for the cheese auction, is the Cheese Museum, where you can learn in detail about the history (and practice) of cheese production in the Netherlands. //www.alkmaar.nl
POLAND
Festival of Contemporary Opera, April 22 - May 3, Warsaw. The Festival of Contemporary Opera will be held for the second time at the Warsaw Chamber Opera, which was founded in 1961 by Stefan Sutkowski. The Warsaw Chamber Opera has two directors, two stage directors, seven conductors, more than 75 soloists, and two small symphony orchestras. In addition, the opera includes an authentic instruments ensemble, a pantomime troupe, a chamber choir, and a choir specializing in early church music.
The theater's repertoire includes music of various genres, styles, and eras: from medieval mysteries to operas of the Baroque and Classical periods, from 18th-century pantomime to operas by Rossini and Donizetti. The Warsaw Chamber Opera annually holds festivals of Mozart, Monteverdi, as well as a festival of Baroque opera and contemporary Polish opera. The festival program includes three operas written by Polish composers: 'Quo Vadis?' by Bernadetta Matuszczak, 'Antigone' by Zbigniew Rudziński, and 'Baltazar' by Zygmunt Krauze. //www.wok.pol.pl
FINLAND
Beer Festival, April 1-2, Helsinki. Finland's best annual beer festival is held at the Helsinki Cable Factory, an old building located in the central part of the city. Several hundred varieties of fine beer, cider, and whisky will take part in the festival's competition program. On the afternoon of April 1, a strict jury and specialists will evaluate the festival products, and in the evening everyone will come to taste the beer. On the night of April 2, a big concert will take place featuring the best Finnish musicians. The next day, the beer festival will be open until late evening. The special theme of the Helsinki Beer Festival this year is 'Beer of the Baltic Countries'. //www.beerfestival.info/english
Jazz Festival, April 20-24, Espoo. It is said that spring comes to Finland with the April Jazz festival in Espoo. Not only the best Finnish jazz musicians come to this festival, but also world-class stars from other countries. April Jazz takes place at the Cultural Centre, which has a huge auditorium and good acoustics. You can learn more about the program on the festival's website. One thing is certain: on April 21, one of the greatest drummers, Billy Cobham, will perform here. //www.apriljazz.fi
FRANCE
Spring Fair of Winemakers and Farmers, April 1-3, Marseille. The annual spring fair in Marseille gathers 25,000 enthusiasts from different French provinces who present their products. They sell their own wine, chocolate, honey, sweets, famous goose liver pate, homemade sausage, and other delicacies that are very popular with customers due to their highest taste qualities and low prices. The main charm of this fair for sellers is the opportunity to conclude a profitable contract with large companies. //savim.free.fr/english
Scallop Festival, April 16-17, Erquy. The annual festival held in the 'scallop capital', as the residents of Erquy themselves call it, draws crowds of gourmets. Baked scallops are served on the shell, and scallop meat is part of many French dishes. Festival visitors will be able to take part in all stages of preparing the shellfish: from catching scallops to enjoying the tasting. By the way, the French themselves sometimes call scallops 'St. James shells' - perhaps that is why for many centuries the scallop shell has been considered a symbol of pilgrims and travelers. //www.erquy-tourisme.com
CZECH REPUBLIC
Ball Season, until April 30, Prague. More than a hundred balls take place in Prague from January to April this year, with themed and 'professional' balls attracting people of different musical tastes and different ages. The Prague Opera Ball is considered the most 'classical', and the police ball the most fun. Tickets for balls cost from 30 to 100 euros. www.obecnidum.cz
SWEDEN
Walpurgis Night, April 30 - May 1, Stockholm. In Sweden, the birthplace of this holiday, they say that Walpurgis Night is simply a welcome to spring, and with the huge bonfires lit all over the country, Swedes are supposed to scare away and repel witches who become active on the night of April 30 to May 1 and fly to their sabbath. In Stockholm that night you can go to the Skansen museum: it strives to restore the full version of Walpurgis Night traditions. On the city streets, children and adults stroll until early morning, sing songs, and hold concerts. At dawn the fear disappears, but at night everyone is filled with mystical sensations and a sense of sharing secret knowledge. //www.visit-sweden.com
SWITZERLAND
AMR Jazz Festival, April 14-17, Geneva. Jazznojazz Jazz Festival, April 27-30, Zurich. Since 1971, the AMR association has held a festival dedicated to contemporary and classical jazz, as well as all its varieties and offshoots. The festival will take place at the Alhambra theater in Geneva and will feature such jazz musicians as Gilles Torrent free quartet, Tom Harrel quintet, Spiritual Unity, and others. Jazznojazz is a revived Zurich jazz festival that has shifted its orientation to contemporary mainstream. This year's participants will include Gonzalo Rubalcaba Quartet, Kurt Rosenwinkel, Talvin Singh, Michael Brecker, Erik Truffaz and Joshua Redman's Elastic Band. //www.amr-geneve.ch, www.jazznojazz.ch
Sechselauten (“Six Bells”) winter-farewell festival, April 17-18, Zurich. Switzerland welcomes spring by switching to daylight saving time. Since the 14th century, the Grossmunster bell has announced this at six o’clock in the evening. It is at six o’clock on April 18 that they will burn a Böögg made of snow on a huge bonfire, and the faster it melts, the residents of Zurich believe, the longer and hotter the summer will be. And the festivities will begin with a two-thousand-strong children’s parade, folk music, performances by brass bands, and a colorful fair. //www.zuerich.com
Carnival, April 22-24, Lausanne. Three days of the Lausanne carnival - the main thing is to endure! By day and in the evening, squares turn into theater stages, and streets into a real arena for confetti battles. Processions and parades, costumes and masks, live music and tasty food - the carnival spirit reigns these days in Lausanne. And at night, the fun continues in bars and clubs. //www.carnavalausanne.ch