International Calendar of Arts, Festivals, and Other Events
European Music Festivals in July, August, and September 2008
Compiled by Volker Poelzl
Austria
Salzburg Festival, July 26-Aug 31, 2008, is a world-famous classical music and theater festival that attracts the world’s best conductors, musicians, and opera singers, held annually in Salzburg. Ticket prices range from $200 to $500 and sell out quickly. However, during the highbrow festival the city also offers a lost of low-cost performances at smaller venues; www.salzburgerfestspiele.at.
Vienna KlangBogen, July 1-Aug 31, 2008, is a summer opera and music festival, held annually at the “Theater an der Wien," a Viennese theater and music venue; www.theater-wien.at/en.
International Jazz Festival Saalfelden, Aug 21-24, 2008, is a well-established jazz festival held annually in Saalfelden near Salzburg. One-day tickets range from 26 to 67 euros; tickets for the entire three-day event range from 95 to 150 euros; www.jazzsaalfelden.at.
Bregenz Festival, the Summer Festival on Lake Constance, July 23- Aug 23, 2008, is an annual classical music and opera festival held on a floating outdoors stage at the banks of Lake Constance in the city of Bregenz. Tickets range from 22 euros to 125 euros; /www.bregenzerfestspiele.com/en.
Haydn Festival, Sept 4-14, 2008, is a classical music festival devoted to the work of Austrian composer Joseph Haydn, held annually in the city of Eisenstadt, south of Vienna; www.haydnfestival.at/haydn_de.
Belgium
Rock Werchter Festival, July 3-6, 2008, is a large annual rock music festival, held near the Belgian city of Leuven. One-day tickets are 75 euros, and the four-day pass is 175 euros; camping costs 17 euros regardless of how long you stay; www.rockwerchter.be.
Croatia
Dubrovnik Summer Festival, July 10-Aug 25, 2008, is an annual music festival, that focuses mostly on classical music, but also includes folkloric performances, held annually in Dubrovnik; www.dubrovnik-festival.hr.
Czech Republic
International Music Festival, July 18-Aug 23, 2008, is an annual classical music festival, held in Cesky Krumlov. The event’s website, www.festivalkrumlov.cz, had no English version at the time of my research, and I suggest visiting the website of the city of Cesky Krumlov, which provides information about the event in English: www.ckrumlov.info/docs/en/atr235.xml.
Prague Autumn International Music Festival, Sep 12- Oct 1, 2008,is a classical music festival held annually in Prague; www.pragueautumn.cz.
Denmark
Roskilde Festival, July 3-6, 2008, is a large annual rock festival, held in Roskilde near Copenhagen. Tickets for the entire even are about US$340, camping not included; www.roskilde-festival.dk.
Copenhagen Jazz Festival, July 4-13, 2008, is a large jazz festival with many great international jazz musicians, held annually in Copenhagen; www.jazzfestival.dk.
Aarhus International Jazz Festival, July 12-19, 2008, is a jazz festival held annually in the city of Aarhus; www.jazzfest.dk.
Århus Festival, Aug 29-Sept 7, 2008, is one of the largest cultural events in Scandinavia. The program includes a large selection of performances, including dance, theater, and music; www.aarhusfestuge.dk.
France
Fête de la Musique, 21 Jun 2008, is a free day-long music festival with many international performers, held at outdoor venues all over Paris each year; fetedelamusique.culture.fr.
St. Denis Festival, May 29-June 27, 2008, is an annual music festival, mostly of classical music, held in St. Denis, near Paris; www.festival-saint-denis.fr.
International Festival of Baroque Opera, July 4-27, 2008, is an annual music festival dedicated to opera from the baroque period, held in the city of Beaune in Burgundy; www.festivalbeaune.com.
The Nights of Fourvière, June 7-Aug 2, 2008, is an annual arts festival of music, dance, theater, and cinema, held at a Roman amphitheater in the city of Lyon; www.nuitsdefourviere.fr.
Colmar International Festival, July 2-14, 2008, is an annual classical music festivals in the city of Colmar in Eastern France; www.festival-colmar.com.
Festival d’Aix-en-Provence, June 27-July 23, 2008, is an annual festival of classical music and opera held annual in this attractive city in southern France; www.festival-aix.com.
Avignon Festival, July 4-26, 2008, is an annual festival of music, art, dance and theater, held in the city of Avignon, Provence; www.festival-avignon.com.
Chorégies d'Orange, July 12-Aug 5, 2008, is a Music and Opera Festival held at the Roman theater in Orange, Provence; www.choregies.asso.fr.
Jazz à Juan’ International Jazz Festival, July 10-20, 2008, is an annual jazz festival held in the city of Juan-les-Pins on the French Riviera, usually with many well-known jazz musicians; www.antibesjuanlespins.com.
La Roque d’Anthéron International Piano Festival, July 20-Aug 22, 2008, is a music festival devote to piano music, held annually at an open-air stage in the village of La Roque d’Anthéron, Provence; www.festival-piano.com/index_us.php.
Jazz at La Villette Festival, Sep 2-14, 2008, is an annual jazz festival held at the Parc de la Vilette in Paris. Tickets are 14-30 euros; www.cite-musique.fr/francais/mini-sites/0809_jazz_villette/accueil.html.
Germany
Wagner Festival, July 25-Aug 28, 2008, is an annual music festival devoted to the work of composer Richard Wagner, held in Bayreuth. Ticket prices range from 28 to 208 euros. www.bayreuther-festspiele.de.
Greece
Athens Festival, 1 Jun - 23 Aug 2008, is an annual festival of music, theater, and dance, held in Athens; www.greekfestival.gr.
Hungary
Budapest Summer Music Festival, July 2-Aug 15, 2008, is an annual festival of classical music and folkloric performances, held in Budapest; www.viparts.hu/english/budafestframe.html.
Sziget Festival, Aug 12- 18, 2008, is an annual rock and pop music festival held on Óbudai Island, an island on the Danube river in Budapest. One day tickets are 32 euros, event tickets are 120 euros, and camping tickets for the entire weeklong festival are 150 euros; www.sziget.hu/festival_english.
Ireland
Fleadh Cheoil na hÉireann, Aug 17-24, 2008, is a large festival of Irish music, song, and dance, held in Tullamore, County Offaly; www.fleadh2008.com.
Electric Picnic, Aug 29-31, 2008, is a large arts and music festival held annually in the town of Stradbally near Dublin. Weekend tickets are 240 euros; www.electricpicnic.ie.
Italy
Festival Lirico, June 20-Aug 31, 2008, is a world-famous opera festival held annually at the Roman arena in Verona; www.arena.it.
Puccini Festival, June 15 to August 23,2008, is held in the composer’s honor in his city of birth Torre del Lago, at an outdoor venue overlooking Lake Massaciuccoli, in Tuscany, Italy; www.puccinifestival.it.
Pescara International Jazz Festival, July 15-20, 2008, is a well-established jazz festival held annually in the city of Pescara in central Italy. Tickets range from 20 to 80 euros;www.pescarajazz.com.
Sferisterio Opera Festival, July 25-Aug 12, 2008, is an annual opera festival held at an historic open air stadium in the city of Macerata in Central Italy near the Adriatic sea; www.sferisterio.it.
Umbria Jazz, July 11-20, 2008, is an annual jazz festival held in the city of Perugia. Tickets range from 11 to 68 euros; www.umbriajazz.com.
Stresa Festival, Aug1-Sep 6, 2008, is an annual classical music festival, held in the town of Stresa on Lago Maggiore in northern Italy. The festival’s summer events are ‘Musical Meditations (Aug 1-10, 2008) and ‘900: Shadows and Lights’ Aug 23-Sept 6, 2008); tickets range from 25 to 100 euros, depending on the event. www.stresafestival.eu.
Rossini Opera Festival, Aug 9-23, 2008, is an opera and classical music festival dedicated to the work of Italian composer Gioachino Rossini, held annually in the city of Pesaro; www.rossinioperafestival.it.
MITO SettembreMusica, Sep 1-25, 2008, is a new music festival with a diverse program of music, from classical to jazz and world music, held in the northern Italian cities of Torino and Milano; www.comune.torino.it/settembremusica.
The Netherlands
North Sea Jazz Festival, July 11-13, 2008, is an annual jazz festival held in Rotterdam; www.northseajazz.com.
Norway
International Chamber Music Festival, Aug 11-17, 2008, is a well-established festival of chamber music held in the city of Stavanger; www.icmf.no.
Oslo Jazz Festival, Aug 11-16, 2008, is a well-known Jazz festival with over 70 concerts on 20 different stages, held annually in Oslo; www.oslojazz.no.
Oslo Chamber Music Festival, Aug 14-24, 2008, is a chamber music festival held annually in Oslo; www.oslokammermusikkfestival.no/indexeng.html.
Øya Festival, Aug 5-9, 2008, is a large indie rock and pop music festival held annually in Oslo. Festival passes are sold out but one-day tickets are still available for around US$ 110; www.oyafestivalen.com/pages/eng/1-news.
Spain
Festival de Barcelona Grec, Jun 1-Aug 31, 2008, is an annual festival of music, theater and dance, performed at Barcelona’s Teatre Grec and other venues; www.barcelonafestival.com.
Granada International Festival of Music and Dance, June 20- July 6, 2008, is a festival of classical music, opera, and dance, held annually in Granada; www.granadafestival.org.
International Festival Benicassim, July 17 - July 20, 2008, is a music festival held in the Mediterranean city of Benicassim. The festival focuses on alternative pop, rock and electronica, and also includes theater, dance, and art; www.fiberfib.com.
Sweden
Stockholm Jazz Festival, July 16-19, 2008, is an annual jazz festival held in Stockholm; www.stockholmjazz.com.
Switzerland
Montreux Jazz Festival, July 4-19, 2008, is Europe’s most famous jazz festival, held annually in Montreux since 1967. Concerts sell out months in advance and prices are around US$ 90; www.montreuxjazz.com.
Festival de la Cité (City Festival), July 4- 12, 2008, is an annual art festival with theater, music, and street performances, held in Lausanne; www.festivalcite.ch.
Gurten Festival, July 17-20, 2008 is an open-air popular music festival held annually in Bern. The festival offers a wide variety of musical styles, including rock, blues, funk, ethno, reggae, hiphop, acid jazz, etc.; www.gurtenfestival.ch.
Lucerne Festival, Aug 13- Sept 21, 2008, is an annual classical music festival held in Lucerne. In 2008 the festival focuses on dance, covering a large variety of different dance traditions, from ballet to modern dance and folk dance; www.lucernefestival.ch.
United Kingdom
Early Music Festival, July 3-12, 2008, is a festival of early music held at historic venues in the city of York, England; www.ncem.co.uk/yemf.shtml.
International Eisteddfod, July 8-13, 2008, is an international festival of music, dance, and song competitions, held annually in the town of Llangollen, Wales; www.international-eisteddfod.co.uk.
Cambridge Folk Festival, July 31-Aug 3, 2008, is a well-known and popular folk festival held annually in Cambridge, England; www.cambridgefolkfestival.co.uk.
T in the Park, July 11-13, 2008, is a large rock and pop music festival held in Balado by Kinross, Scotland; www.tinthepark.com.
Edinburgh International Festival, Aug 8-31,2008, is a large arts festival with a rich program of classical music, theatre, opera and dance, held annually in Edinburgh, Scotland; www.eif.co.uk.
The Edinburgh Festival Fringe, Aug 3-25, 20008, is the largest arts festival in the world and was founded as an alternative to the more upscale Edinburgh International Festival. The Fringe festival focuses on the performing arts(music, theater, dance), featuring hundreds of artists and groups and thousands of performances in 250 venues all over the city of Edinburgh in Scotland; www.edfringe.com.
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