Zvolen Castle Plays

This annual open-air international Summer festival has been organised since 1979 at the beginning of theatrical season and summer holiday in Zvolen in the historical exteriors and interiors of the Gothic-Renaissance Zvolen Castle. The State Opera in Banská Bystrica organises the opera programme. Thanks to its attractive repertoire which focuses on less well-known opuses by great masters with all-star solo casts the event has recently attracted interest in surrounding foreign countries. Concerts performed here throughout the past five years include Verdi's La Bataglia Di Legnano, Alzira, I Lombardi, I Masnadieri (all Slovak premiers) and Bellini’s Norma, as well as the first Slovak scenic performances of Bellini’s I Capuleti e I Montecchi and Donizetti's Linda di Chamounix. Star soloists of recent years have included Susanna Branchini, Ignacio Encinas, Sergio Bologna, Dimitra Theodossiou, Chiara Taigi, Susan Neves and many others.