There will be 25 concerts in Varaždin and some other cities and towns in northwestern Croatia during the 13-day festival.
The festival was officially opened by Culture Minister Nina Obuljen Koržinek who expressed satisfaction with growing interest of musicians and public in the Varaždin Baroque Evenings.
This year, Switzerland is the partner-country.
Addressing the opening ceremony, the Deputy Head of Mission at Embassy of Switzerland in Zagreb, Thomas Casuro, commented that his country had popular early music ensembles and some of them would have an opportunity to perform during the Varaždin Baroque Evenings.
The Varaždin Baroque Evening Festival is of great importance for the Croatian musical baroque heritage as it encourages the research, performance and preservation of Croatian baroque works by both local and foreign performers who often perform together as part of the festival. A few years ago, the festival had a partner country every year, according to the information provided on the festival's website.
So far, partner countries have been Slovenia, Germany, Czech Republic, Poland, Slovakia, Israel, Austria, Russian Federation, Italy, France, Spain, Hungary, Japan, Sweden, Slovenia and Ireland.