22 January, Lepel /Own. inf./. From choral performances to theatrical productions – the participants of the children's inter-school festival "Bethlehem Star" presented more than one Christmas carol to the audience. On this day, bright characters kept taking turns on the stage of the district House of Culture: a stargazer would appear with a princess in a pink dress, then carol singers with the "Bethlehem Star", then violinist bees would play a Slavic folk tune…
22 January, Lepel /Own. inf./. From choral performances to theatrical productions – the participants of the children's inter-school festival "Bethlehem Star" presented more than one Christmas carol to the audience. On this day, bright characters kept taking turns on the stage of the district House of Culture: a stargazer would appear with a princess in a pink dress, then carol singers with the "Bethlehem Star", then violinist bees would play a Slavic folk tune…
The "Bethlehem Star" festival is being held in the Lepel region for the fourth time and has already gone beyond the district level. For the first time, pupils from the Sunday school of the parish of St. Nicholas the Wonderworker in Senno performed their Christmas carols here. Guests from the village of Yassno, Miory district, attended the concert: by the way, Lepel residents visited their festival in the autumn. For the second year, the Sunday school of the Church of the Transfiguration of the Lord in Chashniki has been presenting its performances at the "Bethlehem Star".
The dean of the Lepel district, Archpriest Adam Koleda, addressed the audience with a welcoming speech.
The performers chose a diverse repertoire – from minor to major melodies on the Christmas theme. There are both church and pop motifs here. Now, the a cappella singing of the choir from the Zaslonovo Children's Art School can be heard. You hear pure voices – and for a second, you forget that you are in the RDK hall: it seems you have entered a liturgy in a cathedral. Veronika Malyavko's theatrical performance is reminiscent of productions from famous musicals. To her song, little star-dancers twirl around a violinist standing on a raised platform, while a lone star-gazer looks out for someone in the audience. The scene "Bethlehem Night" is performed by pupils of the Lepel Sunday School at the Church of the Nativity of Christ. There is also room for poetic creativity: "In the Manger Cradle" is recited by Maria Mikhno, a student of the Sunday School at the Church of the Icon of the Mother of God "Vladimirskaya". "Rejoice: Christmas!" exclaims another reader – Yulia Silvanovich, a student of Secondary School No. 3.
The children performed about 30 numbers. The "Bethlehem Star" festival brought together pupils not only from Sunday schools but also from secondary schools and art schools.
Priest Ioann Vabishchevich, rector of the Church of the Icon of the Mother of God "Vladimirskaya", as one of the festival organizers, thanked the performers for the colourful concert and interesting exhibition, and the sponsors for their help.
The participants went home with sweet prizes from the milk and canning plant and the bakery, and the spectators – with pleasant impressions and a festive mood, bestowing hope and faith in miracles. And not by chance, because, as the pupils of the Borovo Sunday School at the Church of the Icon of the Mother of God "Unfailing Cup" promised in the song "The Star of Salvation", "Christ's Nativity will come to every home!".
Ekaterina OSOVSKAYA
In the photo: Nadezhda Tomskikh conducts the "Merry Peas" choir of the Lepel Children's Art School; vocalists of the group "Nota" from Zaslonovo Secondary School with their leader Victoria Cherepovich.
Photo by the author.
