Last month, Croatia‘s broadcaster HRT confirmed that it would revive its national final format Dora for 2019. Few details were confirmed, but now Croatian media is reporting that Dora 2019 will involve three gala nights, held in the town of Opatija.

Croatian newspaper Jutarnji has claimed that the show will be based around three gala shows. On each night, a different style of music will be featured, with the national final held on the third night.

The first night will start with chansons and serenades, which the newspaper says will take audiences back to the old times. The second evening will feature the HRT Symphony Orchestra. They will perform a selection of Dora classics, but given a contemporary flavour.

And finally, the third night will be Croatia’s national final for Eurovision 2019. Jutarnji doesn’t reveal much, but they do say that a jury vote will be involved as well as a public vote.

Last month HRT confirmed that the national final will be held in the resort town of Optaija, the traditional home of Dora. While not all previous Dora shows have been hosted in Opatija, the town has an iconic association with Dora, much like Sanremo for Italy.

Jutarnji claims that HRT’s director-general Kazimir Bačić has recently paid a visit to Optaija, to arrange details with the city.

Dora and the Eurovision Song Contest

Dora was launched in 1993 to select Croatia’s first Eurovision entry as an independent nation. The national final was used consistently from 1993 to 2011.

Croatia’s best Eurovision results came from the Dora years. In 1996, Maja Blagdan placed fourth with “Sveta ljubad”, then in 1999 Doris Dragovic also placed fourth with “Marija Magdalena”.

Daria Kinzer was the last Dora winner to go to Eurovision. Her song “Celebrate” placed only 15th in the Düsseldorf semi-final.

In 2012 and 2013, HRT internally selected their acts for Eurovision. However, neither Nina Badric nor Klapa s Mora qualified for the grand final.

Earlier this year in Lisbon, Croatia was represented by Franka, who was internally selected. With her song “Crazy”, she finished in 17th place in the semi-final. Fans have noticed that Franka has a tattoo on her wrist with the Sanskrit word for “dream”. Could this be a sign that her dream will continue in Tel Aviv?

What do you think? Should Croatia use Dora as a three-night festival? Who would you like to see competing in the national final? Let us know in the comment section below!

Read more Croatia Eurovision news here

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Onetimeuser
Onetimeuser
5 years ago

It’s still not actually correct, the Sanskrit word for Dream is ‘Swapna’ , what she has on her hand is ‘Sapna’ , a hindi word

Hindi is a language derived from Sanskrit but hugely overshadows Sanskrit in usage which is nearly extinct

Dual Lipper
Dual Lipper
5 years ago
Reply to  Onetimeuser

all mantras are in Sanskrit, and not Hindi which is a low language

Kris
Kris
5 years ago
Reply to  Dual Lipper

Do you think people in India communicate in mantras?
What’s a low language now?

Dual Lipper
Dual Lipper
5 years ago

bring back claudia beni

Marcelo
Marcelo
5 years ago

HRT officially confirmed today the return of Dora as the Croatian selection for Tel Aviv! So that’s another national final to mark on your calendar!

Onetimeuser
Onetimeuser
5 years ago

Well , inspired by the roundabout connections to this year’s slogan , I searched for Franka’s tattoo and there seems to be something amiss.

The tattoo is a Hindi word , ‘Sapna’ which translates simply to ‘Dream’ and not a Croatian phrase meaning dare to dream.

Onetimeuser
Onetimeuser
5 years ago

Will the shows be as long as Sanremo? I couldn’t really sit through that

123
123
5 years ago

less is more HRT…i don’t want to be embarrased by 50 awful songs and huge show and then have windows XP background on LED in Tel Aviv

Colin
Colin
5 years ago

Can’t wait! I hope we pick a great song and that there are other great songs in the selection. Since Opatija is like 15 mins drive from where I live, I might even attend! What a rush it would be!

Kris
Kris
5 years ago
Reply to  Colin
Mr. Vanilla Bean
Mr. Vanilla Bean
5 years ago

Essentially, Dora 2019 should be the exact opposite than the disaster of 2011. I can’t even… You start with a decent song in Croatian called “Lahor” (Breeze) only to change it to the English version “Break A Leg” and after getting criticism for that step you think:” Let’s go all the way and turn a decent song into complete garbage.” That, of course, was “Celebrate”. To top it off, you put on an abysmal magic show on stage and because you do not want to qualify, under no circumstances. Even Daria herself did not look like she wanted to perform… Read more »

Kris
Kris
5 years ago

Well , Croatia does have a knack for runing something good. They ruined Lighthouse with that abysmal staging.

Mr. Vanilla Bean
Mr. Vanilla Bean
5 years ago
Reply to  Kris

And that unspeakable “costume”. Nina could have done so well.

Dani
Dani
5 years ago

Hopefully we’ll be in the final next year. I want an upbeat entry from us.

Joe
Joe
5 years ago
Reply to  Dani

Rooting for you!

Nikki
Nikki
5 years ago

I’d be paying serious money for have Goran Visnjic host something Eurovision related, if anyone on Croatian TV reads this.

Now seriously, at the beginning of my Eurovision life, all the way back to 2004, Croatia was always one of my favourites countries. It must have fallen down thanks to their hiatus and my natural love for Italian music, but I still hoping I can rekindle my special thing with the Croatians thanks to the effort they seem to put on the Contest this past few years.

ESCFan2009 (male, 22, German)
ESCFan2009 (male, 22, German)
5 years ago

Franka has a tattoo which reads “Dare to dream”? Great, now we finally know why Israel and Jon Ola decided on their actual slogan 😀

Hrvatska
Hrvatska
5 years ago

This is a chance for Croatia in the promotion of the country through its national qualifying I am curious who will come in. I already have my number one candidates on my list is Kedzo

Polegend Godgarina
Polegend Godgarina
5 years ago
Reply to  Hrvatska

As if they need to promote their country… they get the most tourists in Europe in relation to their population, in summer pretty much the entire Central Europe moves there.
I’m happy they chose Opatija, Istria/Kvarner is the best and most beautiful region by far.