The tour of the XIV Moscow Easter Festival began in Smolensk

The Mariinsky Theatre Symphony Orchestra, which performed on the stage of the Smolensk Griboyedov Drama Theater, was welcomed by the Smolensk residents with a storm of applause. The performance was a part of the XIV Moscow Easter Festival. This year Smolensk was the first to host the All-Russian music festival.

"I am very happy that we are back in your city. This is our third visit here. We hope this concert will contribute to the celebration of this bright holiday", - said Valery Gergiev, Artistic Director of the Mariinsky Theatre, before the concert. He stressed that Smolensk region is remarkable for its strong and long-standing musical traditions, which can become the basis for the expansion of cultural exchange of the region with the Mariinsky Theatre. As Maestro said, the Mariinsky Theatre is ready to consider the opportunity of its artists participating in the cultural life of Smolensk.

The Moscow Easter Festival has been held annually since 2002 and is one of the most important and prestigious music events in Russia. The festival has the support of the Ministries of Culture and Defense of the Russian Federation, the Moscow City Government and also the blessing of Patriarch of Moscow and All Russia Kirill. The largest national music forum brings together tens of thousands of listeners. Meant to reach the widest possible audience, the festival offers programs that range from classical masterpieces to rarely heard works. In the framework of the Festival the Mariinsky Theatre Symphony Orchestra, one of the best orchestras in the world, and Maestro Valery Gergiev gave a series of concerts in Moscow, Russian regions and CIS countries.

During the 29 days of the Festival the Mariinsky Theatre Symphony Orchestra with Valery Gergiev at the podium will appear in 27 cities across Russia where they will give 49 concerts.

Extremely generous in both its geographic coverage and the number of excellent musical events, the Festival this year will commemorate two crucial dates in the history of the world and musical culture: the 70th anniversary of victory in World War II and the 175th anniversary of the birth of the great Russian composer, Pyotr Tchaikovsky.

In the Smolensk Drama Theater the Symphony Orchestra performed Nikolai Myaskovsky Symphony No. 27, Stravinsky Suite from the music for the ballet "The Firebird", Pyotr Tchaikovsky music for the ballet "The Nutcracker". The program was dedicated to the 70th anniversary of Victory in the Great Patriotic War.

The same date will be celebrated by the concerts of the Symphony Orchestra in the Hero-Cities of Moscow and Volgograd, in the cities of military glory of Belgorod, Voronezh and Kursk, Samara, where Shostakovich Leningrad Symphony will to be played. In the Officers’ Cultural Centers of Orenburg and Yekaterinburg, Tyumen Presidential Cadet Academy, as well as in Voronezh and Omsk, there will be concerts for veterans, military men and their families, military schools students and cadets.