Last Friday when our country celebrated the main holiday – the Day of Russia, Kirillov hosted the event that had never been held before. The First Russian and Chinese Festival of Russian Song opened the summer cultural program of the Kirillo-Belozersky Museum-Reserve. It marked the 70th anniversary of the victory in the Great Patriotic War.
Some creative groups performing folk and wartime, civil and patriotic songs participated in it. The choir “International” that arrived in the Vologda region from Guangzhou (People’s Republic of China) was certainly the most expected guest.
About one thousand spectators who wanted to see the gala concert gathered in the open air hall. Elena Vyazigina, local singer of folk songs, was the first who appeared on the scene. She was accompanied by Gennady Golubev. The ensemble “Light Chamber” under the direction of Svetlana Zavarina, Honoured Art Worker of the RF, took up the baton.
This international event that took place on the Day of Russia couldn’t be held without participation of government officials. S.V. Usov, head of the Kirillov district, congratulated the audience on the holiday noting that they were witnesses of such a significant cultural event as the First Russian and Chinese Festival of Russian Song.
The choir “International” was greeted with cheers. And already the first song of the Chinese musicians - “The Sacred War”- made all people stand up with tears in their eyes. Then they continued performing cheerfully sharing their inexhaustible energy with everybody around. The spectators cheered them with standing ovation.
The reaction couldn’t be different. To cover 8000 kilometres to sing “Song of the Volga Boatmen” and other famous Russian songs for residents and guests of the small quiet town – only those people who love Russia and its songs for many decades can do it. The audience certainly felt it. But we should do justice to museum visitors – they are always active and ready to support all performers. By the way, they were pleased to share their impressions of the concert with master-of-ceremonies Elena Antonova during the event.
Different songs could be heart in the museum on that day: people could be sad listening to one of them and thinking about something own and could break into a dance to the tunes of another one. The Cossack Ensemble “Silver Horseshoe” pleased everybody with their performance, including with the Chinese choir. Besides, the spectators could see soloists of the ensemble “Northern Frescoes” in a new role. The creative groups “Accord” and “Red Snowball Tree”, the veterans’ ensemble of the Kirillov School “How Young We Were” first appeared on the summer museum scene. The veterans’ ensemble “Golden Age” took part in such a large event for the second time. The performance of the choir of pupils of the Kirillov Children’s Art School became a bridge of generations.
All musicians were awarded the diplomas of the participants of the First Russian and Chinese Festival of Russian Song by M.N. Sharomazov, director of the Kirillo-Belozersky Museum-Reserve. Addressing the meeting, he underlined the importance of the event in Kirillov and thanked all musicians and spectators.
The festival was concluded with the performance of the combined choir consisting of all participants of the gala concert. They sang one of the most famous songs in the world – “Katyusha” - and guests of the museum joined them.
