"Slavianski Bazaar in Vitebsk" is acquiring new features and remains a unique cultural phenomenon - V. Potupchik
16/07/20100 views
On July 16, Vitebsk /BelTA correspondent/. The "Slavianski Bazaar in Vitebsk" festival has once again confirmed that creativity and art are an excellent basis for developing spiritual and strengthening cultural ties between peoples. This opinion was expressed at the closing ceremony of the XIX International Festival of Arts "Slavianski Bazaar in Vitebsk" by the Deputy Prime Minister of Belarus, Chairman of the festival's organizing committee, Vladimir Potupchik, BelTA correspondent reports.
"The 'Slavianski Bazaar', held under the patronage of the Head of State, is acquiring new features and bright colours, remaining a unique and one-of-a-kind cultural event in Europe and the world," said the Deputy Prime Minister.
The festival will be remembered for new names and a rich programme. The Deputy Prime Minister expressed his gratitude to the festival organizers and the residents of Vitebsk, adding: "We are not saying 'goodbye' to the festival – we are saying 'see you again at the Slavianski Bazaar in Vitebsk'."
About 5,000 guests from 34 countries participated in the 19th arts forum. Representatives from Montenegro, Panama, and Cuba visited the festival for the first time. 70 creative projects were held on 16 concert venues of the festival, which were attended by about 150,000 spectators.
The XIX International Festival of Arts "Slavianski Bazaar in Vitebsk" offered meetings with masters of arts from Belarus, Russia, and Ukraine. Dmitry Hvorostovsky, Yuri Antonov, Nikolai Baskov, Larisa Dolina, Valeria, Stas Mikhailov, Elena Vaenga, Inna Afanasyeva, the ensembles "Pesniary" and "Siabry", Taisiya Povaliy, Thomas Anders, Chani & Nivegrem, Helena Vondrackova, Toto Cutugno, and Alexander Serov performed brilliantly on the main concert venue of the festival in the Summer Amphitheatre.
Spectators were able to see performances by popular theatres from Moscow and St. Petersburg, and get acquainted with new works by Belarusian, Russian, and Ukrainian filmmakers.
On the opening ceremony of the festival, diplomas were awarded to the laureates of the Union State Prize in Literature and Art for 2009-2010. The laureates included the author's team comprising People's Architect of Russia Yuri Grigoriev, Belarusian sculptors Lev Gumilevsky and Sergey Gumilevsky, Russian sculptors Yuri Orekhov and Grigory Orekhov, as well as the author's team comprising People's Artists of the USSR Alexey Tkachev and Sergey Tkachev. Among the laureates was People's Artist of the Republic of Belarus Leonid Shchemelev. Yuri Antonov was awarded the Order of Francysk Skaryna, and the special award of the President of the Republic of Belarus "Through Art – to Peace and Mutual Understanding" was presented to the ensemble "Pesniary" and, posthumously, to its founder Vladimir Mulyavin.
A commemorative marble plaque with a cornflower and the engraved names of Vladimir Mulyavin and his ensemble was laid on the "Walk of Fame" on the first day of the festival.
"Slavianski Bazaar" is one of the major cultural projects of the Union State. Therefore, it has become a good tradition to hold the Union State Day. On this day, the traditional meeting of the State Secretary of the Union State, Pavel Borodin, with veterans of the Great Patriotic War took place. An exhibition of works by Leonid Shchemelev, "To My Countrymen," opened at the Vitebsk Art Museum. The Union State Day concluded with the concert "Two Sisters," whose program included songs by Kim Breitburg set to the lyrics of Belarusian and Russian poets. Special diplomas and prizes of the Standing Committee of the Union State "For Creative Implementation of the Ideas of Friendship between the Peoples of Belarus and Russia" were awarded to Belarusian composer Oleg Eliseenkov, initiator of many festival projects Vladimir Rylatko, Honored Artist of the Russian Federation Vera Glagoleva, and People's Artist of Russia Larisa Dolina, a participant in many concert programs on the Vitebsk stage.
The competition for popular music performers is a contemporary of the festival. The Grand Prix of the XIX competition "Vitebsk-2010" was won by Damir Kedzo from Croatia. 19 performers from 19 countries took part in the competition.
The children's song contest "Vitebsk-2010" was held at the festival for the eighth time. The main prize of this competition was taken home by Mario from Romania.
Throughout the festival week, fairs of folk craftsmen and an open-air vernissage of Vitebsk artists were held in the city.
Approximately 500 journalists from 20 countries covered the festival's events.
In 2010, Br2.5 billion was allocated from the President's reserve fund and almost 25 million Russian rubles from the Union State funds for the organisation and holding of the "Slavianski Bazaar in Vitebsk" festival. -0-
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