Croatia Exclusive

What's on when in Croatia

July/August 2006

Histria Festival, Pula

7 July - 18 August

This international musical-theatrical festival takes part in the Pula Arena, a Roman amphitheatre from 1st c., and on other outdoor stages in Istria . Performances include opera, ballet and music concerts by renowned soloists and ensembles from Croatia and abroad. This year, the 7th Histria Festival's official opening night in Arena on July 7 will see a performance by Jose Carreras. During two ballet marathon nights, the audience can enjoy “Sheherazade and “Carmen” performed by Russian Imperial Ballet Taranda and Soloist of Kirov Theatre Moscow on August 3, and on August 10 “Bolero”, “Chopiniana”, “Night of Valkyries” and “Polovetsian Dance” performed by Russian Imperial Ballet Taranda and Soloist of the Kirov and Bolshoy Theatre Moscow.

The festival was held for the first time in the year 2000; it is a member of the International musical association of Europe 2000.
www.histriafestival.com

Dubrovnik Summer Festival
10 July - 25 August

Dubrovnik , a medieval walled city named the “ Pearl of the Adriatic ”, hosts its summer festival once again this year. This spectacular event, the most celebrated and firmly established cultural event in Croatia , has taken place every year since 1950 attracting top class artists and an ever-growing number of visitors. A dramatic opening ceremony with fireworks and music marks the start of several weeks of celebrations, with theatre, concerts, opera and dance presented on a series of open-air stages in the unique ambience of this fascinating city.
Works by the likes of Shakespeare, Goldoni, the Greek tragedians, Moliere, Corneille and Goethe are often part of the festival, lending themselves perfectly to the appropriation of the city's squares, palaces, towers and parks.
www.dubrovnik-festival.hr

Osor Music Evenings

12 July - 24 August

A festival of classical music with concerts by renowned ensembles and soloists from Croatia and abroad is being held in the stunning ambient of the city of Osor on the island of Cres.
The festival in particular nurtures Croatian musical heritage.
This year the 31st Osor Music Evenings are dedicated to Croatian composer Blagoje Bersa. A bust of Blagoje Bersa will be unveiled in the Alley of Croatian Composers on the occasion.

Split Summer
14 July - 14 August

A traditional summer festival of opera, theatre, dance and music performances that take place in the ambiance of the City of Split - in its historic centre and outside it. Along with the productions of the Croatian National Theatre in Split , the festival plays host to other performances of music, theatre and dance from Croatia and abroad. Best musical and theatre performances are granted the awards of a daily newspaper.
The Split Summer is among the oldest and most attractive summer festivals and has been held on a regular basis since 1954.

www.splitsko-ljeto.hr

Pula Film Festival

15 - 22 July
A large film festival in the Pula Amphitheatre, which, for the duration of the Festival, becomes one of the largest cinemas in the world with a capacity of 5,000 to 8,000 seats. National program - festival of Croatian feature films - is of a competitive character and encompasses productions of Croatian feature films between two festivals. In the international program, selected world film productions are shown. The film festival in Pula has been held since 1954 and since 2001 the festival took on an international character and became the festival of Croatian and European film.
www.pulafilmfestival.hr

Festival of dance and nonverbal theatre, Svetvincenat
21 - 27 July

Watch the Istrian small town of Svetvincenat as it comes to life with an international festival of dance and nonverbal theatre, one of two of its kind in Croatia . The festival features a wide range of events, from dance shows to performances, from street theatre and circus acts to visual arts installations and dance workshops. The event was first held in the year 2000.
Along with its educational and presentational character, the International Festival of Dance and Nonverbal Theatre also has a production aspect (based on its work principle and through co-productions with individual theatres and troupes).

www.zagrebackiplesniansambl.hr

Jazz is back, Groznjan
21 July - 5 August

An international jazz festival held in the Istrian town of Groznjan . Taking part in the festival are celebrated jazz artists from Croatia and around the globe. The town's renaissance began forty years ago when artists moved into a nearly deserted place and set-up an art colony and music workshops. Today, the town thrives during the summer months with a variety of art and cultural events while visitors enjoy its unique picturesque ambience.

www.groznjan-grisignana.hr

International Tenors Competition, Trogir
30 July - 3 August

An international competition of tenors in the opera aria category, open to singers of up to 35 years of age (born after January 1, 1970). Every candidate performs five arias of their choice from an offered repertoire. The competition has three rounds (first, second and final round) followed by a gala closing concert at the Kamerlengo Fort at which the competition's finalists are accompanied by a symphony orchestra.
The competition is accompanied by various cultural events. The International Tenors Competition was founded in 2003.

www.itc-trogir.com

Spancirfest, Varazdin

25 August - 3 September

The streets and squares of Varazdin will again this year for ten days beat to the rhythms of the world, with numerous treats: from the melancholy of fado, the passion of tango, the groove of Afro-Cuban jazz, the energy of the song and dance of the Don Cossacks to the spirited Celtic of the Scottish highlands. Along with the musical adventure, visitors of the Spancirfest will again this year enjoy comedy performances and a children's program, but what makes the festival so special are the events on the streets: numerous street animators, musicians, acrobats, puppeteers, stilt-walkers, clowns and illusionists will take to the city's stage.
Spancirfest is also unique for its exhibits and market. Works of the applied arts, traditional handicrafts and useful items, based on traditional patterns from across Croatia , can be seen and purchased at the stalls and there is an opportunity to take an active part in their manufacture. Of course, all this is spiced up by the delights of home-style cooking, making every visit to the Spancirfest an unforgettable experience. This combination of varied attractions and the city as a unique festival stage in 2005 drew 150,000 visitors.

www.spancirfest.com