Varaždin Baroque Evenings opened by Irish Baroque Orchestra’s concert
- by croatiaweek
- in Entertainment
ZAGREB, 26 Sept (Hina) – The 52nd edition of the Varaždin Baroque Evenings classical music festival started with a concert by the Irish Baroque Orchestra in that northern Croatian city on Friday evening.
This year’s partner country is the Republic of Ireland.
At the beginning of the concert, Mayor Neven Bosilj said that it made him happy to see that this year’s partner country is Ireland.
“Our two countries have a lot in common and this cooperation is the evidence that music is universal language understandable to everyone,” Bosilj said.
Irish Ambassador Ruaidhri Mark Dowling expressed great satisfaction with the organisers of the festival.
It is excellent to see the development of cultural connections between the two countries, after the period of covid, when such things were not possible. Therefore it is nice to have such opportunity, the ambassador said.
The evening finished on a high with a candlelight procession, a performance by Comhaltas traditional Irish musicans and dancers, and a fireworks display over #Varazdin Castle. And theres a great line up for Saturday as well! pic.twitter.com/Qgc2OEN1Ld
— Ruaidhri Dowling (@IEAmbZagreb) September 23, 2022
On behalf of President Zoran Milanović, under whose auspices the festival is taking place, his advisor Zdravko Zima described the Varaždin event as a unique festival.
Culture Minister Nina Obuljen Koržinek, who addressed the event as the envoy of Prime Minister Andrej Plenković, also praised this festival.
The festival runs through 9 October.
The programme includes about 30 concerts in Varaždin and in 15 cities and towns in another six counties.
It will feature more than 500 musicians and artists.
Varaždin Baroque Evening Festival is the most important music and stage event in central Croatia, founded in 1971, and today, as a specialised festival of early music, it is one of the most eminent festivals of its kind in the world. The festival is under the permanent auspices of the President of the Republic of Croatia.
So far, the partner countries have been Germany, Czech Republic, Poland, Slovakia, Israel, Austria, the Russian Federation, Italy, France, Spain, Hungary, Japan and Sweden.
