“What else could we wish for than a long-time union of two beautiful things – the historical centre of the town and wonderful music? It is an honour for me to welcome you to these beautiful spaces and I am proud of the fact that the monastery premises were successfully revitalised,” said the mayor of Český Krumlov Dalibor Carda about the renovated monastery premises. At the beginning of the official opening the chairman of the Senate of the Parliament of the Czech Milan Štěch said, “This music festival offers a very interesting program, not only classical music, but also other genres, and I am convinced that for the viewers a visit to the festival will be a lifelong experience. Both the interiors and exteriors in which concerts are held are truly unique. We, South Bohemians, are very lucky that our predecessors left this heritage behind and I am glad that it is used culturally in this way.” The director of the regional authority, Milan Kučera, spoke on behalf of the South Bohemian Region during the opening, “This exceptional musical and social event represents the ancient and at the same time the modern town of Český Krumlov but also the beautiful South Bohemian Region. The festival overlaps into the whole of the Czech Republic and considering the world-class level of the performers reaches far beyond the borders of our country.”

Martin Diviš, the director of the general partner of the festival, the insurance company Kooperativa, spoke on behalf of the partners of the festival, “I would like to thank the organizers who have persuaded us to come to this festival in Český Krumlov for twenty-five years, which we enjoy, and we are happy to support the festival. Not only the festival is 25 years old but also Kooperativa is celebrating the same anniversary. We realize how time is flying. Therefore I wish all of you that you may spend your time in the company of beautiful music and people who you enjoy being with.” The festival was officially inaugurated by the president of the IMF Český Krumlov Jaromír Boháč, “I would like to thank all those without whom this festival could not be held: those who have accepted the auspices over this year’s festival, the general partner, financial and media partners, the Ministry of Culture, the South Bohemian Region and the town of Český Krumlov and also the deputies of the Parliament of the Czech Republic, who make sure that our festival as well as all other festivals have elementary financial security. And last but not least I would like to thank the festival team, which at the time of the festival consists of around 120 people.”