HEADING STRAIGHT TOWARDS THE STARS

The 6th edition of Rijeka Summer Nights Festival is taking place in a year dedicated to stars. The United Nations have declared 2009 the International Year of Astronomy, the same year that marks 445 years since Galileo Galilei's birth and 400 years since the father of modern astronomy first directed his telescope towards the stars.
The Rijeka Summer Nights Festival has been aiming at the stars from its very first day. Ambience is its key feature, as programme is for the most part performed on location, under the starry night sky which With just a quick glance through this year's programme it is clear that the Festival's sky is going to be an eventful stage. Rijeka's sky will host some of the brightest world stars who will take the festival on an endless journey through the artistic universe.
As it is a Festival tradition, the opening will be yet another open air extravaganza, this year entrusted with a famous French troupe “Éphémère”. Celebrating the International Year of Astronomy, their pyrotechnic spectacle called From Prometheus to Galieus will light up the sky immediately after the opening ceremony and the fire will be blazing from the Theatre building to the sea and the Karolina Riječka Pier.
We are extremely proud to present a number of world-renowned artists. last year became the visual identity of the Festival.
Rijeka will become one of the stops on the European journey of legendary Cuban musician Arturo Sandoval. A musical genius, a jazz trumpeter with stellar popularity, in a word – a jazz superstar. He is a living legend whose performance simply has to be witnessed. Sho-bo-gen-zo is another attraction, a project by Josef Nadj, one of the most creative and esteemed theatrical artists with a very distinctive artistic imagination. One of the international celebrities is also a violin virtuoso - Alexander Balanescu who will be performing alongside extraordinary Romanian singer and actress Ada Milea. Festival surprise is a guest performance of the Tölzer Knabenchor Boys' Choir from Germany – one of the most famous and world-renowned choirs.
As part of the drama programme, Rijeka will welcome Oliver Frljić again – an intriguing director with innovative and thought-provoking approach who has already found its spot in the theatrical sky.
Audience could also embark on a time journey with The League of Time by BadCo.
While the walls of Hartera will echo with the sounds of Dvořak's music performed by the Rijeka Philharmonic Orchestra and eminent cellist Monika Leskovar, evening in Kantrida will resonate with the most beautiful opera arias sung by three young sopranos, three world-class singers - Ana Durlovski, Gabriela Georgieva and Margareta Klobučar.
Re-run part of the programme is made up of the Festival's greatest hits, both critics and audience sweethearts: Mirisi, zlato i tamjan/Gold, Frankincenceand Myrrh, Lukrecija o'bimo rekli Požeruh/Lucretia or One Could Say a Hog, and Tosca, an opera spectacle on historic locations and a last year's huge hit and winner of both Festival awards.
13 locations will host this summer's Festival. In our ever-growing determination to unearth new locations in our city making it one huge summer stage, the Festival will have its new home in three new venues: St. Vitus Cathedral, 3. maj shipyard and new aquatic complex in Kantrida, alongside other sites that are interwoven in the fabric of this city and our own lives.
The Rijeka Summer Nights Festival continues to tell the story of our city by telling the stories of its plays and shows.

Nada Matošević,
General Manager of the Croatian National Theatre Ivan pl. Zajc