The 47th Varazdin Baroque Evenings kicked off on September 22, 2017, with a decidedly Hungarian influence.
An evening of Hungarian cultural influence kicked off the 47th Varazdin Baroque Evenings on September 22, 2017 in the northern Croatia city of the same name, which has a reputation as being Croatia’s most cultured city.
The festival, now in its 47th year, partners with a different country each year, and this year’s guests are Hungary, and a number of Hungarian musicians have made the short journey from the neighbouring country further north to take part in one of the highlights in the Croatian cultural calendar.
The festival, which runs until October 5 (see the full programme here), comprised a rich collection of concerts, performances and exhibitions, both in Varazdin itself and all around the county.
The official opening of the festival took place in Varazdin Cathedral, with welcome speeches from Varazdin Mayor Ivan Cehok, State Secretary for Hungarian Ministry of Affairs, Istvan Ijgyarto, Damir Habijan, President of the Varazdin town council, and Renata Margaretic Urlic, representing the festival patron, President Kolinda Grabar Kitarovic.
Following the speeches, the packed cathedral was treated to a fine performance from the Orfeo Orchestra and Purcell Choir, both from Budapest.
The choir and orchestra are also accompanied by the Harangaib ensemble from the town of Zalaegerszeg.
Their colourful costumes and smiles lit up the streets of the Baroque town on a clear September evening.
As impressive as the music was inside the cathedral, it was this fantastic display from the young Hungarian kids on the street after the performance, which stole this correspondent’s heart.
After the cathedral, the action moved to close to Varazdin Castle, where there were more live performances, as well as a reception for the esteemed guests, accompanied by fireworks.
Magical Varazdin, surely one of Croatia’s prettiest towns, is alive with culture. Just an hour from Zagreb, don’t miss the opportunity to enjoy this delightful cultural phenomenon.
For more information about the festival, visit the official website.
