Culture

United by music

Recently, the Academic Choir "Belcanto" of the Cultural Centre "Mir" has left to congratulate the Chamber Choir "Smolensk" on its 30th anniversary.

The journey to Smolensk was long, about eight hours but it didn't deter the Choir members. They traveled by car and commuter train "Lastochka" through the gloomy, chilly fog to reach their old friends. Conductor Elena Khritankova happened to be the founder of the Chamber Choir "Smolensk" and the anniversary concert felt like a grand family celebration. Graduates, friends, admirers and of course, the audience gathered. Elena Pavlovna arrived for the anniversary with the united Choir "Belcanto" and the Dubna "Youth and Students Choir". The visit of the ensemble's founder was one of the most touching moments of the evening.

Many graduates dedicated their lives and destinies to music. Guests included Principal Conductor of "Helikon Opera" Valery Kirianov, the soloist Rostislav Kuleshov, the soloist of the Theatre "Court Opera" (St. Petersburg) Irina Aleshina and the Opera Studio soloist Sergey Klochkov. Everyone had prepared musical gifts and congratulations. But for us, for the "Belcanto" students, the song "Ah, you wide steppe" was touching and delightful. This song was once our choir's signature song; we sang it with Diana Minaeva. The young and touching conductor Anna Gurskaya sensitively preserved the beauty of this ancient Russian song and added fresh new colors.

Director of the Smolensk Regional Centre for Folk Art Elena Kochanova warmly congratulated the ensemble, emphasizing its significant contribution to the development of the region's choral culture and the tireless preservation of musical traditions.

The concert programme was filled with masterpieces of Russian and world classics, including compositions by such great composers as Nikolai Rimsky-Korsakov, Sergey Rachmaninoff and other outstanding composers.

To conclude the wonderful celebration, a large united choir gathered on stage for a solemn performance of "Patriarchal longevity" filling hearts with warmth, hope and love!

The event became a creative celebration, uniting several generations of artists and their audiences.

Ekaterina VIKTOROVA
Member of the Choir "Belcanto"