A comic opera in three acts is held every year on the site which provided inspiration for Milan Begović, the author of the libretto. The plot is about a rich young man from the neighbouring village pretending to be a poor farmer in order to find a girl who will love him for who he really is, and not for his money.
The closing part of the opera is the Nijemo Kolo of Vrlika, which will leave no one indifferent. Dancing and the richness of the folk costume of Vrlika blend in harmony of colours, movement and song, testifying to immortality of the tradition of the Croatian people.
Since its premiere on 2 October 1935 in Zagreb, when it was set to music by Jakov Gotovac, to this day the opera has been performed over a hundred times in 9 different languages on more than 80 stages across Europe. Still, Česma remains the main venue and the most beautiful stage for performing Ero the Joker.
Nowhere else does Ero call his Đula so affectionately like he does in Vrlika.
Source: TZ Vrlika
