“Ohrid Summer” festival has begun – MKD.MK

The festival was opened by President Gordana Siljanovska Davkova, who noted in front of the plenary hall in Antichki that “Ohrid Summer”, as a cultural event above all, once again faces a huge challenge – the 64th presentation and demonstration of proof that the young Nietzsche was right when he claimed that life without music would be a mistake…

Siljanovska Davkova recalled that more than 60 years ago, at the height of the Cold War, the “Ohrid Summer” festival was born in this city built on the lake, surrounded by mountains, towering into the clouds and protected by the Samir Tower. As she said, “the natural monument has also become a cultural monument.”

– And … From the West and the East, from the North and the South, from Ohrid, artists sent the message that beauty will save the world. Art changes, reconciles, breeds hope for a different, common future. We have witnessed a rich history of projects, a multitude of top artists, countless well-deserved plaques of understanding and cooperation, fellowship with ardent cultural missionaries … Art has a wonderful power to bridge differences, to erase borders. I am convinced that cultural diplomacy is far more powerful than traditional diplomacy. Moreover, the President said, she is not in a hurry to win, but to nurture and heal through notes and words.

In her view, art is the twin brother of spiritual freedom. The sorrow and joy, desire and hope of individuals and groups are all integrated into music and games. This is the source and reason for our love of song and dance. Art is the wealth of individuals and the wealth of collective memory, the interests of the present and the interests of the future.

“I feel that tonight performer Julian Rachlin and the Macedonian Philharmonic Orchestra will open for us the heavenly musical doors of Ohrid and take us together toward beauty, goodness and the sublime,” she noted.

Minister of Culture and Tourism Zoran Liutkov also spoke, stressing that the “Summer in Ohrid” festival represents a chronological chain of high artistic values ​​that were created here and only here in Ancient Ohrid.

“He, unlike anywhere else in the world, knows how to collect the heavenly nectar of human thought, which revives through the centuries and leads us along paths that reveal only the core of the existence and future of eternal art. I am sure that this year we will witness together events that will bring the most valuable gift to the Macedonian audience: the skill of forging immortality with words, the skill of capturing eternity from musical expression, and playing the eternal game of life on stage,” he said.

Minister Liutkov added that the city of Ohrid and the “Ohrid Summer” festival were and still are the center of Macedonian culture, thousands of cultural gatherings and events intertwined over the decades, which is the best proof that we keep up with current European and world trends, which means continuity of high-quality productions and strong creative energy in which artists communicate with their audiences.

The artistic message of the festival was conveyed by violinist Vladimir Kostov, who did not hide his happiness that tonight he could speak in Ohrid, on his own behalf and in the name of all artists, about what he knows best – art.

– Art is a powerful form of expression that can convey emotions, ideas and stories beyond language and cultural barriers. It challenges perspectives, stimulates creativity and brings about social change. We live in a time that needs value systems more than ever, and art, as the purest form of expression in its essence, organically integrates the most important value assumptions. Art does not lie, and music cannot make a sound proclamation under the veil of unprofessionalism. The honest and unobtrusive charm of high artistic expression should be our anchor and the wind in our sails, pushing us to meet new challenges and towards individual and collective victories, Kostov said.

Creativity, he said, does not mean being different, noting that creativity means being as simple as Bach, admirably simple in the complex maze of polyphonic music.

– Faced with the complexity of the modern world, we must not forget the importance of art in our lives. Support and celebrate artists, invest in art education and ensure that art is deeply integrated into our society. That is why it is important to recognize its power and encourage it through a firmly established value system to spread its essence, educate and create a healthy and positive environment that is not affected by diversion and kitsch, he added.

With the lighting of the festival fire tonight, Ohrid begins to enjoy the excitement of the next 40 days of the 64th “Ohrid Summer”.

From tonight until August 20, more than 500 artists from 24 countries will parade and perform in the ancient theater, Dolni Saraj, the narthex of Hagia Sophia, and on the open-air stages of Hagia Sophia itself and Hagia Sophia. Cultural centers and lovers of classical art will have the opportunity to enjoy 27 concerts, six theatrical performances and three events in the additional program.

The selector of the musical program, Maestro Bisera Chadlovska, expressed satisfaction with the artists of the Macedonian Philharmonic Orchestra, which this year marks the 80th anniversary of its founding, who will perform with Maestro Rachlin of the Ancient Theatre at the opening ceremony.

– Don’t expect a huge number of events, there are numerous domestic performers, whose quality is not at all behind the stars of world music. Among them, the piano duo Marija Gjoshevska and Slavica Mitsovska, guitarist Vlatko Stefanovski celebrates 50 years of solo career, and then the traditional concert of the Youth Music Chamber Orchestra. There will also be two concerts dedicated to Macedonian composers Tomislav Zogravski and Stojce Tosevski, as well as Gotze Kolarovski, Chadlovska said at a press conference introducing the festival program.

Among the foreign artists in the musical program we will see and hear guitarist Gerhard Leinbach, pianist Gary Douglas, cellist Dragan Djordjevic Suzuki, pianist Andrei Gunin, double bassist Dominic Wagner… There will also be a concert of the Montenegrin Symphony Orchestra, the Adriatic Piano Quintet, the “Haliel” Trio, etc. The last day of the musical program will be the top Belgian cellist Cami Thoma, accompanied by pianist Julien Brokal.

The salsa band “Mercadonegro” will perform at the Festival’s Birthday Concert as a concert that breaks with the content of classical concerts.

Sonja Alsovska, selector of the theatrical program “Ohrid Summer”, announced that the upcoming edition of the festival will present a diverse theatrical adventure with diversity in style, form, aesthetics, dramatic structure, with the highest representation of female characters.

– The highlight of this year’s program is three theater premieres – the plays “Racine” and “The Seagull” at the National Theater in Veles and Bitola, as well as the world premiere of “King Lear” at the Bright Moon World Theater She clarifies that she is from Santa Barbara, California.

Alsovska also announced that she will perform “Innocence” at the Slovenian Theater in Maribor, directed by the famous Tomasz Pandur and his sister, who completed the play after his death, and then perform stand-up with the famous Serbian and international actor Nikola Jurico. “One Flew Over the Nest of Cowards” with the Belgrade Drama Theater and “Alice in Wonderland” with the Yugoslav Drama Theater, also from Belgrade.

The stage is ready to receive artists and organizers announce the perfect implementation of Ohrid summer in order to leave an image of cultural values ​​worthy of world renown.