June the 6th, 2025 – It’s almost that time of year again… Zagreb Classic 2025 is just around the corner. The temperatures are getting hotter, but that doesn’t mean everyone just downs tools and escapes to the coast. The bustling Croatian capital has plenty on offer.
The popular Zagreb Classic 2025 is rapidly approaching, set to be held from the 19th of June to the 2nd of July in the ideal setting of King Tomislav Square (Trg Kralja Tomislava). Under the diligent organisation of the Zagreb Tourist Board (TZGZ), the City of Zagreb and its partners, it sounds as if we’re in for a treat this year as well.
During the aforementioned period, audiences will be able to enjoy top quality classical music outdoors through a total of eight entirely free programmes. The works will be both from Croatia and abroad, and they’ll range from symphonic music, jazz and opera to musicals. They’ll be performed by talented musicians who have long been recognised on various prestigious world stages. Zagreb Classic is a festival that has otherwise been held since 2016. It’s grown in popularity and now enjoys somewhat of a cult status among artists and music lovers alike. Zagreb Classic 2025 definitely won’t disappoint.
“The much loved Zagreb Classic event has become an indispensable part of Zagreb’s cultural offer during the summer. It’s truly become symbolic for the coming together of people and excellent classical music out in the open air. This year, King Tomislav Square will once again become an amazing musical stage under the stars. The area just in front of the Art Pavilion will come alive with the sounds of the most beautiful works of classical music, all thanks to an array of Croatian and international artists,” said Mayor Tomislav Tomašević, before inviting everyone to visit the free Zagreb Classic 2025, intended for all generations.
Martina Bienenfeld, the director of the Zagreb Tourist Board, also made no effort to hide her elation at the approaching event.
“Zagreb Classic 2025 will once again bring an amazing open-air programme to the audience this year. It will open on June the 19th with a performance by opera stars Francesco Meli and Serena Gamberoni with the Zagreb Philharmonic Orchestra. Over the following few days, the HRT Symphony and Jazz Orchestra, the ZGK Komedija ensemble, the Zagreb Philharmonic Orchestra with Sergei Prokofiev’s musical fairy tale Peter and the Wolf will participate in the programme. A very special treat will come in the form of the performances of maestro Julian Rachlin as a conductor and soloist.
As part of Zagreb Classic 2025, we’re also celebrating the 200th anniversary of the birth of the “waltz king” – Johann Strauss the Younger. As such, in close cooperation with the Austrian Cultural Forum, we’re showing a film version of his operetta Cervantes, produced by Theater an der Wien, set for June the 27th.
I’d particularly like to highlight the premiere of the oratorio Anno Domini 925. King Tomislav by Matej Meštrović, on the occasion of the 1100th anniversary of the Croatian Kingdom. The piece will be performed on July the 2nd by the orchestra and choir of the Croatian National Theatre in Zagreb and a choir from the USA conducted by American maestro Jonathan Griffith. This will symbolically bring Zagreb Classic 2025 to a close with a combination of national heritage and international musical collaboration. A total of 233 musicians from the USA and Croatia will come together to perform,” she concluded.
We would like to point out that all concert programmes for Zagreb Classic 2025 begin at 21:00, while the programme of the Vienna Music and Film Festival will begin at 20:30. In addition to performers from Croatia, musicians from Italy, Lithuania and the USA will also perform.
Need the entire programme? Look no further. There will also be programme booklets at Visitor Centres in the city. It should be noted that while we hope this won’t occur, in the event of adverse weather conditions, the programmes will be postponed to another day or cancelled, depending on the situation and the possibilities at hand.
Tempted? Here’s a glimpse of the atmosphere you can expect from this already traditional classical music festival in one of the Croatian capital’s most gorgeous settings:
If last year’s edition of Zagreb Classic was anything to go by, we can absolutely guarantee that the upcoming event this year will be just as fantastic.
