The 74th Dubrovnik Summer Festival was ceremoniously inaugurated on the traditional stage in front of the Church of St. Blaise, with the raising of the Libertas flag accompanied by the stirring verses of the Hymn to Freedom.
The opening ceremony was attended by Prime Minister Andrej Plenković, President of the Croatian Parliament Gordan Jandroković, Deputy Prime Minister and Ministre of Construction and State Assets Branko Bačić, Minister of Culture and Media Nina Obuljen Koržinek, and Vice-President of the European Commission Dubravka Šuica. Alongside numerous distinguished guests in the ceremonial box, including Mayor Mata Franković and County Prefect Nikola Dobroslavić, state secretaries, city officials, and notable personalities like Tereza Kesovija and Biserka Petrović were also present.
This year’s grand opening was directed by Saša Božić, the assistant artistic director for the drama program, based on a script co-authored with actress Nataša Dangubić, who undoubtedly evoked emotions and excitement among the people of Dubrovnik, leading the audience through the captivating opening.
The Dubrovnik Symphony Orchestra, conducted by Tomislav Fačini, performed alongside the Libertas Choir, Dubrovnik Chamber Choir, Pro musica Mostar Academic Choir, and Blasius Choir. The event also featured fanfare players Slavenko Prizmić, Ivan Kušelj, Antun Puljizević, and Matija Slomović, mandolinists Vicko Dragojević and Marko Šilje, as well as young singers Marijeta Bošković and Andrija Bošković. The Festival Drama Ensemble, acting students from the Academy of Dramatic Art in Zagreb and Split, the Lero Student Theater, the Kolarin Theater Company, the Linđo Folk Ensemble, and the Lazareti Dance Studio also participated in the grand opening.
Photo: Ivan Pozniak
