The gala concert to mark the beginning of the Slovak Presidency of the Council of the European Union gave guests in the Slovak National Theatre Opera and Ballet Hall, as well as TV viewers, a glimpse of Slovakia’s beauty and wealth. This event showcased not only the country's top artists but also its natural beauty, national heritage, sporting achievements, scientific discoveries and industrial technologies. Short films depicted Slovakia as a modern and dynamic country. Particular Slovak regions were presented by prominent Slovak actors from those regions.
The concert continued with performances by top Slovak opera soloists Adriana Kučerová, Jana Kurucová, Miroslav Dvorský and Štefan Kocán, accompanied by the choir and orchestra of the Slovak National Theatre Opera conducted by Rastislav Štúr. Vocal music group Fragile sang the European Union anthem. Outstanding instrumentalists also performed. The rock band IMT Smile, in an unusual twist, winded up the concert by playing along to a dance performance by the Lúčnica folk dance ensemble.