Abstract:
In Bratislava, the capital of Slovakia, performances of world-class artists have always taken place. In the period from 1948 to 1963 most of the significant performances of jazz and popular artists took place in Prague. After 1963, when Chris Barber (Great Britain) performed in Bratislava, the city became the center of important jazz and popular events too. The situation with the organization of jazz, rock and popular concerts of international artists in the former Czechoslovakia changed with the establishment of Bratislava´s Lyra (1966) and Bratislava Jazz Days (1975) festivals. Bratislava became an equal emancipated city alongside Prague in organizing festivals. Bratislava’s lyras, as an author’s song contest, lasted until 1992, the next sequel was unsuccessful and replaced by karaoke Superstar (Super Idol), interpretation contests since 2004. The festival Bratislava Jazz Days have preserved continuity until today, unlike the International Jazz Festival in Prague. After 1989, the concert life in Bratislava no longer focuses only on festivals, but it organises throughout the year in clubs, in big performances for several thousand listeners. Bratislava is no longer the only city of Slovakia, where large concerts of foreign jazz, rock, pop stars take place, but it is also happening in Košice, Žilina, Piešťany, Nové Zámky, Trenčín and Trnava.