Trenčianske Teplice Music Summer Festival on a souvenir banknote

Since the now 5-year-old concept of souvenir banknotes spread from France to Slovakia in 2018, it has been gaining more and more popularity in our region. Its main purpose is to support attractive tourist destinations and promote the cultural or natural heritage of European countries. Therefore, it is appropriate that the more than 80-year history of the oldest chamber music festival in Central Europe, the “Musical Summer of Trenčianske Teplice” festival, should be recorded on the souvenir banknotes, depicting important cultural and historical monuments or events.

The history of the festival began 83 years ago, with the first edition held in 1937. Its character has changed with the changing regime – from the Czechoslovak Republic, through the war period and the socialist era to the present day, but it has retained its multi-genre character to this day. With its history, tradition and quality, it has long outgrown its regional dimension and has become an integral part of Slovak musical culture. During its many decades of existence, it has experienced several important premieres, countless concerts by chamber associations from all over Europe, the Slovak and Czech Philharmonics, and many performances by soloists and musical ensembles, whether established famous names or young emerging talents.

Due to the global Covid-19 pandemic, which has not been kind to culture, the festival will unfortunately not take place this year, joining the imaginary “club” of years in which it has not taken place in the past (1945-1946, 1951-1956 and 1964).

Nevertheless, this year, the company Kúpele Trenčianske Teplice, a.s. decided to honor the Musical Summer by issuing – after the Hammam two years ago – its second souvenir banknote.

The banknote will go on sale on Thursday, July 2, 2020 at a price of EUR 3 per piece. The point of sale will again be located in the PAX Spa Hotel in Trenčianske Teplice, directly in the pedestrian zone. The banknote will be offered in both the original and new designs with the “Anniversary 2020” overprint, issued on the occasion of the 5th anniversary of the concept. Of the total circulation of 10,000 pieces, 6,000 will go on sale this year, with the remaining sales planned for the summer months of 2021, during the 75th annual Music Summer festival.

Thanks to the support of the Ministry of Culture of the Slovak Republic and many partners or sponsors, the historical and artistically valuable tradition of this festival continues to be preserved, which has become an integral part of the life of the spa town of Trenčianske Teplice and an enrichment of the cultural life of the entire Trenčianske Teplice region.

Although we will still have to wait for the jubilee continuation of the festival, we believe that fans will maintain their favor and support next year.