The 70th Split Summer Festival was ceremoniously opened at the Peristyle. Prior to the first festival performance, Mayor of Split, Ivica Puljak, officially declared the festival open. Among the crowded audience at the Peristyle theater, the opening ceremony was attended by the representative of the President of the Republic of Croatia and the high patron of the festival, Zdravko Zima, the President's cultural advisor, the representative of the Croatian Parliament, MP Tomislav Šuta, and the representative of the Croatian Government, Minister of Culture and Media, Nina Obuljen Koržinek.
The festival flag was raised by an employee of the Croatian National Theater Split, the organizer of the Split Summer Festival, Marija Čule, head of the accounting and financial department. The opening program of the anniversary Split Summer Festival was spiritedly and humorously presented by the young actors from the Split National Theater, Donat Zeko and Stipe Jelaska.
"In a commemorative speech, the Mayor of Split mentioned: "The program that we will enjoy together over the next month is valuable and diverse, ambitious and daring, embodying the essence of Split and the loyal audience of the Split Summer Festival. Summer in Split is a phenomenon that makes our city unique and special with its energy, content, and richness of diversity. As a city of culture and art, Split, like all historical cities, strives to preserve its heritage, value it, protect it, and present it as its most precious gem. At the same time, the city thrives on the dynamics of tourism, bringing the energy of youth and vibrancy in its offerings, which we do not wish to suppress but instead manage responsibly. Split embraces multiculturalism and the changes that we must adapt to and address with openness, dialogue, respect, and knowledge. Split is inclusive; there is room for all who approach it with love and respect. The harmony of coexistence and the beauty of diversity are challenges that we will meet without losing anything of ourselves but by giving our best. The Split Summer Festival, as the epicenter of cultural events, plays a significant role in maintaining this balance."
After Mayor Puljak officially declared the 70th Split Summer Festival open, soloists, ensembles from the Opera and Ballet of the Split National Theater, along with the Children's Choir of the Joispa Hatze Music School, conducted by maestro Ivan Huta and directed by Michał Znaniecki, inspired the audience with a performance of Carl Orff's scenic cantata Carmina Burana. This marked the beginning of the rich program of this year's Split Summer Festival, which will continue until August 14th on 16 ambient stages in Split, Vrlika, and Kaštel Gomilica, offering a total of 36 opera, drama, ballet, concert, and art programs with a total of 54 performances.