On Friday 14^th July, with the participation of numerous guests, the official opening of the 26^th year of the IMF Český Krumlov took place. “What could please the mayor of a town more than a meeting in the monastery gardens, which have been restored and which ripen like the local wine and just like the wine, our Český Krumlov festival also ripens,” said the mayor of Český Krumlov Dalibor Carda. At the beginning of the official opening the deputy of the minister of foreign affairs Lukáš Kaucký spoke, “I am really glad that after a year I am once again present at the most beautiful music festival in the Czech Republic. And I believe that this is true not only for the Czech Republic but for the whole region of Central Europe. This is evidenced not only by those twenty-five successful years of this festival but also by the number of stars of world format who regularly appear at the festival and last but not least by the great favour of the visitors. The IMF is the family silver of the Czech culture and family silver must be protected and increased in number.” The governor of the South Bohemian Region, Ivana Stráská, spoke at the official opening on behalf of the South Bohemian Region, “The fact that the IMF has survived for a quarter of a century and today a new quarter of a century starts proves that music energizes the human soul and refines us.” Martin Diviš, the managing director of the general partner of the festival, Kooperativa insurance company, spoke on behalf of the partners of the festival, “Kooperativa has stood by the festival from the very beginning. Whenever I come to Český Krumlov for the festival, I manage to forget about all the worries and problems and I only enjoy the beauty of music and the historical backdrop of the town.” The festival was officially inaugurated by the president of the IMF ČK Jaromír Boháč, “For this year we prepared 19 concerts in six different locations. At the festival audiences will hear music from the early middle ages to contemporary music. This year will be unique thanks to the extent of the cooperation with the Czech Radio, which will bring the 38^th Euroradio Folk Festival to Český Krumlov as part of the festival. And thanks to our co-organizer, our thanks go to Mr. Pavelec and Dr. Slavko from the castle, we will return to the castle garden for the closing evening after ten years. It is my obligation to follow weather radars and I am a bit nervous about the outcome tonight, but I believe that there is so much positive energy here in Český Krumlov and at the festival that we will cope with the situation whatever happens.“