Distinguished Guests, еxcellencies, ladies and gentlemen.
It gives me a great honor and pleasure to extend my greetings to you here, in Macedonia’s and Balkan’s pearl, our spiritual and cultural capital, the city of Ohrid.
Tonight we are celebrating the golden jubilee of our widely renowned international festival, the Ohrid Summer Festival. A festival that, through its program and openness towards the audience and the artists, is pride both of Ohrid and Macedonia.
Right here, in Ohrid, the audience, time and again, can discover and enjoy the masterworks of the music geniuses such as Beethoven, Bach, Mozart, but also Chopin, Schumann and Mahler, the three great composers whose anniversaries we celebrate this year.
Is there a more natural place to acclaim the half-century old perseverance of this festival than here, in this centuries-old temple of scene, vocal and music art? A temple in which the citizens of Lychnidos used to experience the masterpieces of the ancient drama masterminds, a temple that today echoes with the works of the great Macedonian, European and World composers, actors, artists.
Respected Ladies and Gentlemen, art does not recognize any borders or divisions. The civilization role of music and art in general is to be the greatest architect of coexistence and common future of peoples and communities. Therefore, the artists were, are and will always be the messengers of peace, tolerance and understanding. They were, are and will always be the main bridge-builders that interconnect us all.
During its long-lasting existence, this festival paved the path to fame for many artists from Macedonia and from other countries as well.
The Ohrid Summer Festival became the second home for many world famous interpreters such as the virtuosi Kogan, Szeryng, Navara, Carreras, Zubin Mehta and Jessie Norman, but let us not forget the numerous reputable Macedonian artists, such as Ana Lipsha Tofovik. This festival has been enriched also by Macedonian and Balkan actors and directors who constantly bring life to the works of both classical and contemporary authors.
Aware of the significance of this festival, we are dedicated to creating conditions for elevating the program with comprehensive contents, including both proven and rising stars, present and future ambassadors of culture.
The Ohrid Summer Festival has exceeded the expectations. This is the reason why, today, I awarded the Festival with the highest decoration, the Medal of Merits for Macedonia, for the long-lasting and successful promotion of Macedonian culture and affirmation of the Republic of Macedonia throughout the world.
Dear Guests, anticipating the concert of the esteemed Russian National Orchestra conducted by maestro Pletnjev and our precious Simon Trpcevski, who, with the power of art, introduced Macedonia to the world map, I believe that we all together wish for many more summers filled with art.
Thank you.