The opening ceremony of the manifestation will bring a spectacular performance of Beethoven's „Ode to Joy“ performed by the soloists, chorus and orchestra of the Croatian National Theatre Ivan Zajc amid the port of Rijeka, on a floating pontoon, while the closing ceremony will present the music and stage spectacle "The Water Ballet" taking place at the swimming-pool complex of Kantrida, which last year filled the audience with enthusiasm.
The central events of the festival are the drama premiere „Cirkus prin-tim-pram“ based on motives of Daniil Harms's play, staged by a well-established European producer from Macedonia Aleksandar Popovski and performed by the Croatian Drama of the CNT Ivan Zajc and one of the most beautiful veristic opera, „Cavalleria rusticana“ by Mascagni which in the manner of a true ambience theatre will be preformed on the square Trg Grivica in front of St. Vitus's cathedral, conducted by maestra Nada Matošević and staged by Ozren Prohić.
No less than six concerts are included in this year's programme of „Rijeka Summer Nights“. For the first time the beach location of the former Hotel Park will be occupied by top musicians and orchestras, like for instance the true violin star Stefan Milenkovich and guitarist Edin Karamazov, excellent young Croatian string players of international careers, violinist Marco Graziani e violoncello player Stjepan Hauser or an excellent violoncello player from Rijeka Petar Kovačić and Darko Jurković, top jazz guitarist, who will offer the audience  unique performance playing two guitars at the same time using „two hand tapping“ technique. The concert by the chorus of the Rijeka Theatre Opera will take place in Rijeka cathedral.
The news of the festival is the film programme realised in co-operation with the Pula Film Festival and the company Videomarket Trade. Four films belonging to the recent European production selected from the most important world film festivals can be watched for four days in a row beneath the open sky on the square Trg Matije Vlačića Ilirika. On the same square this season's successful premiere of the Italian drama will be given. It is the comedy „Tutto sulle donne“ / “Everthing about women“.
We should mention the premiere for children and adults „The Trsat Castle“ of the Theatre workshop Malik from Rijeka and the traditional literature evening „Writers Under the Stars“. This year's topic is the relationship between poetry and new technology and the workshop is led by Laura Marchig. In line with its topic, the evening will be held in the premises of the Rijeka Astronomy Centre.
The programme will include a series of successful cult second-run movies from „Scents, Gold and Frankincense“ and „Lukrecija o'bimo rekli požeruh“ to the ambient opera spectacle performed in three locations of culture and history in Rijeka, Puccini's „Tosca“.
Among the guest performances, spectators will be able to enjoy „Interruptions“ to be given by the Theatre Planet Art from Zagreb and a dance performance in co-operation with the Dance Festival and the Non-Verbal Theatre Svetvinčenat which title will be known once the festival has completed its selection.
The news of the Festival is the „Rijeka Summer Nights“ card which costs HRK 100, allowing the purchase of two tickets at a 40% discount off its usual prize.
The festival organisers are: the CNT Ivan Zajc Rijeka, the City of Rijeka and the Tourist Board of the City of Rijeka.
More information about the „Rijeka Summer Nights“ Festival is available on : www.rijeckeljetnenoci.com