News & Events in Belarus

VITEBSK, 11 July (BelTA) - A star with Edita Piekha’s name has been unveiled on the alley of the winners of the special President’s award “Through Art to Peace and Mutual Understanding” (the Walk of Fame) in Vitebsk, BelTA has learnt.

Partaking in the event were Belarus' Culture Minister Boris Svetlov, Director General of Vitebsk Culture Center - director of the international arts festival Slavonic Bazaar in Vitebsk Alexander Sidorenko, art director of the Oktyabrsky big concert hall in St. Petersburg and Honored Worker of Culture of Russia Emma Lavrinovich, Edita Piekha’s grandson Stas Piekha and other guests.

A ceremony to present the award “Through Art to Peace and Mutual Understanding” will take place on 11 July during a gala concert to open the festival.

During her student years Edita Piekha took part in various concerts. Fame came to her on the New Year night of 1955 to 1956 when she together with students’ vocal ensemble of the Leningrad conservatoire performed the song “Red Bus” by Vladislav Shpilman in Polish. After this magnificent performance Edita Piekha became the soloist of the song group which was soon renamed Druzhba. The singer recorded about 20 long-playing records in cooperation with the Melodiya record company. These records have become part of the golden fund of the Soviet and Russian art.

People’s Artist of Russia Lev Leshchenko was honored with the star on the Walk of Fame in Vitebsk in 2012. Earlier, the award “Through Art to Peace and Mutual Understanding” was presented to Alla Pugacheva, Sofia Rotaru, Alexandra Pakhmutova, Valery Leontyev, the Pesnyary band and Igor Luchenok. Their stars also adorn the Walk of Fame.

The special President’s award “Through Art to Peace and Mutual Understanding” was instituted by a decree of the head of state in 2005. It is conferred on the people of culture and art, art groups and organizations that have made a considerable contribution to the international cultural cooperation and the promotion of achievements and examples of the world’s artistic culture based on humanistic ideals and values. Since 2009 the names of the award recipients have been immortalized on the Walk of Fame.