27 April, Vitebsk /Diana Kurilo - BELTA/. A gala concert by stars of the Bolshoi Theatre of Belarus marked the opening of a branch of the renowned theatre in Novopolotsk, the Novopolotsk City Executive Committee informed a BELTA correspondent. In honour of the significant cultural event, fragments from classical operas were performed on the stage of the Palace of Culture of OJSC "Naftan" on the evening of 26 April, accompanied by the theatre's symphony orchestra under the baton of conductor Vyacheslav Volich, and performed by People's Artist of Belarus Sergey Frankovsky, Honoured Artist of Belarus Nina Sharubina, Vladimir Gromov, and laureates of international competitions Elena Bundeleva and Yuri Gorodetsky. The second part featured leading masters of Belarusian ballet: People's Artist of Belarus Igor Artamonov, Honoured Artists of Belarus Yulia Dyatko, Konstantin Kuznetsov, and laureates of international competitions Egor Azarkevich, Konstantin Geronik, Anton Kravchenko, Vitaly Petrovsky, as well as ballet soloists. The concert in the 750-seat hall was a sell-out. It confirmed that the Novopolotsk audience appreciates and understands classical art. The Novopolotsk branch of the Bolshoi Theatre of the Republic of Belarus became the second after the one in Mogilev. An agreement on its establishment was signed in March of this year by Vladimir Gridushko, General Director of the National Academic Bolshoi Opera and Ballet Theatre of the Republic of Belarus, the Novopolotsk City Executive Committee, and Open Joint Stock Company "Naftan". It provides for cooperation in organising tours of both individual artists and performances of the Bolshoi Theatre in Novopolotsk. Productions and concerts will be held monthly on the stage of the Palace of Culture of OJSC "Naftan" and at other venues in the city. The opening of branches is an integral part of the educational and social mission of the National Academic Bolshoi Opera and Ballet Theatre. The Bolshoi Theatre strives to present the treasures of world classical musical art to Belarusian audiences in all regions of the country, to expand the audience, to create more opportunities for the aesthetic education of the younger generation, and to introduce audiences to high art. -0-

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