Masters of Arts of Belarus declared their love for Vitebsk

July 16, Vitebsk / Eduard Pivovar – BELTA/. Belarusian artists expressed their love for Vitebsk. They made a colorful tribute to this amazing city at the international arts festival "Slavianski Bazaar in Vitebsk". The grand gala concert titled "Hello, Vitebsk!", held late in the evening of July 15 at the Summer Amphitheater, crowned the festival program of Belarus Day, reports a BELTA correspondent. But before the Belarusian stars appeared on stage, the Minister of Culture, Pavel Latushko, addressed the audience. "We have a wonderful opportunity to enjoy ourselves on the Vitebsk land," he said, emphasizing that the festival is the result of the efforts of thousands of people, but it would not have been possible without the personal support of the President of Belarus. Vitebsk region has given world culture unique personalities: Euphrosyne of Polotsk, Simeon of Polotsk, Marc Chagall, Vladimir Korotkevich, Vasil Bykov, the minister reminded and invited everyone to the celebration of Belarusian culture, which continues the traditions of outstanding ancestors. And immediately, a Vitebsk street appeared on the stage with passers-by hurrying under umbrellas, a traffic controller, and fishermen sitting on the banks of the Dvina. This composition served as a reminder of the famous Vitebsk rain, which always accompanies the festival, and which every visitor has experienced at least once. Next, a flower girl with a wicker basket rushed out from behind the scenes. The flowers were taken by the participants of the State Ensemble "Pesniary" to be presented to the guest of the program – the renowned composer Alexandra Pakhmutova. However, the People's Artist of the USSR is far from a guest in Vitebsk: her name is now immortalized on the Alley of Laureates of the Special Prize of the President of the Republic of Belarus "Through Art – to Peace and Mutual Understanding", which appeared near the Summer Amphitheater this year. Pakhmutova sat down at the piano, and "Pesniary" sang the unforgettable "Belovezhskaya Pushcha" and "My Youth, Belarus". "I am happy to be back in my beloved Belarus," exclaimed the composer and invited her equally famous husband, the poet Nikolai Dobronravov, to the stage. Although he had performed here many times before, this time he could not hide his excitement. "Now a new song about our love for Belarus will be performed," Dobronravov announced the next number. "And it will be performed by the wonderful Belarusian singer Irina Dorofeeva, whose gentle voice seems to be made for this song." Her authors worried in vain: their new song "Love and Joy – Belarus" was warmly received by the audience. There were many such pleasant surprises during the concert. The program also remembered the lovers flying over Vitebsk, Chagall's cornflower, which became the emblem of the Vitebsk arts forum, and the Polish song festival, which was held in the Summer Amphitheater before the "Slavianski Bazaar" began. As for the participants of the program, they were all stars: Anzhelika Agurbash and Inna Afanasyeva, Alesya and Gyunesh, Nikolai Skorikov and Yakov Naumenko, Polina Smolova and Iskuí Abalyan, ensembles "Belorusskie Pesniary", "Syabry", "Verasy" – it is simply impossible to list them all. Invited artists also performed that evening: the ensemble "Zolotoye Koltso" and Boris Moiseev. The three-hour performance concluded with a colorful fireworks display that illuminated the night sky of Vitebsk. -0-