34. Krumlov Festival: Spanish guitarist, violin virtuoso, vocal geniuses and baroque of many faces

Unusual places, original combinations of art forms, authors and compositions and many other unexpected connections. World premieres, contemporary music and enlightened interpretation. All this will be brought by the 34th International Music Festival Český Krumlov. 47 concerts will take place at 17 locations in and around Český Krumlov, four of which will be premieres, featuring hundreds of artists from countries ranging from Europe to Asia to North and South America. The festival, with the main theme Unexpected Connections, will take place from 11 July to 2 August 2025 and will feature renowned artists known not only in the world of classical music.

Master of the guitar Pablo Sáinz-Villegas will offer a Spanish guitar repertoire spiced up with a flamenco dancer. Israeli violin virtuoso Maxim Vengerov will perform to the accompaniment of Slovak Philharmonic Orchestra under the bar Daniela Raiskina. America's ten Grammy Award-winning vocal geniuses Take 6 appeals with velvet voices, absolute rhythm and inspiring lyrics. But this Program Offer The Krumlov Festival is far from over. The 34th edition will present, among others An unserious classic directed by Jan Budar in moderation Václav Kopta accompanied by of the Prague Symphony Orchestra FOK. A world quartet of French origin will also visit Český Krumlov Quatuor Ébèneand many of opera stars and choreographers. The festival programme newly presents seven concert series: main, chamber, organ, site-specific, new connections, young talents and concerts in the gardens.

"I believe that the opening ceremony called Unexpected Baroque will bring visitors an unforgettable experience. After three years, we are returning to the lake in the castle garden, where we will combine the timeless music of baroque masters with modern choreography Polish-American dancer Ida Nowakowska directly on water level. The audience will be drawn into the baroque atmosphere by the RunOperun performers on the way to the stage before the actual at the beginning of the concert. The evening will end with an impressive baroque fireworks display. The visual spectacle will be highlighted by soloists: soprano Simona Šaturová and Venezuelan trumpeter Pacho Flores," says the director of the Krumlov Festival Gabriela Rachidi and adds: "Finally, we pay tribute to the passionate Carmen. We appreciate very much that the main characters of the opera will be performed by a mezzo-soprano Ester Pavlu, the famous Maltese tenor Joseph Calleja and the baritone Svatopluk Sem. The concert performance will be complemented by scenic elements and a ballet by soloists of the Roman Opera under the direction of the choreographer Jiří Bubeníček."

The first week of the festival will also offer a concert series New connections. In addition to contemporary music, it will also bring an experiment - travelling hall UFO a the world premiere of Martin KuxSulle rovine del tempo. Concert Series Site-specific will point out the uniqueness of the locations. For example, two performances of Handel's operas by Alessandro Severoin contemporary interpretation Collegia Mariana under the guidance of Jana Semerádová.

The oldest church in South Bohemia a song recital will ring out in Boletice Markéta Cukrova. In the Chapel Park will be presented cellist Tomas Jamnik with Academy of Chamber Music with a concert Nocturne - breathe deeply.

According to Rachidi, it is also important Educational role Festival. A number of organ concerts will therefore be supported by organ masterclasses Mecca of organists led by Jaroslav Tůma and Pavel Svoboda, culminating in Organ Gala Concert. Other educational activities will be part of the accompanying programme in Festival zone, accessible Free from Thursday to Sunday in Český Krumlov Monastery garden. There will be countless concerts, music workshops, theatre performances for children, summer cinemas, talks with artists, lectures, exercises with music, creative workshops from painting to playing instruments, etc.

The festival also wants to contribute to social responsibility. For the second year it will therefore implement music workshops for children from the organization Autism as a gift, the proceeds from the sale of the programmes will support ZUŠ Jaroslav Ježek, from the sale of brochures ZUŠ Český Krumlov. In the spring he will organize Charity concert to support the volunteers and will organize a Chicken Day during the festival itself to support the project Help the children.

It is true that festival events take place not only in the summer, but throughout the year. They have the designation KrumlOFF and brings free music to places it's not normally heard. "None of this would be possible without our partners and patrons," says Festival Krumlov director Gabriela Rachidi, pointing out that the general partner, the insurance company Kooperativa, has been with the festival almost since its inception.

"In a fast-paced and performance-oriented age, art should not be forgotten. Kooperativa has been a partner of the International Music Festival Český Krumlov almost from the beginning and we are very happy for that. It is an established festival with constant new energy, new approach and different artistic disciplines," says the CEO of Kooperativa insurance company Martin Divis and adds: "I regularly go to the festival in Krumlov and I love coming back, even secretly. I also admire the fact that even after more than 30 years, there is a constant effort to bring something new and to connect the seemingly unconnected, which is what the upcoming 34th edition wants to strive for. So my fingers are crossed for him and his Unexpected Connections, and I wish people a great summer of classical music in South Bohemia."

The main partners of the 34th Krumlov Festival are the companies ČEPS and Audi ČR, the official partners are Madeta, Reticulum and Český Krumlov Development Fund, and support has been pledged by the Ministry of Culture of the Czech Republic, the South Bohemian Region and the town of Český Krumlov. Acknowledgements to them and all other partners and patrons, including media partners. And also to all the artists who will perform at the event.