I take this opportunity of the presentation of the Stresa Festival 2005 to express my satisfaction with the empathy demonstrated during the last few years' editions. The Festival is beginning to transform itself into a great moment for sharing, thanks to the unifying powers of music and the active contribution of the artists invited, of the participating public and of the organisation that manages to realise the project, hopes and initiatives that we propose each year.
We shall continue to work so that the participation in the Festival shall be more and more in the line with our objective to create encounters, to stimulate comparisons, to favour cultural exchanges for the enrichment of everyone.
This year's theme, "Nordic Lights", enables us to complete our imaginary journey begun in 2001 that has lead us - starting from the Danube, crossing difficult territorial borders, following Latin traces and observing the influences of the Old Continent on the New - treading the paths, to discover the colours, and the listen to the sounds of our Europe.
The natural beauties of the Lake Maggiore will certainly enhance still further the fascination of our musical encounters.
We look forward to seeing you in great numbers.