The festival „The Spring of Mostar“ in Bosnia and Herzegovina kicked off its 2010 edition on 15 April. The festival is running until 1 June and includes classical concerts as well as opera, theatre, film, workshops for young musicians, literature events, exhibitions, and a programme for children. The festival has become a member of the European Festivals Association in 2009. Its 2010 opening was a successful start into the new season: among the official guests were Ivo Josipović, President of the Republic of Croatia, and Darko Brlek, EFA President. The event saw a broad media coverage. The festival reports back: “The news and reports about the opening of Mostar Spring 2010 – 12th Days of Matica Hrvatska (Matica Hrvatska stands for Central Croatian Cultural and Publishing Society) were published by all leading print media in the country and the region, as well as by the portals; the reports also appeared in the programmes of the Federal TV and the BHT, as well as in those of the local television stations. The whole opening ceremony was broadcast live by the state television. Addressing the audience at the ceremony of the 12th Mostar Spring were: president of the Matica Hrvatska Mostar Josip Muselimović; the high patrons: Željko Komšić, the Croatian member of the BiH Presidency; and Ivo Josipović, PhD, the president of the Republic of Croatia. The Spring was opened by the president of the European Festival Association (EFA), Darko Brlek. After the opening ceremony a gala opera evening was staged under the name of “Sarajevo at Mostar Spring”. Accompanied by the Sarajevo Philharmonic, the following soloists took part: soprano Valentina Fijačko, tenor Zoran Todorovich and bass Ivica Šarić. The Orchestra was conducted by maestro Ivo Lipanović. Večernji list, 16 April 2010. • Mostar Spring not only joins the two banks of this miraculously beautiful city but also promotes the cooperation and dialogue in the region. One’s own culture is not preserved through isolation, said president Josipović. The president of the Matica Hrvatska Mostar Josip Muselimović said that this was the first Mostar Spring without maestro Vjekoslav Šutej, after which Darko Brlek, the president of the European Festival Association, opened the Spring by an occasional speech. Dnevni list, 16 April 2010. Brlek was not chosen to open this year's manifestation by chance. Namely, for the first time Mostar Spring presented itself as a full member of the European Festival Association; it is a manifestation, as the president of the Matica Hrvatska Mostar Josip Muselimović said at the opening, that has put the City of Mostar on the map of big and important cultural metropolises of the Old Continent. Opening Mostar Spring, Darko Brlek pointed out that there is no better place than Mostar where the mission of the EFA, which had been founded in response to the Cold War and the division of Europe, could be manifested. • Our mission is the struggle of culture against the division of Europe. It is the culture that connects people in the best possible way – said Brlek. Noting that this is the first year without the artistic conductor maestro Vjekoslav Šutej, Muselimović said: • As a sign of special gratitude, we want that next and every next year the best among the best at Mostar Spring be awarded a medal bearing his name – the name of maestro Vjekoslav Šutej – said Muselimović. Dnevni list, 17 April 2010. • After the opening ceremony of the 12th Days of Matica Hrvatska, a gala opera evening was held – Sarajevo at Mostar Spring, a gift of the City of Sarajevo to the City of Mostar, at which, accompanied by the Sarajevo Philharmonic Orchestra conducted by maestro Ivo Lipanović, prominent soloists took part: soprano Valentina Fijačko, tenor Zoran Todorovich and bass Ivica Šarić. At the end of the concert, amid standing ovations, all the artists were greeted by the enthusiastic audience and the equally enraptured high patrons: the president of the Republic of Croatia Ivo Josipović, PhD, and the BiH Presidency member Željko Komšić, who personally congratulated the artists. On behalf of the Sarajevo mayor Alija Behmen, PhD, the audience was greeted at the beginning of the concert by the deputy mayor of Sarajevo Miroslav Živanović, who pointed out that the cherishing of culture and the protection of cultural heritage have no alternative.” (Text by Spring of Mostar)