The Night of St. Lawrence
Entertaining manifestation with an emphasis on the romantic spirit of Rovinj that is evoked with special lighting and a series of concerts of romantic music
Program and venues:
Shipyard square ( in front of MMC ): Music Knights - Kristian, Denis and Dino trio ( romantic blues and jazz standards, evergreens)
Pignaton square: Semir Hasić – Sammy ( accordion), and Neven Šverko ( cello)
A. Rismondo street: Eligio Bosazzi- acoustic guitar (romantic music)
M. Tito square: Pop art group – (popular music); Tedi Spalato ( romantic love songs )
Rivijera square: Antonija Šola ( love songs and evergreens), The Sicks Swing Orchestra ( jazz and swing and dixieland music of the 30s and 40s)
Balota Beach: Strings duo – acoustic guitars (sentimental music)
De Amicis street: Telephone – one act comic opera – performers: Lidija Horvat Dunjko - soprano, Ronald Braus - baritone, piano - Mario Čopor
Hotel Park- Lungomare: cultural and entertainment program with sensual romantic music
Monte: Korado Korlević – sunset watching, lecture and observation of planets with the projection of attractive space scenes
Carera street, town woterfront, Monte: dance performance by the group Roxanne
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For the second year in a row, the workers of the Tourist Board organized a romantic evening in honor of St. Lawrence. It is a well-known fact that falling stars known as “the tears of St. Lawrence” can be seen on the sky on August 12th. The head of the Višnjan astronomical observatory, Korado Korlević, provided a more detailed explanation of this natural phenomenon at an expert lecture held before midnight, accompanied by telescopic observation of attractive scenes from space. The best evidence of the great interest of the audience and curious visitors was the fact that there were several meter long queues in front of the two large telescopes.
The observation of the sky was followed by numerous events. The atmosphere on the main city street Carera was heated up by the members of the Roxanne dance troupe, who, dressed in gowns of ladies-in-waiting and accompanied by drummers and flute players, strolled down the city and, lit by torches, announced their dance performance which was held below the Church of St. Euphemy. Beside their attractive performance, one could enjoy songs and music on eight mounted stages. Thanks to a great number of stages, even those people with the most exquisite musical taste could find, hear and see things they are most interested in. In spite of the large number of stages, all points with music were extremely well visited and even extra seats were required.
The fans of the “Dalmatian song” found their satisfaction at the concert by Tedi Spalato and the group “Pop Art” that, before the performance by the master of romance, fired up the audience of the middle main square playing popular and well-known music. However, standing ovations were given for the songs sang “with a taste of salt” – such as “Moj Galebe” by Zdenko Runjić and „Dalmatino povišću pritrujena“ by Ljubo Stipišić.
The youngest citizens of Rovinj enjoyed themselves at Rivijera Square with Antonija Šola singing on the stage. After the show, she was surrounded by small children asking for autographs. On the same stage was the performance by The Sicks Swing Orchestra – the band that played jazz, swing and Dixieland music from the 30s and 40s of the last century.
People in love relaxed on the Baluota beach where they could hear the “Strings” guitar duo performing sentimental songs. Romantic blues and jazz standards could also be heard on the opposite part of the town at Shipyard Square where “Music Knights - the Kristian Terzić trio” literally enchanted the audience. A more intimate, homely and above all friendly atmosphere could be sensed on the Aldo Rismondo Seafront where Eligio Bosazzi and Boris Licitar performed the songs from the 60s and 70s, accompanied by acoustic guitars. Their excellent performance heated up the audience that joined the duo in singing choruses, although very shyly at the beginning, but later more courageously and loudly.
However, the night was not only dedicated to dancers and singers. Semir Hasić - Sammy, the world champion in accordion who in his rich career, cooperated with the great musicians Elton John and Edith Piaf, played an inspired concert at Pignatom Square along with the cellist Neven Šverko. They played the compositions “From Bach to Sevdah”. In Edmondo De Amicis Street there was a one-act comic opera “Telephone”, with the performances by soprano Lidija Horvat Dunjko and baritone Ronald Braus accompanied by Mario Čopor on the piano.
To make a truly romantic atmosphere that befits the Night of St. Lawrence, the light of electric bulbs was replaced by more than a thousand candles on terraces of catering facilities. The city lanterns along the waterfront were turned off, and during this “night with spirit and heart” they were illuminated by the magical light of torches.
