Opera stars of Russia on the Astrakhan stage

On the eve of the opening the participants and guests of the 14th International Festival of Vocal Art named after V. Barsova and M. Maksakova gave  local mass media a press conference. All leading TV channels, newspapers and radio of the Astrakhan region took part in the event.

The  Culture and Tourism Minister of the Astrakhan Region Galina Alexandrovna Zoteeva opened the press conference with a welcoming speech. She noted that the Festival named after Barsova and Maksakova has remained one of the central events in the cultural life of the region for a long time, attracting wide public attention, and even tourists from other regions pay attention to it. "The festival is loved not only by Astrakhan theatre-goers, but also by theatrical figures. Soloists from all regions of our country, far and near, come to us. In addition, I would like to mention one more this year anniversary date in the framework of the Festival. It turns 75 years since the performance of P.I. Tchaikovsky's opera "Eugene Onegin" under the direction of Maria Maksakova”.

Artistic and General Director of the theatre Valery Vladimirovich Voronin emphasized a positive moment of the Festival: "It's nice when musical traditions continue to live and Astrakhans remember their famous countrywomen. During the existence of the Festival many famous guests have visited it, among them Irina Arkhipova, Vladislav Piavko, Virgilius Noreika, Yuri Mazurok and dozens of other famous singers. "

Artistic director of the regional Philharmonic Society Natalia Kimovna Tarasova told about the events that would await Astrakhans in the Philharmonic Society. During the festival there will be music of different styles and epochs, representing a variety of genres and forms, in the regional Philharmonic Society there will be concerts of folk and chamber music, guest soloists will perform.

And of course, the press conference was attended by opera singers from different regions and countries:

Andrey Antonov - People's Artist, Honored Artist of Russia, the leading soloist of the Samara Academic Opera and Ballet Theatre.

Ekaterina Bogacheva - the leading soloist of the Sochi Philharmonic Society, laureate of international and Russian competitions.

At the end of last year, Ekaterina performed for the first time at the Astrakhan Conservatory and in the church  in the framework of organ concerts. Ekaterina was sorry that last time she had no opportunity to see the city, but this time she was pleasantly surprised by the beauty of the city and the grandeur of the Astrakhan opera house.

Farida Mamedova - the soloist of the Azerbaijan State Academic Opera and Ballet Theatre, laureate of international competitions, Honored Artist of Azerbaijan. She will also sing in Astrakhan  for the second time.

Elmira Usaeva - the soloist of the Kazakhstan regional Philharmonic Society. The young vocalist is famous for her Italian singing technique and is a laureate of the international Italian competition in Pesaro.

Alexander Malyshko - the soloist of the Astrakhan State Opera and Ballet Theatre. He will perform Onegin's part in P.I. Tchaikovsky's opera “Eugene Onegin”  in the framework of the festival.

Journalists’ inquiry was about the festival participants  impressions of the city, Astrakhan musical traditions, opera stars' plans, the program of the International Festival.