Festival Rovinj

About festival

The Rovinj Summer Festival, founded in 1996, with its long and recognizable tradition of successful activities, testifies to the fact that it has become a highly recognized and representative manifestation of classical music not only in Croatia but also on a European scale. With its long-standing high level of excellence of musical projects and increasing attendance, it represents a significant and unavoidable segment of the cultural promotion of the city of Rovinj as well as its longest-running musical manifestation of classical notes. Depending on the size of the ensembles and the type of musical styles, the festival concerts are held in the monumental church of St. Euphemia, the church of St. Francis or in the Multimedia Center. The Rovinj Summer Festival was founded primarily as a result of the rich experience of the prominent mezzo-soprano and artistic director Katja Markotić, guided by the example of similar domestic and numerous foreign festivals in which she personally participated. By arranging high-quality and varied concert programs for chamber orchestras, larger ensembles, smaller ensembles or for soloists in performances by distinguished guest domestic and numerous foreign artists from Europe, the USA, Russia, Korea, Australia and Mexico, the Rovinj Festival has taken on all the epithets of a relevant international chamber music festival.

A word from the director

As in all previous concert seasons, in this 31st edition, the Rovinj Festival will present its loyal Rovinj audience and numerous visiting classical music lovers with a true wealth and all the beauty of serious notes with a diverse palette of 10 distinctive and attractive full-evening programs. This year's opening ceremony, with the restored Barbini Venetian organ from the 18th century, will sound for the first time in the magnificent church of St. Euphemia with its original luxurious sound accompanied by the Istrian Chamber Orchestra under the leadership of conductor P. Matošević. This rare concert evening will of course be enhanced by renowned soloists (organ, violin, soprano and guitar). During the festival edition, the audience will truly enjoy the brilliant and inspired performances of domestic and world-renowned foreign musicians such as the Prague Trio, who will present a superbly conceived program consisting of: violin virtuoso M. Ambroš and an equally accomplished master of both wind instruments, clarinet and saxophone F. Slováček jun, accompanied by pianist prof. Z. Ambrošova. I would also like to highlight the rarely performed romantic duets in concert, by greats such as Brahms, Schumann, Mendelssohn, Rossini and Saint-Saens for soprano and mezzo-soprano. This will be followed by a series of top ensembles and soloists, such as the brilliant Italian pianist A. Cesare, who has already enchanted the numerous Rovinj audience with his recital, with brilliant and sovereign technique, and an exceptionally refined approach to interpretation. But at the end of the festival edition, we will prepare a real surprise for our audience with the rich and attractive harmony of the Perdifiato wind trio, performances of the most famous works by Mozart, Rossini, Donizetti and Verdi. During its continuous traditional activities since 1996, the Festival has organized (almost 300) concert projects and thus achieved an enviably recognizable artistic level on a Croatian and European scale, with the support of the City of Rovinj and the City Tourist Board.