The opening ceremony featured performances by folklore, theatre, ballet and dance companies and the music was played by the Croatian Radio and Television Symphony Orchestra, the Dubrovnik Chamber Choir and the Libertas Choir.
The prologue to the opera Pagliacci was performed by a guest of honour of the city of Dubrovnik -- tenor, conductor, composer and art photographer Jose Cura, under the baton of maestro Mladen Tarbuk and accompanied by tenor Cristian Suriani and sopranos Ilijana Korac Teklic and Linda Ballova.
The opening ceremony was attended by many state officials, including Presidential Adviser Andro Krstulovic Opara, member of the European Parliament Andrej Plenkovic, Culture Minister Zlatko Hasanbegovic, Interior Minister Vlaho Orepic, Foreign Minister Miro Kovac, Health Minister Dario Nakic and Deputy Prime Minister Bozo Petrov.
Until August 25, when the festival closes, performances by nearly 2,000 artists from around the world will be held at 20 venues around the city.