A town that becomes a stage

Overview

Ohrid Summer is an international festival of the performing arts held every year from 12 July to 20 August in Ohrid, North Macedonia. Its programme brings together classical music, opera, ballet, drama, contemporary dance, literature and film.

The festival takes place in some of the most remarkable spaces of the Balkans: the Hellenistic Antique Theatre, the eleventh-century Cathedral of St. Sophia, the lakeside terraces of the Old Town and the Grigor Prlichev Cultural Centre. Ohrid and its lake are on the UNESCO World Heritage List, and the festival is built around that heritage.

Mission

Our mission is to bring the best of world and Macedonian performing arts to Ohrid, and to carry Ohrid’s cultural heritage to the world.

• Present outstanding international artists alongside Macedonian performers and ensembles.
• Commission and premiere new work by Macedonian composers, directors and choreographers.
• Keep historic spaces alive by using them for the purpose they were built for: gathering an audience.
• Make the festival accessible to everyone, through fair prices, discounts and accessible venues.

A festival is not a programme on paper. It is two thousand people holding their breath on stone steps that are two thousand years old.

Cultural significance

When the festival began in 1961, its founders wanted to give Macedonian culture an international stage and to give the international public a reason to come to Ohrid. Over six decades it has become one of the most important cultural events in the region.

The festival is a member of the European Festivals Association (EFA) since 1994, and it has hosted generations of renowned musicians, conductors and theatre companies. For many young Macedonian artists, a first appearance at Ohrid Summer is a defining moment of their career.

What to expect

A typical festival summer has some forty evenings. Large orchestral concerts, opera and ballet fill the Antique Theatre; chamber music and choirs sound beneath the frescoes of St. Sophia; jazz and film take over the terrace of Dolni Saraj at sunset; theatre companies from across Europe play the Cultural Centre.

Between performances there are masterclasses, open rehearsals, exhibitions and talks with artists, many of them free.

Organisation

The festival is a public cultural institution funded mainly by the Ministry of Culture, together with the Municipality of Ohrid, sponsors and ticket sales. A small permanent team works all year round; in summer it grows to some two hundred people, including about 120 volunteers.

The artistic programme is shaped by the artistic director together with curators for music, theatre and dance. Production, technical services, communication and visitor services complete the team.

Note: this website is a university project. The organisational details above describe the festival in general terms; the team members shown on the Team page are fictional.