Yuri Bashmet opened the Festival of Russian Culture in China

The chamber ensemble “Soloists of Moscow”, directed by Yuri Bashmet, the Honored Artist of the USSR, Vice-President of the Council of the Russian Union of Rightholders, performed at the opening concert of the large Festival of Russian Culture, which started on December 9, 2019 in Beijing.

The artists’ performance on the stage of the Beijing Tianqiao Performing Arts Center was accompanied by a video installation of masterpieces of Russian painting. The musicians performed the main works of well-known Russian composers – Pyotr Tchaikovsky, Dmitry Shostakovich, Alexander Alyabyev.

According to Yuri Bashmet, his ensemble prepared a special program for the Festival in China. In particular, the musicians used Russian folk instruments in the concert.

“This is a very important concert that opens the Festival of Russian Culture in China. And we made a creative program with folk instruments, invited a young violinist, the pianist – laureate of P. I. Tchaikovsky Competition,” – said Mr. Bashmet to reporters.

The festival was also included performances of Ekaterina Shipulina, the prima ballerina of the Bolshoi Theater, Honored Artists of Russia; Konstantin Emelyanov (piano), laureate of the XVI International Competition named after P. I. Tchaikovsky; Osipova Ekaterina Mochalova, performer on domra and mandolin, soloist of the Orchestra of Folk Instruments; Vladislav Lavrik, trumpet performer, laureate of international competitions, art director and chief conductor of Tula Philharmonic Symphony Orchestra; and others.

Concerts and events took place in two Chinese cities – Beijing and Tianjin on December 9-11.