Poland is the festival's partner country this year.

Ahead of the concert, Deputy Mayor Zlatko Horvat thanked Poland, saying that without its assistance and support, the programme of this year's festival would not have been as good. He particularly thanked Ambassador Wieslaw Tarka for helping organise the event.

Speaking on behalf of the government, Culture Minister Jasen Mesic said this music festival and its setting showed that Varazdin and the entire Croatia belonged to European culture.

A state secretary at the Polish government, Adam Jasser, congratulated Croatia on the completion of its accession negotiations with the European Union.

Soon you will become citizens of the EU. This proves that, like us, you believe in the strategic sense of uniting the continent, he said, welcoming all in attendance and wishing them to enjoy the event on behalf of Polish Prime Minister Donald Tusk.

Before the concert, a photo exhibition called "Magical Krakow" was opened at Zlatni Ajngel Gallery thanks to the Polish Culture Ministry, the Polish Embassy in Croatia and the Krakow Culture Promotion Foundation. In Varazdin, it will be open until October 2, when it will move to Trakoscan.

The Varazdin Baroque Nights close on October 4. Top Croatian and world soloists and ensembles will give 28 concerts, of which 17 in Varazdin and Trakoscan, and 11 in other Croatian and European towns.

The festival is being held under the auspices of Croatian President Ivo Josipovic and the Croatian and Polish culture ministries.