Ohrid, 5 June 2024 (MIA) – World-famous Lithuanian-born violinist Julian Rachlin and the orchestra of the Macedonian Philharmonic will open the 64th edition of the Ohrid Summer Festival. 

Rachlin is an artist who enchants audiences all over the world with his extremely rich sound, impeccable performance and masterful interpretation, said Wednesday's press conference unveiling the program of this year's Ohrid Summer Festival.

"This year too, we stepped up with great excitement, as well as urge to preserve the reputation of the most prestigious cultural and stage event. The challenge of hosting yet another unforgettable edition of the Ohrid Summer Festival compelled us to offer quality and have the magic of numerous world musical voices and the creative spirit of top theatrical performances resonate on stage for the 64th time," Ohrid Summer Festival director Natasha Popovikj said.

She noted that the festival's employees are completely and professionally dedicated to stage and technical preparation, to enable a flawless Ohrid Summer Festival.

"I assure you that this year too, at the 64th edition of the festival, we will make the stay of the artists flawless, leaving behind a magnificent image worthy of a Festival that is widely known for its cultural values. Most important of all, we will create value for all art-lovers to enjoy during the 40 festival evenings," she added.

The 64th edition of the Ohrid Summer Festival will take place from July 12 until August 20, when the open stages of the Ancient Theater, Dolni Saraj, the Church of Saint Sophia, and the Cultural Center will welcome more than 500 artists from 24 countries, and art-lovers will indulge in 27 concerts, six theater performances and three events as part of an additional program. 

The selector of the music program of the festival, maestro Bisera Chadlovska, expressed satisfaction that artists of the Macedonian Philharmonic, which marks its 80th anniversary this year, will perform together with maestro Rachlin at the opening of this year's edition of the festival at the Ancient Theater. 

"We are due for many events, with a number of local performers, who are not at all lagging behind popular world music names in terms of quality. Some of them include the piano duo Marija Gjoshevska and Slavica Micovska, Vlatko Stefanovski on guitar, who celebrates 50 years of solo career, as well as a traditional concert performance by the Chamber Orchestra of the Music Youth. There are also two concerts dedicated to Macedonian composers Tomislav Zografski and Stojche Toshevski, as well as Goce Kolarovski," said Chadlovska.

Foreign artists in the music program include guitar virtuoso Gerhard Reichenbach, pianist Gary Douglas, cellist Dragan Đorđević Suzuki alongside pianist Andrey Gugnin, double bass player Dominik Wagner... There is also a concert by the Montenegrin Symphony Orchestra, the Adriatic Piano Quintet, the Halir Trio and many others. Top Belgian cellist Camille Thomas, accompanied by pianist Julien Brocal, will perform as part of the last day of the music program. 

Salsa band "Mercado Negro" will perform at the birthday concert of the festival.

The selector of the drama program of the festival, Sanja Arsovska, announced a diverse theatrical adventure for the upcoming festival edition.

"This year's program will be marked by three theater premieres - of the local theaters in Veles and Bitola with the plays "Racin" and "The Seagull", as well as a world premiere of "King Lear" of the Lit Moon Theater Company from Santa Barbara, California," said Arsovska.

In addition, Arsovska announced theater performances of the Maribor Slovene National Theatre with a play by director Tomaž Pandur and his sister who finished the play after his death, a stand-up show with the famous Serbian and international actor Nikola Djuricko, "One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest" with the Drama Theater from Belgrade and "Alice in Fearland" of the Yugoslav Drama Theater, Belgrade.  

The press conference also said that the Ohrid Summer Festival, as part of the European Festivals Association, will continue to nurture cultural values ​​in order to keep the epithet of a highly renowned European festival.

Photo: MIA