From August 27 to September 21, the Dubrovnik Symphony Orchestra will hold the traditional International Late Summer Music Festival for the ninth year in a row.

As the orchestra approaches its hundredth anniversary so the festival program has been created for all music lovers. Nine concerts will be held in this popular festival with famous musicians from both Croatia and abroad.

The festival’s chief conductor and music director, Marc Tardue, has sent a message to audiences that whatever restrictions and measures there are due to the pandemic that the orchestra wants to offer its loyal audience an outstanding cultural and art program.

“In these challenging times of the pandemic, the Dubrovnik Symphony Orchestra resolutely continues with a selection of the best classical music in collaboration with prominent internationally recognized soloists and conductors. Regardless of the numerous measures, the orchestra will present a great symphony program, dedicated to Beethoven and Mendelssohn,” stated Tardue.

The festival will be opened by the renowned Slovenian pianist of Dubrovnik origin, Dubravka Tomšič Srebotnjak, with a concert in front of the Rector's Palace, conducted by maestro Ivana Hut. Srebotnjak, the Grand Dame of the Piano, is a celebrated pianist who has performed all over the world.

The continuation of the festival will then see a concert in collaboration with the Laus Academy Dubrovnik, and then a concert by the celebrated Chinese violinist, Dan Zhua who will also continue the theme of Beethoven at this festival.

Audiences will also have the opportunity to enjoy DSO performances of the Brass & Percussion septet and D&B piano duo consisting of Bruno Vlahek and Dubravka Vukalović.

One of the concerts will be dedicated to the Ivan Dražinić Award, which will feature last year's winner, Ivan Vihor.

Celebrated pianist Jasminka Stančul will give the festival audience a concert conducted by Maestro Tardue with selected works by Mendelssohn. And a special chamber concert will be held in collaboration with the string quartet of DSO, where Jasminka Stančul will perform with Frano Matušić with selected music program.

In the finals of the festival, the orchestra will perform in front of the Dubrovnik Cathedral under the direction of the great conductor Noorman Widjaja, with prominent violinist Iskandar Widjaja.

Maestro Tardue concluded his program with the message, “In these difficult times we hope our music will bring you peace and comfort, connecting us again through the art and top performances of the orchestra and its guests.”

Full program of IV International Late Summer Music Festival