The center of Zagreb danced to the hits of the 90s, thousands of people came, and then the surprise of the evening

The heart of Zagreb came alive with music, movement, and celebration as thousands gathered in the city center for the sixth edition of the Ljetne večeri (Summer Evenings) organized by the Croatian National Theatre (HNK). The event, themed "Devedesete – godine koje pamtimo" ("The Nineties – Years We Remember"), paid tribute to the iconic music of the 1990s, bringing together artists, audiences, and cultural institutions in a vibrant display of nostalgia and artistic excellence. Held on the Republic Square, the evening unfolded with a blend of performances, awards, and a surprise guest who left the crowd in awe.

The night began at 8:30 PM with the traditional award ceremony, recognizing outstanding contributions to the theatrical season. Ana Begić Tahiri was honored with the "Mila Dimitrijević" Award for Best Female Role in the play Idealan muž, while Krešimir Mikić received the same honor for the male role. In the opera category, Evelin Novak won the "Marijan Radev" Award for her performance in Tannhäuser, and Ljubomir Pušković took home the "Vladimir Ruždjak" Award for his work in the same production. For ballet, Hinako Shinzaki was awarded the "Ana Roje" Prize for her portrayal in Orašar i Trnoružica, and Pavel Savin received the "Oskar Harmoš" Award for the same performances. This year also marked the introduction of a new professional award, the "Dražen Martinjak Žika" Award, presented to Nevenka Čubanec for her decades of dedicated service to the theatre.

As the awards concluded, the atmosphere shifted to one of musical excitement. The evening’s program kicked off with the renowned Hrvatski narodni tenor, Tvrtko Stipić, performing the beloved song Zagreb je najljepši grad. The tone of praise for Zagreb continued with the song Na modrom nebu iznad Zagreba, performed by Ivo Mihalić and Dušan Bučan, joined by all the performers. The tempo slowed during a heartfelt rendition of Tvoje tijelo moja kuća by Lana Barić and Roko Juričić, followed by an artistic recital by Lana Ujević Telente and the song Ja za ljubav neću moliti. The performance of Grane smo na vjetru featured guitar and string instruments, adding a rich layer of sound to the evening.

Igor Kovač and his ensemble delivered a powerful performance of Apokalipso, followed by other hits such as 5 dana ratujem, Nema nje, and Dođi. The evening then moved into a more intimate moment with Zvonimir Golob's recital of Prve kapi kiše, prepared by Ivan Colarić, which was later replaced by a solo performance by Marija Draženčić from the opera, singing Vrijeme ljubavi. The audience reflected on a series of nostalgic songs including Malena, Moj osmijeh i ja, Nogomet, Zlato, Nisi me bio vrijedan ti, and Tu noć kad si se udavala, accompanied by the distinctive sounds of brass and percussion.

A highlight of the evening came with the performance titled Ratni dance medley, which brought together some of the most iconic dance tracks of the decade, including Metak, Ja sam vlak, Beba malena, and Šumica. The dynamic energy of these songs, combined with the lively dancing of the ensemble, captivated the audience, who responded with clapping and dancing. The evening reached its peak when the surprise guest, Tajči, took the stage. Her performance of Ti nemaš prava na mene was met with cheers and applause, with the audience joining in to sing along. Tajči continued with other iconic hits such as Bube su u glavi, Dvije zvijezdice, and Hajde da ludujemo, leaving the crowd in raptures.

The evening concluded with an instrumental set led by Ante Gele, the creative director of the entire event, and his band, paying homage to the club scene of the 1990s. Following this, the playlist shifted to international hits, featuring the energetic renditions of Wannabe by Spice Girls and Everybody by Backstreet Boys, alongside a captivating dance performance by the ballet dancers. As the night drew to a close, the audience remained entranced, having experienced a night filled with music, emotion, and the enduring legacy of the 1990s.