Poplavskaya, Tikhanovich and other artists had to warm up for Rotaru

July 11, Vitebsk / Eduard Pivovar - BELTA/. Sofia Rotaru's fans had quite a scare last night. The solo performance by the People's Artist of the USSR, scheduled as part of the program of the XVIII International Festival of Arts "Slavianski Bazaar in Vitebsk," was unexpectedly delayed by an hour and a half. At exactly half past midnight (the scheduled start time of the concert), the Summer Amphitheater was filled to capacity. But instead of Rotaru, Yadviga Poplavskaya and Alexander Tikhanovich took the stage. They performed several of their famous hits, greatly exciting the late-night audience. "Perhaps for the first time, People's Artists of Belarus performed as an opening act for a People's Artist of the USSR," Alexander Tikhanovich jokingly told a BELTA correspondent. He hastened to assure everyone that Sofia Mikhailovna was fine. Indeed, there seemed to be no reason for concern: a couple of hours earlier, the singer had participated in the festival's opening ceremony. Nevertheless, time passed, and the audience was kept entertained by Georgian singer Soso Pavliashvili, Moldovan musician Konstantin Moskovich, and Sofia Rotaru's sister, Aurika. By this point, even the journalists backstage were getting nervous, and then the famous singer emerged to meet them. She looked thinner and a bit pale. "It's difficult for me to perform so late; I've never sung at this hour before," the artist admitted, answering a BELTA correspondent's question. "But I know that as soon as I step on stage, I'll get a boost – the reaction from the audience that's waiting for you." The eagerly awaiting audience greeted Sofia Rotaru with thunderous applause. The ovations continued throughout the entire concert, as the singer performed not only her new and beloved songs but also hits from the 70s and 80s. The audience rose from their seats and began to dance to them. The singer herself, as always, received dozens of magnificent bouquets of flowers. "Belarus is a symbol of kindness, a symbol of hospitality," the artist said sincerely. "I come here as if I'm coming home. I wish for this night to remain in our hearts forever." After the concert, as dawn was breaking over Vitebsk, hundreds of devoted fans waited for Sofia Rotaru at the service entrance to the amphitheater. Seeing this, the singer was touched and moved closer to the gathered crowd to shake hands with some of them. "Come back to the festival again!" someone shouted from the crowd. "Definitely!" promised the timeless star. -0-