1996

The half-year anniversary of the festival deserved a breathtaking experience – the concert on the southern terraces of the castle gardens overlooking the Vltava river and Český Krumlov town itself. Visitors could enjoy the magical atmosphere, twinkling lights, the murmur of the river… And all this while listening to the exceptional vocal-instrumental work of composer František Xaver Thuri “Water Music for Český Krumlov”, which was created at the request of the festival as a tribute to the city and its beautiful history. The non-traditional opening concert was attended by the then British Ambassador Sir Michael Burton, who said: “I am glad that Český Krumlov also has its Water Music after London”. It is interesting that part of the prologue to Thuri’s work is still used by the Český Krumlov festival as its jingle.