M.Dunaevsky: the Vitebsk pop song performers' competition is the most prestigious in the post-Soviet space

July 13, Vitebsk / Diana Kurilo - BELTA /. People's Artist of Russia Maxim Dunaevsky considers the pop song performers' contest "Vitebsk", which has been held for 21 years during the International Festival of Arts "Slavianski Bazaar in Vitebsk", to be the most prestigious in the entire post-Soviet space. The composer announced this today at the "Star Hour" - a traditional press conference with celebrities for the festival, a BELTA correspondent reports. The composer accepted the offer to head the jury of the XXI International Pop Song Performers' Contest "Vitebsk-2012" immediately after receiving the call. "This is a great honor for me, and I will try to justify the trust placed in me," said Maxim Dunaevsky. In his firm belief, the "Slavianski Bazaar in Vitebsk" festival and its contest have become one of the most prestigious in the entire post-Soviet space. "Contests in Jurmala and Yalta are feeble. They do not carry a creative beginning," the composer believes. The Vitebsk festival has turned into a large-scale event over two decades. Maxim Dunaevsky considers not only the full stands during concerts but also the high interest of journalists in it as proof of this. -0-