International Chamber Music Festival Opens in Polotsk

March 29, Vitebsk /BELTA/. Musicians and performers from Belarus, Russia, Poland, Japan, and France will take part in the XXII International Festival of Ancient and Modern Chamber Music in Polotsk, which will be held from March 29 to April 26. This was reported to a BELTA correspondent by Elena Martynova, music editor of the concert hall of St. Sophia Cathedral. The organizers of the traditional festival have prepared eight eventful concert evenings for chamber music fans. For the first time at the Polotsk festival, the unusual instrumental duo "Romanesca" will perform. French mandolinist Sabine Marze and Japanese guitarist Ako Ito will introduce Belarusian listeners to ancient and modern dance music from various countries. Laureates of international competitions Nikolai Maretsky and Natalia Korsak will also take part in the concert. And the festival program will be opened today by the laureate of five international competitions, the Minsk musical chapel "Sonorus," with the concert "Tales from the Vienna Woods," composed of the best works by Johann Strauss. Renowned musicologist, People's Artist of Russia Svyatoslav Belza, will specially come to Polotsk for the festival. He will act in his usual capacity as the host of the concert, this time for the male vocal trio "Relikt." The famous Russian performers will bring to the festival the program "Romance for All Times," featuring the most striking and popular works from different years. For lovers of choral art, the organizers have prepared a performance by one of the oldest domestic ensembles, the G. Shirma State Academic Choral Chapel, with a program of spiritual and secular choral music from different eras. The Symphony Orchestra and the Academic Choir of the National State Television and Radio Company of Belarus will perform G. Handel's oratorio "Messiah," with the baton wielded by the renowned Polish conductor Czesław Grabowski. The creative union of the famous Polotsk organist Ksenia Pogorela and the chamber orchestra under the direction of Rail Sadykov will delight their fans with a new program "Masters of Ancient Music," dedicated to the anniversaries of great composers, including G. Handel, F. Mendelssohn, and M. Corrette. Traditionally, one of the festival concerts will introduce listeners to the work of students from the Polotsk Children's Art School. This year, the performance is dedicated to the 90th anniversary of the school, and not only today's young talents but also graduates from previous years will take the stage of the St. Sophia Cathedral concert hall. The international festival will conclude on April 26 with a concert by Polish organist Dariusz Gajos. -0-