News & Events in Belarus
Anniversary Slavianski Bazaar in Vitebsk opened on grand scale
VITEBSK, 17 July (BelTA) – The 35th International Festival of Arts Slavianski Bazaar in Vitebsk, one of the brightest and most anticipated music forums, kicked off in truly grand fashion. A gala concert to mark the official opening took place at the Summer Amphitheatre, BelTA has learned.
This year, the festival set an absolute record in its entire history: representatives of 52 countries took part, demonstrating the enormous scale of the celebration. This milestone achievement was announced at the press conference dedicated to the opening ceremony.
Following a long-standing tradition, the grand gala concert on the Summer Amphitheatre stage gave the official start to the festival marathon. The audience enjoyed a truly star-studded evening: masters of the stage, renowned creative ensembles, and young talents came together to create an unforgettable atmosphere of music, friendship, and inspiration. The concert was hosted by Honored Artist of Belarus Yelena Spiridovich, Russian TV host and journalist Vladimir Berezin, Russian actor, showman, and singer Stas Yarushin, popular Belarusian TV host and singer Marianna Murenkova, well-known Ukrainian journalist and TV presenter Diana Panchenko.
A vivid overture to the gala concert was the heartfelt prologue The Legend of Three Slavic Peoples, filled with an atmosphere of unity. Its talisman was the cornflower, the symbol of the festival. The audience was captivated by the talents of Francysk Skaryna Medal holder Anna Blagova, bright soloists Irina Irshonok and Aleksandra Melekh, and the acting troupe of the Yakub Kolas National Academic Drama Theatre.
A fiery medley was performed by People’s Artist of Russia Oleg Gazmanov, who jokingly noted that he would soon be “only 75”. The singer promised to return to the festival again.
The stage of Slavianski Bazaar blesses artists for creative careers. Laureates of the International Pop Song Performers Contest Vitebsk from different years delighted the audience with lyrical and cheerful musical pieces. Grand Prix winner of 2004 Piotr Yelfimov performed the touching song Mama by Valery Golovko. Laureate of 2003, Honored Artist of Russia Marina Devyatova, sang the playful I’m Fire, You’re Water. Laureate of 2011, the youngest People’s Artist of Kazakhstan Alisher Karimov, presented Eternal Love.
A large vocal family united Grand Prix winner of Vitebsk 1993 Taisia Povaliy and current contestants, who performed The Winner Takes It All in different languages. Taisia Povaliy called Vitebsk her creative homeland: “Thank you, Vitebsk, for your warmth, love, for everything you give us, the artists. Thank you, Slavianski Bazaar. You are genuine, kind, bright: you are the very best,” she said, and performed the song You Are the Best.
The song of many generations This World Was Not Invented by Us was performed by People’s Artist of Russia Aleksandr Zatsepin, laureate of Vitebsk 1999, Honored Artist of Belarus Irina Dorofeeva, and the amateur ensemble Syabrynka together with soloists of the Zatsepin Foundation Theatre.
Many songs became true “cornflower hits”. Among them was the well-known Faina by the group Na-Na, which is the same age as the festival. The magnificent composition Love and Doves was performed by People’s Artist of Russia Aleksandr Oleshko and the Belarusian ensemble Belye Rosy. “Thank you, Slavianski Bazaar, for showing true love and friendship,” the singer said.
Vitebsk welcomes world stars warmly, in true Slavic style. The audience greeted Italian singer Pupo with loud applause as he performed Gelato al cioccolato. The energetic song Yasny Moy Svet by Honored Artist of Russia Tatiana Bulanova brought the entire hall to a state of delight.
The premiere was the song Under Chagall’s Sky, dedicated to Vitebsk and the Slavianski Bazaar, performed by the laureate of the International Pop Song Performers Contest Vitebsk 2025 Lera Bernatovich, the laureate of the International Children’s Music Contest Vitebsk 2018 Artem Skorol, accompanied by the show ballet Sensation.
That evening, the audience enjoyed the songs Knocking on Heaven’s Door and Between Us performed by Russian singer Vladimir Presnyakov and the laureate of Vitebsk 2002 Natalia Podolskaya, who openly expressed her love for her homeland; the songs At First Sight and Slowly by long-time friend of the festival Ani Lorak (she will perform a solo concert this year); the tribute to the beautiful half of humanity Woman Element, sung by People’s Artist of Belarus Anatoly Yarmolenko and Honored Artist of Belarus Ruslan Alekhno; and the popular hits The Mill and Let’s Drink to Love by People’s Artist of Russia Igor Nikolaev.
The traditional final chord was the song All the Flowers of July performed by People’s Artist of Belarus Leonid Zakhlevny together with all participants of the gala concert. After that, the festival sky over Vitebsk lit up with a bright fireworks display.
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