Poetry in the voice, rhythm in the heart, and music in the gardens
Júlia Kozáková and Vivi Vassileva to premiere at the Viva Musica! festival

Bratislava, June 3, 2025

The Viva Musica! festival continues with concerts by two exceptional artists who challenge the boundaries of musical perception – whether through a distinctive voice or mesmerizing percussion virtuosity. Slovak singer Júlia Kozáková will present her new original project Flor nueva, and one of the brightest stars of the contemporary classical music scene, German percussionist Vivi Vassileva, will make her Slovak debut with the Percussion Collective ensemble. The festival program will also include the popular open-air concerts under the subtitle Musical Gardens, some of which will again be free of charge.

Once again, Viva Musica! demonstrates that music comes in many forms. The concert by Júlia Kozáková – a singer and songwriter with an exceptional voice and a deep connection to Roma music – will have a poetic atmosphere. Influenced by international studies and various collaborations, her work combines Roma music with jazz, flamenco, and traditional sounds from around the world. Her debut album Manuša (2022) received widespread acclaim in Slovakia and abroad, was awarded the Radio_Head Award for “Best Slovak World Music Album,” and was nominated for the Best New Talent Award by the European platform UpBeat.

At the Viva Musica! festival, Júlia will give the Slovak premiere of her new project Flor nueva. “Preparing an original concert for Viva Musica! is a great honor, a challenge, and at the same time, an adventure. I’m very happy to share with the public what I’ve been creating over the last three years. Most of the pieces that will be performed have never been released and represent my most personal repertoire to date, in an entirely new lineup with a band and string quartet. With this concert, I want to celebrate beauty and friendship. These are uncertain times, and I feel that the only support we have outside of ourselves lies in human connection, gentleness, and care for our everyday relationships and friendships,” says Júlia. Musical and arrangement contributions to the new project come from Andrea Kružliaková, Haimoni Balgavá, Viliam Didiáš, Martin Majlo Štefánik, and Jureš Líška. The concert will take place on July 17 at 8:30 p.m. on the Eurovea Square. Admission is free.

Rhythms of the Present

Virtuosic, precise, and incredibly imaginative – this is Vivi Vassileva, who is redefining the role of percussion in classical music. “Vassileva elevates rhythm – her gestures, facial expressions, and entire body radiate pure energy,” international media write. A recipient of the Leonard Bernstein Award and many others, she is among the most striking representatives of the new generation of percussionists. Her masterful performance and innovative approach to programming are praised by critics and audiences alike. She has made her mark not only as a soloist with leading orchestras but also as an advocate for environmental projects, using instruments made from recycled materials and collaborating regularly with contemporary composers.

In her Slovak debut, Vivi will perform as a soloist with Percussion Collective, an ensemble formed in 2024 at the initiative of the Viva Musica! festival. The ensemble features outstanding Slovak percussionists Adam Druga, Richard Havran, and Martin Zajac – all former students of renowned Slovak percussionist and educator Peter Solárik, who also serves as the ensemble's artistic director. The concert will take place on July 31 at 8:00 p.m. at the Aréna Theatre, and will feature works by Anders Koppel, Minoru Miki, Gregor A. Mayrhofer, Nigel Westlake, Jason Treuting, Tim & Tom Ouderits, Tomer Yariv, and Owen Clayton Condon.

Musical Gardens

For the third year in a row, the festival organizers will also present several open-air concerts under the Musical Gardens subtitle, showcasing exceptional Slovak talents. The first such concert will take place on June 21 at 7:00 p.m. in the garden of the national cultural monument – the restored manor house in Čunovo, now a modern environmental education EcoCentre. The Bratislava Boys’ Choir will perform.
“It is a great pleasure and honor for us to perform again at the Viva Musica! festival, which brings world-class artists to Slovakia. After concerts in Italy, France, and Germany, we are excited to present a joyful and, we believe, exceptional concert to festival visitors. This will be the only performance this season by the Bratislava Boys’ Choir with more than 60 singers on stage! We are preparing it exclusively for the Viva Musica! festival,” said Magdaléna Rovňáková, who leads the choir with her son, Gabriel Rovňák. Tickets will be available for a symbolic fee, with admission subject to the venue's capacity.

Another Musical Gardens concert will take place on July 26 at 7:00 p.m. in Janko Kráľ Park (Sad Janka Kráľa), featuring two young and successful Slovak musicians – Haimoni Balgavá and Kristína Smetanová. Both have classical music training – they are outstanding pianists and composers – but find the classical music space too limiting (Plantasia, Quatro Emocione, etc.). Alongside traditional four-hand piano repertoire, they will present original works inspired by nature: “We’ll take you into the world of mountains. For us, they are not only a place of rest but a source of inspiration. Our program combines works by world composers with our own music, which grows directly from nature,” said Haimoni and Kristína. Admission to the concert is free.

For the first time, the festival will also head to Modra – a picturesque town with a rich winemaking tradition. In the unique setting of the renovated historic Modra Manor (Kaštieľ Modra), Júlia Kozáková will perform on August 2 at 7:00 p.m. with her debut project Manuša (2022), which brought her international acclaim and awards, including the highest-rated Slovak world music album according to World Music Charts Europe. Following the premiere of her new project Flor nueva, this will be her second concert at this year's festival, this time in a more intimate trio with Zsolt Varady on guitar and Ján Rigo on double bass.

The Viva Musica! festival will offer a diverse program from June 19 to August 8, 2025, featuring top Slovak and international artists, exclusive premieres, garden and park concerts, and the #NextGeneration series. Tickets are available at www.vivamusica.sk and through the Ticketportal.