By raising the Libertas flag and reciting the verses of the "Hymn to Freedom" in front of the Church of St. Blaise, the 75th Dubrovnik Summer Festival was officially opened last night.

The director of the opening ceremony is Paolo Tišljarić, a Zagreb native with a Dubrovnik address, and the director of the Marin Držić Theatre, who also wrote the script.

The Dubrovnik Symphony Orchestra, conducted by German conductor Valentin Egel, performed at the ceremony. The soloist was Dubrovnik mezzo-soprano Dubravka Šeparović Mušović, who charmingly performed the famous aria "Habanera" from Bizet's opera Carmen.

Members of the Libertas Choir, the Dubrovnik Chamber Choir, the Pro Musica Academic Choir from Mostar, singers of the Blasius Choir, and members of the Konavle Folk Choir also performed.

From July 10 to August 25, over the 47 days of the festival season, more than 60 theatrical, musical, folkloric, and other performances will be presented to the audience at various stage and ambient locations throughout the city.