The XXI "Slavianski Bazaar in Vitebsk" is solemnly closing and making way for its successor

July 18, Vitebsk / Diana Kurilo - BELTA/. The XXI International Festival of Arts "Slavianski Bazaar in Vitebsk" is solemnly closing and giving way to its successor - the XXII International Festival of Arts "Slavianski Bazaar in Vitebsk," a BELTA correspondent reports. About 5,000 guests from 28 countries participated in the festival. More than 75 events were held on 11 festival venues. At "Slavianski Bazaar-2012," the Union State Prizes in Literature and Art for 2011-2012 were awarded for works that make a significant contribution to strengthening the relations of brotherhood, friendship, and cooperation between the member states of the Union State. Its laureates were People's Artist of Belarus Georgy Poplavsky and Russian poet Gleb Gorbovsky. People's Artist of Russia Lev Leshchenko was awarded the special prize of the President of the Republic of Belarus "Through Art - to Peace and Mutual Understanding," and a star bearing the artist's name appeared on the Alley of Stars near the Summer Amphitheater. President of Belarus Alexander Lukashenko, under whose patronage the festival has been held since 1996, traditionally took part in the solemn opening of the festival. Presidents of Russia and Ukraine Vladimir Putin and Viktor Yanukovych sent greetings to the festival. Participants of "Slavianski Bazaar" included Lev Leshchenko, Irina Allegrova, Valeria, the Igor Moiseyev State Academic Ensemble of Folk Dance, Gunesh, Alena Lanskaya, the ensemble "Syabry," the Belarusian State Ensemble "Pesniary," VIA "Verasy," the State Dance Ensemble of Belarus, Chris Norman, Samantha Fox, the group The Cavern Beatles, and Alessandro Safina. Among the artists were winners and prize-winners of the Eurovision Song Contest: Loreen, the Buranovskiye Babushki, and Alexander Rybak. The festival's concert programs this year featured Leonid Serebrennikov, Boris Moiseev, the National Concert Orchestra of the Republic of Belarus under the direction of Mikhail Finberg, Sergey Penkin, Nadezhda Babkina and the ensemble "Russkaya Pesnya," Vladimir Vinokur, Alexander Tikhanovich and Yadviga Poplavskaya, Eduard Khank, Inna Afanasieva, and Irina Dorofeeva. The "Theater Meetings" program of the XXI International Festival of Arts "Slavianski Bazaar in Vitebsk" included nine plays by Russian, Belarusian, and Latvian theaters. Theatergoers had the pleasure of seeing performances by Galina Polskikh, Valentin Smirnitsky, Tatyana Kravchenko, Alexey Panin, Rostislav Yankovsky, Valentina Talyzina, and Yulia Menshova. This year, the festival's film project included five feature films presented by their creators - directors or actors. Audiences saw the feature film "Lonely Island" (Belarus, Latvia, Estonia) directed by Peeter Simm (Estonia), and the Russian films "Dom," "Sdelka," and "Dom Vetra." Lithuanian filmmakers presented the film "Hot Heart." For many young artists, the festival has become a launchpad to the big stage, opening up serious prospects for them. This time, the best of the best were determined by the International Pop Song Performers Competition "Vitebsk-2012" and the International Children's Music Competition "Vitebsk-2012," which celebrated its tenth anniversary this year. The Grand Prix of the XXI International Pop Song Performers Competition "Vitebsk-2012" was won by Boban Mojsoski from Macedonia. The first prize, awarded by a jury chaired by People's Artist of Russia, composer Maxim Dunaevsky, went to Samanta Tīna from Latvia. Galina Konakh from Ukraine won the second prize. The jury decided to split the third prize between Federica Marinari from Italy and Slavina Kalkandjieva from Bulgaria. The special Vladimir Muliavin prize for the best embodiment of the national theme and high performing skill was awarded to Luselia Roldán from Cuba. Special prizes from the Parliamentary Assembly of the Union of Belarus and Russia were awarded to Yevgeny Slavich from Belarus and Anastasia Kozlova from the Russian Federation. This year, 20 performers from 20 countries participated in the competition. The Grand Prix of the X International Children's Music Competition "Vitebsk-2012" at the XXI International Festival of Arts "Slavianski Bazaar in Vitebsk" was awarded to Mariam Bichashvili from Georgia. The first prize was awarded to Alisher Zhaksybay from Kazakhstan. The jury split the second prize among three participants. The winners were Diana from Romania, Shukhrat from Uzbekistan, and Polianna Ryzhak from Ukraine. The third prize was won by Paulina Skrabytė from Lithuania. Special prizes from the Parliamentary Assembly of the Union of Belarus and Russia went to Liza Muravyova from Belarus and Anna Muzafarova from Russia. Twenty young stars from 17 countries participated in the International Children's Music Competition "Vitebsk-2012." The performances of the young talents were judged by an international jury headed by Georgian composer, singer, and State Prize laureate Jemal Sepiashvili. The International Festival of Arts "Slavianski Bazaar in Vitebsk" is one of the largest cultural projects of the Union State. On the Day of the Union State, which is traditionally held at the festival, State Secretary of the Union State Grigory Rapota and representatives of the Parliamentary Assembly of the Union of Belarus and Russia, and public organizations of war veterans took part in a flower-laying ceremony at the Eternal Flame on Victory Square in Vitebsk. The State Secretary and the union parliamentarians met with journalists and familiarized themselves with the festival events. The Day of the Union State at the festival concluded with a celebratory concert dedicated to the 25th anniversary of the National Concert Orchestra of the Republic of Belarus, whose permanent artistic director is People's Artist of Belarus, laureate of the State Prize of Belarus, Professor Mikhail Finberg. Famous Russian and Belarusian artists took part in the program "We are 25! Everything begins anew." Days of Culture of Belarus, Russia, and Ukraine have long been a hallmark of the festival. On Russia Day, a concert by the Igor Moiseyev State Academic Ensemble of Folk Dance was held. The packed six-thousand-seat Summer Amphitheater gave the artists a quarter-hour ovation after the concert. The Day of Belarusian Culture was marked by the play "Pane Kohanku" starring Rostislav Yankovsky and a gala concert of Belarusian artists, which included Inna Afanasieva, Irina Dorofeeva, Pyotr Elfimov, Valery Skorozhonok, Alexander Solodukha, Alexander Tikhanovich and Yadviga Poplavskaya, Alexey Khlestov, Eduard Khanok, and the folk music ensemble "Byaseda." "Constellation of Ukraine" was the title of the concert program dedicated to the Day of Culture of the fraternal state. The new young Ukrainian pop scene was represented on the festival stage by Natalia Krasnyanskaya, winner of the Grand Prix of the International Pop Song Performers Competition "Vitebsk-2007," laureates of the same competition, Honored Artist of Ukraine Vladimir Kvasnitsa, Inna Voronova, Natalia Valevskaya, Vasily Levitsky, and other performers. The main stars of "Constellation of Ukraine" were the truly national artists Irina Bilyk and Vladimir Grishko. The Day of Youth turned out to be grand and memorable this time, organized by the directorate along with the largest youth organization in the country, the Belarusian Republican Youth Union. To present their initiatives and subcultures as fully as possible, about 500 young men and women from different parts of Belarus gathered in festival Vitebsk. On Youth Day, everyone could attend master classes from graffiti and body art artists, beatbox performers, breakdance, locking, tecktonik, house, jazz-funk dancers, and other youth trends. Professional kettlebell lifter Anatoly Ezhov set a new world record at the festival in the "bench press of two 22 kg kettlebells alternately for 1 minute" category. He managed to lift the sports equipment 147 times, and their total weight was 3.2 tons. This record was certified by a sports commissioner, an official representative of Guinness World Records from London. Thus, on July 14, in Vitebsk, at "Slavianski Bazaar," an official registration of a new Guinness record took place. More than a thousand artisans and artists participated in the City of Masters, "Prydsvinski Kirmaš," and the open-air vernissage. The trade rows of the region's consumer cooperatives stretched for almost 10 km. For those who could not attend the festival, Belteleradiocompany broadcast it. The satellite TV channel "Belarus-TV" allowed residents of other countries and continents to watch the "Slavianski Bazaar" concerts. More than 400 journalists from 15 countries came to cover the festival events. In 2012, the festival's funding from all sources amounted to Br32.9 billion, including budget funds - Br8.6 billion, funds from the Union State budget - Br6.4 billion. Sponsorship amounted to Br4.2 billion. Extra-budgetary funds in the total amount of festival expenses exceeded 60%. -0-